I can get the car started, and had been able to keep it running until it ran out of gas. This last time, though, it'll start, work for a few seconds, then just abruptly die. After two or three times of doing this, it started up again, ran for a few minutes, then died, and let off a really nasty smell into the cabin that started burning my eyes. Very sharp and acidic. There was no big blue cloud like usual when it starts up, though. Any ideas?

 

Change your fuel filter. You probably sucked some nasty junk in there when you ran out of gas or perhaps clogged the pickup screen. Either way the fuel filter should be changed.

 

catalytic could have issues.

 

I looked under the car, and there was a stripe in the center of the cat that was glowing. It also sounded like exhaust was coming out of the cat area (never did that before). I'll check the fuel filter, but this isn't the first time I've run out of gas on this car. I drained some nasty gas from it that was all flowing fine and I'm running it on one gallon at a time (car doesn't have tags), and it's got a new filter. But if it's clogged, why will it start up every time for a minute or so after it dies?

 

It will start because the pump can push a lil bit through to the carb but not quite enough to keep up with it running. Your best bet for that exhaust is to drive it down here (the exhaust) and we will punch it out for you and pinch off the air pump line and then do a full rats nest removal on it when we get the exhaust back on. OR, you could buy the header I just happen to have laying around...... We could attach it to the stock muffler over axle piece and then replace the stock muffler (Im sure its toasted by now) with something a bit more ticket-worthy. I may end up calling you and we can talk then. I got all your problems figured out man... OH, and for your wiring, I have that problem fixed as well. I have all the answers, you just need to ask the question. BUT FIRST, you need to know what the question is.


No, its not "What is the Matrix" lol

 

I'm going to take a look at the filter, since I've got the shield off, and see what that does. Maybe run it straight out of a can of gas again and see if that's any different. I should be getting plates sometime next week, and if it's running at least halfway decently, I'll drive it down to your place and swap the tranny out. We can probably punch the exhaust out and deal with the wiring at the same time. But that's if I can get it running for any length of time again.