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Old 07-24-2015, 12:53 PM   #21
Tinker
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

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Just think how funny that looked stuck at an intersection after the light turned green alternating waiving the traffic by and blowing into my magic blue hose?
Hahahahahahaha
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Old 07-24-2015, 12:53 PM   #22
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

Old Henry .............................
I have done the same exact thing on my 1934 and 1935 Fords. BUT, I did not have to use a blue rubber hose. On the older cars, you can go direct to the filler hole with your mouth.
I don't think that I have ever had a vapor lock, but when the car has not been run for a long while, this makes, starting easier.
MIKE (mikeburch)
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Old 07-24-2015, 12:54 PM   #23
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

Don't smoke a cigarette right after doing that. BOOM!

Last edited by 19Fordy; 07-24-2015 at 02:24 PM.
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Old 07-24-2015, 01:07 PM   #24
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

I am not sure, but, in certain locations, you probably shouldn't be seen standing by a car blowing into a brightly colored tube..... just saying. However, one of those gizmos that pressurizes a radiator that you pump like a basketball pump might be just the thing....my Snap On radiator leak tester has several adapters but I haven't matched them to a gas cap to see if they work. You might make one with a hand pump and gas cap....
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Old 07-24-2015, 02:28 PM   #25
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

I wonder if this 51 Ford of yours has an intake screen on the end of the line inside the tank that causes occasional fuel starvation? I seem to recall that on an International truck. Also on a tractor where it would bubble up with air in the sediment bowl whenever the engine was under load and needed extra fuel. The partially blocked line caused the pump to draw air, probably from the sediment bowl gasket. I found the line partly blocked with plastic shavings on the tractor and that was an easy fix.
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Old 07-24-2015, 02:32 PM   #26
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

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I wonder if this 51 Ford of yours has an intake screen on the end of the line inside the tank that causes occasional fuel starvation? I seem to recall that on an International truck. Also on a tractor where it would bubble up with air in the sediment bowl whenever the engine was under load and needed extra fuel. The partially blocked line caused the pump to draw air, probably from the sediment bowl gasket. I found the line partly blocked with plastic shavings on the tractor and that was an easy fix.
I was thinking of checking inside the tank for any problems. I guess now is the time since I've done everything else. I kinda doubt that's the problem since I can blow the gas to the carburetor from the tank just fine and then it runs fine until the fuel is gone from the carburetor then dies.
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Old 07-24-2015, 03:35 PM   #27
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

Henry I had a problem similar to that with a 79 Bronko. To make this short, Ford put a screen on the suction tube in the tank. It was made of some form of man made material and the gasohol for lack of a better word melted it. The pump would suck it shut, but you could blow into it. When I found the problem, I through the screen away and drove it approximately another 100,000 miles without any trouble. I know your Ford did not come with one, but maybe someone installed one.
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Old 07-24-2015, 04:16 PM   #28
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

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I was thinking of checking inside the tank for any problems. I guess now is the time since I've done everything else. I kinda doubt that's the problem since I can blow the gas to the carburetor from the tank just fine and then it runs fine until the fuel is gone from the carburetor then dies.
Professor, all you need is a longer tube so you can blow into it while you are driving
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Old 07-24-2015, 04:38 PM   #29
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

Racers have been using these hand-operated pressure pumps for decades to pressurize a fuel system. Quite the "cool" factor, and simplifies the need for having to explain a mouthful of blue pipe with a straight face. Available at Speedway, for one source......click the link. DD

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Hand-O...Pump,7600.html

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Old 07-24-2015, 08:39 PM   #30
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

I don't mean to be cheeky but, I think 99.999% of people in the world wouldn't have any incline of what you were doing (Ya could probably add a few more 9s on the end there too). Most are probably driving by thinking "is that guy huffin gas?"

Makes for a great story. Too funny.

Kinda have to agree on the pump check valve suggestions or air leak in the flex line. Sure you'll get it going again.
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Old 07-24-2015, 08:46 PM   #31
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

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Originally Posted by RalphG View Post
I wonder if this 51 Ford of yours has an intake screen on the end of the line inside the tank that causes occasional fuel starvation? I seem to recall that on an International truck. Also on a tractor where it would bubble up with air in the sediment bowl whenever the engine was under load and needed extra fuel. The partially blocked line caused the pump to draw air, probably from the sediment bowl gasket. I found the line partly blocked with plastic shavings on the tractor and that was an easy fix.
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I was thinking of checking inside the tank for any problems. I guess now is the time since I've done everything else. I kinda doubt that's the problem since I can blow the gas to the carburetor from the tank just fine and then it runs fine until the fuel is gone from the carburetor then dies.
I looked inside the tank and could see the end of the pickup tube and it was totally clear. In fact, the whole tank looked amazingly clean. This picture taken through a full tank of gas is not as clear as I could see it with my eyes. There is no problem with the pickup in the tank nor with the tank itself.

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Old 07-24-2015, 08:57 PM   #32
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

For the amount of time and probably money invested in this I would have put the elec pump on a long time ago.
If new flex hose doesn't fix it you're most likely going to have to put elec pump on anyway.
If not you're probably going to end up with a very unhappy buyer. JMO
Paul in CT
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Old 07-24-2015, 09:09 PM   #33
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

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For the amount of time and probably money invested in this I would have put the elec pump on a long time ago.
If new flex hose doesn't fix it you're most likely going to have to put elec pump on anyway.
If not you're probably going to end up with a very unhappy buyer. JMO
Paul in CT

It seems to me that I ought to be able to get a stock mechanical pump that will pump reliably. Don't you think? I'm sure gonna try. If the "vapor lock" symptoms continue after a few more tries of that I'll give it up. It starts and runs good enough for a test drive. I'll just tell any buyer that it is very susceptible to vapor lock and he might want to consider putting an electric pump on and leave it up to him.

Any buyer that thinks he's going to buy a 63 year old car and just drive it like a modern car without continual time and money just to keep it going has no business buying it.

I had a drunk approach me a few days ago wanting to buy it to drive instead of his modern used car. I hate turning away a buyer (he didn't have the money anyway) but I told him this is not like his modern used car. This is a project that requires continual heavy maintenance and repair, even with just 63,000 miles on it. He didn't care. He said, "I'd rather work on an old car like yours than an old car like mine." He had just gotten out of prison and said he was getting a loan in a few weeks for $57,000 and he'd call me to buy it. I'm thinking he'll be sober by then and won't even remember our conversation and will wonder what the phone number is he wrote down.
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Last edited by Old Henry; 07-24-2015 at 09:39 PM.
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Old 07-25-2015, 12:14 AM   #34
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

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Have you tried placing a wet sponge/rag on the fuel line at the low point where it breaks up the firewall? I had a similar vapor lock issue on our RV which wouldn't start or would cut off when the fuel line got hot. By trial and error I found that by placing a wet sponge on the fuel filter which was located about 1/2 way down the chassis from the tank cured the problem. The other thing I noticed is that this vapor lock phenomenon only happened when the level of the gas in the fuel tank dropped below 1/4 tank from which I concluded that the cooling effect of a larger volume of fuel somehow contributed to vapor lock free operation.
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I have tried driving with all fuel lines in engine compartment and fuel pump wrapped in wet towels. No difference.
Tonight was different and lead me to the final accurate diagnoses of the problem. Here's the story:

I decided to take a nice evening cruise. It was dark and the temperature was 75°. I decided I was never going to turn the engine off since that had been what seemed to cause the problem. So, I headed down to the lake and drove along the lake doing 40-50 then back to town doing about the same. But, when I got into town, after sitting at a few stop lights, the engine quit.

I got out with my trusty blue hose and blew gas into the carburetor and it started right up. But, before I could drive away it died again. I did it again and this time blew some more after the engine was started to try and really prime the fuel pump. Same problem again. I sat and thought how much it seemed like vapor lock but the ambient temperature was not hot and the sun wasn't shining. And, every vapor lock I ever had in my 47 would have resolved with that little priming. But, I had no other ideas. So, I poured the cup of water I had left in my water jug on the fuel pump. Such hadn't worked before and I was sure it wasn't going to work this time. I needed more water.

Everything was closed down town except this one itsy bitsy dive café that sold gormet French fries. I took my jug in there and eventually got the girl to fill it up in her sink. She was quite bewildered why I wanted her to fill a gallon jug with water.

As I walked out of the café a nicely restored 55 Chevy pulled up behind me. How embarrassed can you get? Anyway, we had some chat about our cars and swapped vapor lock stories while I was wrapping all fuel lines and the fuel pump with paper towels from the trunk and pouring water on them. We chatted another minute, I blew into the gas tank to get gas to the carb, and it started up. I let it run while we chatted some more just to see if it would die like it always had. I found out the guy didn't live many blocks from me. He took my number and was interested in the car. Then I noticed that my engine was still running. It hadn't died like always before! I got in and drove home without further incident.

So, here's my conclusion: My problem is and has always been nothing other than stupid stupid vapor lock! But, it doesn't happen when going fast and getting more air into the engine compartment to cool it as well as more cool gas from the tank faster to cool the pump. It only happens, and has only ever happened, after slowing down and stopping at a few lights or stop signs. And it happens way more than it ever has in my 47.

So, now that I know, I can quit wondering and fussing with all of the hardware that probably has not been the problem and, the replacement of which has not seemed to make any difference. I'll just resort to the tried, tested, and proven solution of clothes pins on the tubing and half a grapefruit on the fuel pump.
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Last edited by Old Henry; 07-25-2015 at 10:28 AM.
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Old 07-25-2015, 12:26 AM   #35
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

With all the ethanol in gas today, don't inhale the fumes or you may fail the sobriety test administered by Officer Friendly when he sees you blowing into the gas tank!
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Old 07-25-2015, 12:28 AM   #36
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With all the ethanol in gas today, don't inhale the fumes or you may fail the sobriety test administered by Officer Friendly when he sees you blowing into the gas tank!
I shouldn't need my blue hose any more once I get the clothes pins and grapefruit installed.
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Old 07-25-2015, 04:45 AM   #37
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

Haven't been on here for a while and have only just read this thread
Those are just the symptoms I have with my truck, runs ok till I slow down to a stop then go to pull away then it conks out! Both times this has happened tho I have fuel at the throttle spindle.
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Old 07-25-2015, 11:08 AM   #38
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

All this discussion has convinced me to install an Airtex 8902 electric fuel pump with momentary contact switch even though the little driving I've done with my new to me 1940 panel delivery fire engine has not resulted in vapor lock.
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Old 07-25-2015, 12:19 PM   #39
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Default Re: Vapor Lock Quick Recovery Tool

Try wrapping the fuel line with several layers of aluminum foil, saw a 1950 Ford at a car show done that way, the owner said it helped with vapor lock. You can also buy a can of Dust Off and turn it upside down to freeze the lines.
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Old 07-25-2015, 01:58 PM   #40
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Craig, You crack me up man!!!

Car Porn? Pete
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