Help, 86 cab finally stumbled!

[brayne]

After 2 seasons of driving my rock solid very stock 86 cab, it finally stalled the other day while coming to a stop sign. No problem, I thought. Just cold. Restarted with minimal cranking and I was off. Moments later it died again on the freeway onramp. No sputtering, just quit as if the ignition was turned off. After letting it sit for a few minutes it restarted ok and I let it idle for a bit. Took off with smooth acceleration grabbed the next exit to head for home. Return trip was about 4 miles and it ran fine.

Initial checking shows the following:
1/16” end float at the distributor drive gear (I followed 86ragtop’s story last summer)
A “1 wire” head temp sensor
Wires to TDC and RPM sensors are missing insulation at various points but underlying shielding looks ok

Does anyone have any opinions as to whether these conditions could specifically cause the stalling? I am especially concerned about the condition of the wires to the TDC and RPM sensors; seems as if the bare shielding on these wires touching anything else could short and cause the car to die. Can these wires be replaced without having to re-gap the sensors? I am planning to replace the head temp sensor with a 2 wire version anyway.

Thanks!

[R22tech]

Could it be the DME relay? Ask Warren "Early S Man"- he'll know the answer.

[brayne]

Thanks for the suggestion! I do have a spare DME relay to try; the one that is currently installed was replaced by the PO at some point. It still looks "new". It's probably worth starting the troubleshooting with the DME relay anyway but the other conditions probably don't help either.

[john walker's workshop]

the cylinder head temp sensor will do that too. there's a stack of 3 plugs on a bracket on the left side of the engine above #3 cylinder. pull off the top white one and see if there is only one terminal in the part that is still on the bracket. new style sensors have 2 terms. old style fail a lot.