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First thing is what vehicle are we talking about? Second that sounds more electrical than fuel because the pop is most likely unburnt fuel in the exhause system igniting when the engine refires.

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Have you done an electronic ignition conversion?

I had a '71 Newport that I did a conversion on using factory bits off a '73. No issues with the conversion, but, a few years later, the ECU started going flaky. Mine would do EXACTLY like you described, the little POP you heard was actually a little back fire.

One time, it was actually kinda funny. Had some idiot riding my butt while blasting down the freeway at about 70MPH, when it 'stalled'. Before I had time to react, it started right back up, but, you want to talk about one hell of a backfire!! It was LOUD and BRIGHT and it felt like the car lifted up some from it!

The guy that had been right ON my bumper for some reason dropped w-a-y back.

I installed a new ECU and never had the problem again.

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Have you done an electronic ignition conversion?

I had a '71 Newport that I did a conversion on using factory bits off a '73. No issues with the conversion, but, a few years later, the ECU started going flaky. Mine would do EXACTLY like you described, the little POP you heard was actually a little back fire.

One time, it was actually kinda funny. Had some idiot riding my butt while blasting down the freeway at about 70MPH, when it 'stalled'. Before I had time to react, it started right back up, but, you want to talk about one hell of a backfire!! It was LOUD and BRIGHT and it felt like the car lifted up some from it!

The guy that had been right ON my bumper for some reason dropped w-a-y back.

I installed a new ECU and never had the problem again.

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Hey Satilite73..actually that sounds kind of scary something like that happening with someone right on your bumper like that....

Anyways yes, I put in a complete mopar performance electronic ignition not 6 months ago. The ECU (orange box) is brand spanking new. HOWEVER, now that you mention this, while doing some other stuff under the hood while the car was running, by random accident I pulled on the connector and the car shut down immediately, and I had not even pulled the connector all the off, just enough for it to loose contact with the prongs. So maybe I need to go check to see if its on nice and snug??

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keyword said in your reply - orange box. these have a bad reputation especially at higher rpm's (you said you were doing 80mph).

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Have you done an electronic ignition conversion?

I had a '71 Newport that I did a conversion on using factory bits off a '73. No issues with the conversion, but, a few years later, the ECU started going flaky. Mine would do EXACTLY like you described, the little POP you heard was actually a little back fire.

One time, it was actually kinda funny. Had some idiot riding my butt while blasting down the freeway at about 70MPH, when it 'stalled'. Before I had time to react, it started right back up, but, you want to talk about one hell of a backfire!! It was LOUD and BRIGHT and it felt like the car lifted up some from it!

The guy that had been right ON my bumper for some reason dropped w-a-y back.

I installed a new ECU and never had the problem again.

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Hey Satilite73..actually that sounds kind of scary something like that happening with someone right on your bumper like that....

Anyways yes, I put in a complete mopar performance electronic ignition not 6 months ago. The ECU (orange box) is brand spanking new. HOWEVER, now that you mention this, while doing some other stuff under the hood while the car was running, by random accident I pulled on the connector and the car shut down immediately, and I had not even pulled the connector all the off, just enough for it to loose contact with the prongs. So maybe I need to go check to see if its on nice and snug??

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keyword said in your reply - orange box. these have a bad reputation especially at higher rpm's (you said you were doing 80mph).

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i'm guessing that with that boat you're not planning on doing any serious drag racing ? you can just go to NAPA and pick up a a cheap one. keep in mind, i'm not saying the orange box is the problem. simply reporting there have been tons of problems and failures. you might also opt for the MP chrome box which can handle higher rpm's.

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For a driver, just use a stock box from NAPA (or where ever). It'll still be better than points.

Also, make sure the unit is GROUNDED. On my drivers, I go so far as to run one of those braided ground straps from one of the boxes mounting points to the engine, rather than rely on 'just' a self tapping bolt. Nothing kills an ECU faster than a poor ground.

From what I've read, its the newer orange boxes that are 'bad'. I had one I bought back about 1991 that I used on four different cars and ran for untold miles before it started going bad.

While I didn't mention it in my story, it was this box I was using on my Chrysler at the time.

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For a driver, just use a stock box from NAPA (or where ever). It'll still be better than points.

Also, make sure the unit is GROUNDED. On my drivers, I go so far as to run one of those braided ground straps from one of the boxes mounting points to the engine, rather than rely on 'just' a self tapping bolt. Nothing kills an ECU faster than a poor ground.

From what I've read, its the newer orange boxes that are 'bad'. I had one I bought back about 1991 that I used on four different cars and ran for untold miles before it started going bad.

While I didn't mention it in my story, it was this box I was using on my Chrysler at the time.

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you made an excellent point. make sure you have a good ground on the box. what you can do is scrape the paint off the back of the box and around the mounting holes. put a washer or 2 on the back so the screw goes through them. this will help with grounding and increase airflow in the back of the unit.

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