Vapor lock??


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By Jim Rowe - 18 Years Ago
Guys,



Let start by saying I don't drink much. Yesterday after filling my ford with gasohol "10% alcohol" I went to a cruize in.

Seem to run OK, coming home I got into it a little and I notice I was down on power no second gear rubber, pulled sluggish.



Well last night I went to another show and shine. Ran fine going to the show temps in the low 80's. Coming home the car wouldn't idle it would act like it was loading up and die. Down on power some missing that went away at highway speeds.

It would not run in gear at the stops and would not want to pull away unless I revved it and slammed it in gear.



I got it home, the temp outside was high 70's car temp was 180. Now I have been driving this fresh engine for just over 1000 miles this sumer with the same Pertronix system dual quads etc. It has a new fuel pump when the engine was done. No problems until now.



Old age has set in, but I don't remember using gasohol until this week.



Could this be a form of vapor lock? Been a long time since I've driven a car that wasn't fuel injection. I remember as a kid my Dad had a vopor lock on our 55 Ford.



Where do I start????



Thanks

Jim
By Hoosier Hurricane - 18 Years Ago
Jim:

I think you have been running 10% alcohol longer than you think.  A couple years ago when the EPA found out that MTBE in the gasoline was polluting groundwater, the Gov made the refineries take it out.  They replaced it with 10% alcohol and no longer had to post that fact at the pump.  It fouls the plugs badly on my low compression Model T and farm tractors.

Are you using teapots?  A common problem they develop is the big slotted plug on the back of the fuel bowl.  The plug you take out to get the needle seat out.  Those plugs loosen enough to leak, and gas runs straight into the secondary throttle bores.  I find I have to retighten them periodically.  It doesn't sound like you are having vapor lock.  And oh, maybe you don't drink enough!!!

John

By Jim Rowe - 18 Years Ago
John,



Maybe your right about the drinking.

I'm using Edelbrock 500 cfm's.

Today I drained the fuel, replaced with premium. Pulled the valve covers checked the valves. Replaced the plugs, checked the plug wires.

Still had the problem. Checked, Check and Re-check...Found the problem.... When I assembled the engine I put the rubber gasket that was included in the gasket kit between the block and the distributor. The distributor had retarded I guess the gasket had relaxed the clamp loosened and now you know the rest of the story. A simple thing that made me feel retarded.

Kicked the timing back out and "she runs like a good Y should".



Sorry to have bothered you John. But thanks for your reply!



Jim
By paul2748 - 18 Years Ago
I hope you took that gasket out and left it out.Tongue