'81 ROW SC No Start

[ROW911SC]

So car started up fine Sunday afternoon like always; then started to stumble and finally stalled. Started again and I was able to get it back into the garage by blipping the throttle and keeping the revs up. Tried again last night, now cranks but won't start. Literally the first no start in 30 years of ownership.

Some background: Car has been off the road for about two years during which time it received a bare metal respray. Engine was removed/reinstalled to deal with some cosmetic issues during repaint. New starter, fresh Optima battery, full tune up including new plug wires, and a valve adjustment within the last 2-4 years. About 70K miles.

Will check fuses and spark but after that I'm in uncharted territory...

Thanks!

[notfarnow]

Check for spark and fuel before you go much further

If I was a bettin' man (I am) I'd put my money on vacuum leak of some sort, based on the fact that it was running (rough) and could keep it stumbling with the throttle

I've been meaning to rig up a smoke machine to help identify vacuum leaks, because I tend to run older cars and it seems like a recurring theme.

I just got my engine back in my '81 SC (also ROW) after 2.5 years of being apart... I replaced all the vacuum lines while the engine was out, and it made a BIG difference in how it runs and idles

[emac]

Had the exact issue with my 81. It was the CDI box
Ernie