While cruzn the fairgrounds at Indy this past weekend the temp in Big Olds got to 210, no big deal cuz he like to run warm, except after a while at this temp he starting running really, really rough, like he wanted to stall and was hesitating. Someone mentioned vapor lock. I've got somewhat of an idea of what it is I think, when the fuel gets hot it turns to vapor and starves the carb? If I'm off base on this, would someone please explain what Big Olds problem could be. If it is vapor lock, what do I do about it? Thanks in advance
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Denise, I can't anwser your tech q's about vapor lock, but in our travels with friends that have had it, their cars would just STOP running NOW and then once it cooled off they were ok. Big Olds never did that. I'm sure someone will know.. just the info that I had, prob just rambling, lol
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Watch those speedbumps!! Debb

Vapor lock is when your fuel line gets hot and vaporizes the gasoline...then when the vapor gets to the fuel pump, which is designed to pump liquid, it quits pumping and the engine dies.
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*******
George

Geez, I actually knew something, lol. See Denise yours didn't die!!!
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Watch those speedbumps!! Debb

Ok, so it's not vapor lock. Why is Big Olds running rough at high temps?
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Denise, it probably is starting to vapor lock. Is the fuel line running close to the exhuast? You may need to insulate the fuel line or even move it. Mine does the same thing at about 230. My pump is at the rear,by the gas tank.
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Mike J
Unchartered DSRA Member
If it ain't broke, fix it anyway...

Sorry to have missed you in INDY. We decided to NOT park up against the grandstand this year because of the noise. My Dad says me must be finally getting old (at 82) because it is finally getting on his nerves. LOL.

To your issue, you can have carb issues with too much heat as well. The carb can boil/gas off fuel in the bowls and create metering havoc in the carb causing rough idle and throttle response. I have seen where too hot conditions can cause a too lean condition and a too rich condtion. Either way, a cooler carb would be the trick.

The solution can be either isolate the carb with a plastic spacer, or get the guy to run cooler cruising!

In cars that have hot fuel problems, I am a fan of making sure that the incoming fuel lines to the pump are up against the frame away from heat, insulated them by cutting an appropriate diameter fuel line, splitting it and applying it over the hardlines for insulation, and in front of the radiator heat blowing back on the lines from the pump going to full high pressure fuel line (insulates well) to the carb. Then, put on a 1/2 to 1" spacer, plastic or phenolic. These tricks can lower incoming fuel temps quite a bit to the carb and help you symptoms.

Of course another solution is to increase the cooling capacity of the cooling system keeping the overall temperature lower.

Hope this helps....I am sure others will have ideas too.


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Steve Jack
Engineering & Marketing Technologies
ConceptOne Brackets and Pulleys

It seems to me years ago we ran a "cool can" where the gas line ran in a coil in a separate can that we put ice into the can to relieve this. This was primarily on the race car but the same idea still applies..heat causes the gas to vaporise and no go. I have even seen people use wooden clothes pins to "insulate" their gas lines a little (don't try this at home folks!) The insulated spacer is a good idea, as is the insulation around the gas line. Just my .02 worth.
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

I have recently bought 3 old original fords and 2 of the 3 have several clamp on clothes pins hanging from the fuel line,I was told by one of the previous owners(old fellow in his 80's) that they were there to prevent vapor lock.I just assumed he was senile...now you're telling me it's true??? Now I feel bad for thinking the old fellow was losing it! See Ya!!By the way,what is the reasoning behind this piece of automotive wisdom??
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Daryle

I was told that it acts like the fins on a brake drum, and disipates the heat. (But, you didn't hear that from me).

phil
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One man's treasure is another man's trash.

See! Some of these old farts actually DO know what they're talking about. I don't know the theory behind it but I think it has some sort of a heat absorbing quality to it. I've just seen it done before and was told that it worked. I just accepted it as valid...true or not.
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

Gee...I wonder if the plastid ones would work? Then you could color-coordinate you clothes pins to match your engine color. :-)

phil
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One man's treasure is another man's trash.

I dunno! I did get plastid one night in a bar though:P
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

Blame it on this sticky Gateway keyboard!

phil
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One man's treasure is another man's trash.

Sticky keyboard? What have you been doin?....lol
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

Where does this plastic spacer go? And what is phenolic? Thanks
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

The spacer goes under the carb and acts as a intake manifold thermal spacer. It will isolate the heat given off from the engine. Phenolic is just another material used for the same purpose.
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

Thanks guys, I'm off to the local speed shop to try and find. Want to get it installed before BTTF. Can't hurt right? :)
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

If it is a Holley carb...ask for the aluminum heat dispersion shield. It keeps manifold heat off the fuel bowls. I use it......it works well in conjunction with the carb isulater. Like everyone said....move the fuel lines to a cooler place.
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The "New" and Unimproved edcroozer... Charter D.S.R.A. member

hotrodsrj,
i read on another board of someone using a cooler in the gasline, like an external trans cooler or power steering cooler, to cool the gas down before it gets to the carb, to solve gas boil or vaporization in the float bowl. have you ever heard of that? i hadn't. what are your thoughts on that?
rickd
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project...39 ford pickup

I am not HOTRODSRJ and we are both glad of that. In the 60's and 70's the drag racing world ran KOOL CANS. MAY STILL DO. They are a can about the size of a 1 gallon coffee can. They have the fuel line coiled around and around inside the can. You put ice in the can and it keeps the fuel cool. The drag racer runs faster.

I have seen this done also on street rods that want to cruise the fairgrounds and not vapor lock. Moroso sells the cans in Summit if I am not mistaken.
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Same Wife, Same DEUCE Roadster, Same Job for over 20 years. Must be in a rut. AIN'T LIFE GRAND.....

Denise, I agree with all the comments made concerning your car's running, but one more thing to consider is the gas itself. Are you burning ethanol flavored? Here in MN, we call this stuff "corn" gas as that's what it's made from. Ethanol has a very low vaporization temp, I've read that it can be as low as 100 degrees F. That means that for a carb fed engine, the chances of having vapor lock or related problems goes way up. The MN SRA has been able to get legislation passed that allows for non-oxygenated fuel, read "non-corn" gas, to be sold at any station which so chooses and so far there are many in the state that have done so. Just a thought.

Thanks for the input. I run only premeium in Big Olds cuz thats what I was told to do. Since I'll be cruzn up your way in MN this week, I'll watch carefully to make sure no one tries to pawn that cheap stuff off on an unsuspecting Michigander. :))
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Denise, Here in MN you have to buy the Non-oxygenated premium; premium is the only way it is sold. If you don't see "non-oxygenated" on the pump, the premium you're buying is ethanol laced. The premium only refers to the octane level of the fuel, around 92 or so. It does not necessarily mean that the gas is "non-corn" gas. Just wanted to be clear on that. The MN SRA has been publishing a list of stations which carry the good stuff. You may want to ask when you get to BTTF's.

Thanks, so I guess I'll fill up in WI before I cross the border and make sure I have enough to last me till I get to registration then I can ask around. Will you be attending the show?
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Your "top-less" cruzn buddy, Denise

http://www.geocities.com/lipstickrun/

Denise, Yes, I'll be there on Friday for sure, maybe part of Sat. If I see your Olds, I'll say hello.

You may want to say "HI" to the driver also!!! LMAO!
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association

Like Reagan used to say, "There you go again"!

An old friend of mine used to tell me they would put a half bottle of brake fluid in the gas tank in the old days to prevent vapor lock.

Anyone ever heard of that?

Nope....then again I've never seen a nauga...but I know there's nauga hides!!!
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Is it funny yet?

Charter Member: Dipstick Street Rod Association