<VV> Vapor Lock?

Tue Apr 12 19:48:09 EDT 2005

Hi Ron,
While you might not believe it, I KNOW that to be the case.  I did not have an air leak which would have shown up as a fuel leak when I installed the electric fuel pump.  I HAVE had that issue on my Greenbrier and you are right that can and will contribute to those symptoms.  So will vapor lock.  When I cooled the fuel pump with water (or diet Coke, when I ran out of water!) it started right up.  When I was idling, it vapor locked.   It was running fine on the highway, but stopped on me twice while idling or after it was shutdown when hot.  Several people in hot places like Las Vegas or Phoenix are quite familiar with this happening.  Having a slower running fan pulley undoubtedly did not help.  Since I was headed into Las Vegas and then the Grand Canyon in the summer on a road trip with my son, I spent the $35 for an electric fuel pump and had no other issues of vapor lock.  The stock fan pulley and fan belt was also installed for safe keeping during the hot weather.

Larry

----- Original Message -----
From: Ron <ronh at owt.com>
To: "Larry Forman" <larry at forman.net>, JCB <Basalt at san.rr.com>, "Virtualvairs at Corvair. Org" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Subject: Re: <VV> Vapor Lock?
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 16:35:40 -0700

> 
> Vapor lock or a minute leak on the suction side?  I still don't 
> believe in Corvair vapor lock and I've had my engine quit and not 
> restart after waiting at a stop light and it was due to a poor 
> connection at an external gas filter.  I've driven and parked and 
> then restarted the same car in 115 degree weather with no problem.  
> The real problem is when the pump at an idle can't supply enough 
> gas with a tiny air leak.
> RonH
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Forman" <larry at forman.net>
> To: "Ron" <ronh at owt.com>; "JCB" <Basalt at san.rr.com>; 
> "Virtualvairs at Corvair. Org" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 3:52 PM
> Subject: Re: <VV> Vapor Lock?
> 
> 
> > Hi Ron,
> > I HAVE one right now!   Admittedly it was at least partly due to 
> > having an Otto Parts variable pulley on the next to slowest 
> > ratio, but it DID vapor lock in the summer in central valley CA.  
> > Perhaps swapping the pulley ratio might have solved that, which I 
> > did, but I know that installing an electric fuel pump did solve 
> > it for sure!
> > -- Larry
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ron <ronh at owt.com>
> > To: "Larry Forman" <larry at forman.net>, JCB <Basalt at san.rr.com>, 
> > "Virtualvairs at Corvair. Org" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> > Subject: Re: <VV> Vapor Lock?
> > Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 15:13:59 -0700
> >
> >>
> >> Re: item 5, Corvairs don't vapor lock while running unless
> >> something is very wrong as the whole top of the engine stays cool
> >> to the touch, even while climbing mountain grades.
> >> RonH
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Forman" <larry at forman.net>
> >> To: "JCB" <Basalt at san.rr.com>; "Virtualvairs at Corvair. Org"
> >> <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> >> Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 3:00 PM
> >> Subject: Re: <VV> Vapor Lock?
> >>
> >>
> >> > Hi Jon,
> >> > While it certainly COULD be vapor lock, check these:
> >> > 1. Since you changed the coil (VERY GOOD, btw), test it anyway
> >> > when it does not start.  Since no ignition would certainly cause
> >> > a lack of starting.  Pull the #1 spark plug wire, insert a small
> >> > bolt and hold it (INSULATED gloves!) about 1/4 inch from ground
> >> > while someone else cranks the engine OUT OF GEAR and with the
> >> > brake held on tightly.  If you see a nice fat blue spark, all is
> >> > well with the ignition voltage, but not necessarily the timing.
> >> > 2. Move to a fuel starvation. Test by pulling air cleaner and
> >> > actuating the carb cross shaft and see if you get a strong pump
> >> > stroke of fuel down in the carb air horn.  Do this with the
> >> > engine off, but it would be off, since it doesn't run at that
> >> > time, right?  No fuel and you then have a fuel starvation issue.
> >> > Either vapor lock or something else.
> >> > 3. Remove the fuel cap and make darn sure it is the VENTED style,
> >> > since a NON-vented style would cause fuel starvation by creating
> >> > a vacuum as the fuel is pulled out with no vent.  If the car
> >> > starts shortly after removing the fuel cap then it was plugged or
> >> > the wrong type.
> >> > 4.  REPLACE, do not just inspect, the rubber inlet fuel line
> >> > leading into the engine compartment.  While under there also
> >> > install an inline fuel filter.  You could have an air leak that
> >> > could cause this problem or even a swollen line choking off the
> >> > fuel flow when hot.
> >> > 5. Take a rag and with a bucket of water nearby, soak the rag and
> >> > place it over the fuel pump to cool it off.  Do this a couple of
> >> > times and maybe even spray it with water.  If it starts much
> >> > sooner then the fuel pump was vapor locked.  The universal and
> >> > sure cure for vapor lock is to install an electric fuel pump down
> >> > by the gas tank outlet and forget about vapor lock FOREVER!
> >> >
> >> > Let us know what you find.
> >> >
> >> > -- Larry
> >> >
> >> > ----- Original Message -----
> >> > From: JCB <Basalt at san.rr.com>
> >> > To: "Virtualvairs at Corvair. Org" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> >> > Subject: <VV> Vapor Lock?
> >> > Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 08:11:13 -0700
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> The Car: 1962 Conv. 80 hp
> >> >>
> >> >> The Good:  Starts easy, runs good.
> >> >>
> >> >> The Bad:  After about 20 to 30 minutes dies and will not 
> >> restart; >> until
> >> >> about an hour later when it cools off.
> >> >>
> >> >> The Fix: ?
> >> >>
> >> >> What's Been Done:  Rebuild kits in carbs, rerouted fuel lines 
> >> away >> from heat
> >> >> of motor, added elect fuel pump, new mechanical fuel pump, 
> >> new >> distributor,
> >> >> coil, etc..., reworked valves etc..., new transmission, 
> >> clutch, seals, >> and
> >> >> on and on...
> >> >>
> >> >> Thank you for any help.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Jon Bruton
> >> >
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