In a message dated 98-04-14 16:25:29 EDT, williamd@COMPUSERVE.COM writes:

<< I can only compare it to driving under a waterfall.  Visibility instantly
dropped to zero, and I pulled off the road more by feel than by sight.  It
lasted 15
 or 20 minutes, then passed.  The van started right up, ran perfectly for
 about a minute, then began to lose power and died, thick smoke suggesting
 too rich.  This repeated several times- each time I shut off the engine, it
 would instantly restart and run perfectly for a minute, then cough and die
 again.  After several repetitions (maybe 15-20 min.) it finally ran OK and
 ran perfectly for the rest of the trip, which included quite a bit more
 rain.  Some water must have gotten somewhere it's not supposed to during
 the deluge, then eventually cleared.  >>

I mentioned this in a p-mail reply, but will throw it out here for rumination.
Those exact symptoms could be caused by a saturated air filter. I would be
curious if anyone has experienced these symptoms, then checked their air
cleaner housing?

gmbulley
cary, nc
Tax day tomorrow. First year owing a lot. :(