It was a bad ignition switch causing the car to bog down and feel like it was starving for fuel. I changed that out and kept my cylinder and now Im on to my next problem...Distributer is grinding when I give it gas.

Maybelle lee

So what exactly was the problem?Which component failed?Helps others in the future who experience a similar problem.

  

And the winner is PETE!!!! Thanks for everyone's help. The problem was a bad ignition. Went and got a new one for $40.

Maybelle lee

I had the same type thing happen last year when I first bought my 55.  It would drive great for about 15 minutes and then start sputtering.  When I would come to a stop it would cough and sputter then die like it was out of gas or vapor locked.  I could floor the gas peddle and turn it over for 10 seconds or more and it would fire back up.  I put on a clear gas filter and could see it was starving for gas when it was doing this. 

I ended up changing the tea pot carb for a Holley 390 and dropping the electric fuel pump for an FE pump.  Put in new gas and it ran great after.  I had also dropped the tank and found it was sealed previously. 

The final variable was in draining the gas from the tank (winter blend bought in March) and replacing it with fresh gas in about May (summer blend).  I was told later that it may have been the winter blend in combination with the electric pump causing a void in the fuel delivery to the carb.  I do not know about this for sure, maybe someone else has an opinion on fuel quality.

Add checking the ground strap inside the distributor to the list and also insuring that all electrical connections within the distributor are properly tightened.   Even a loose condenser can be tough one to find unless you're looking for it.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks guys for all your ideas I will check them all one by one

Maybelle lee

Hey Monk;;   Don't remember the year that ford started with a  resistor wire in the loom going to the engine compartment, but if you do not have a resistor on the coil check for this  wire-- believe it was a light gray or could be pink. Somebody here I'm sure will know the year they started.  Hope this helps--  God Bless  Eddie

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

Check the pick up tube in the gas tank,had a tank cleaned and repaired but it was forgotten about and was clogged.  It would run about 25 minutes and then act like it was running out of gas and sometimes make it home,cleaned it out and no more problems.

Butchering up everything I can get my hands on in Dayton Ohio

It could be the ignition. Coil, condenser or what happened to me once. I had a 1971 Capri that would randomly stall and I was convinced it was a problem with the carb. It turned out to be a bad contact on the wire inside of the distributor that grounded the points. That had me going for a long time.

My point is that it could be a lot of things other than a fuel issue.  A problem like you have requires an open mind. Pete

Next time it dies, do what Ted said. He's thinking you may have a coil issue. If you have a good spark pulll the air cleaner and pump the carb to see if there's fuel in the carb. Let's determine what the cause is by the process of elimination.  

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart)