The Ford Barn

30ccpickup · 11-20-2022, 12:11 PM

I have a Stromberg 81 carburetor for a 1938 Ford 60 horsepower v8 engine. My question: is the spacer between the intake manifold and the carburetor original, and if it is (or not), what is its purpose?

Kube · 11-20-2022, 01:21 PM

It is NOT original.

drolston · 11-20-2022, 01:42 PM

The spacer was probably added as a heat insulator from the manifold which has an exhaust gas passage to heat the manifold and provide better fuel vaporization on its way from the carburetor to the intake valves.

After shutting down heat from the manifold would heat the carburetor and cause the fuel in the bowl to evaporate quickly. That could cause much cranking to restart. Not exactly vapor lock, but related.

JM 35 Sedan · 11-20-2022, 01:52 PM

That spacer may have been added in an attempt to prevent the dreaded vapor lock.

30ccpickup · 11-20-2022, 02:02 PM

Thank you! I am coming over from the Model A side and I am one for detail. It needs to look correct and be correct. I appreciate the answers to my questions.

Kube · 11-20-2022, 05:35 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

That spacer may have been added in an attempt to prevent the dreaded vapor lock.

What's vapor lock?

aussie merc · 11-20-2022, 06:00 PM

the spacer is not original but neither is todays fuel they are almost mandatory these days due to the lower boiling point of modern[ethanol] fuels that are designed for injected systems where it is sealed under pressure not sitting in a fuel bowl and vented to atmosphere on mine i have also fitted a stainless plate that extends under the fuel bowl to shield it from radiant heat from the eng [who dosent like polished stainless ] so its your choice it wont hurt anything and you may not need it if your climate is cold enough

Jack E/NJ · 11-20-2022, 06:03 PM

Spacer on under my 38's 97 looks similar. Only it's a 1/2" block of oak. Tapped for a decent-size vacuum port so --- as John Cameron Swayze might've once said --- the wipers keep on workin' when gas pedal needs some pushin'. Not to prevent vapor lock though --- only clothes pins do that. 8^)

Terry,OH · 11-21-2022, 07:39 AM

I agree with Kube, What is vapor lock?

Jack E/NJ · 11-21-2022, 08:22 AM

Here's an authoritative tutorial on the phenomenon & prevention.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/201...act-or-fiction

tubman · 11-21-2022, 11:30 AM

"Vapor Lock" is a phenomena you may experience while driving a worn out Ford flathead that runs hot in traffic on a sweltering summer day. It used to happen to me on the '51 I had when I was in high school.

Dousing the fuel pump with a shot of water usually cures it.

I always carried a couple of gallon jugs of water in the trunk for just such a purpose.

For some reason, now that I am old enough, experienced enough, and have enough spare cash to maintain my cars properly, I no longer need those gallon jugs.

Terry,OH · 11-22-2022, 07:21 AM

Sarcasm can be an art form.

Bill · 11-22-2022, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

That spacer may have been added in an attempt to prevent the dreaded vapor lock.

John, were you at GM's shop in Punta Gorda the day he was experimenting with a phenolic spacer and a heat gun on his '39 Convertible?

JM 35 Sedan · 05-12-2023, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill

John, were you at GM's shop in Punta Gorda the day he was experimenting with a phenolic spacer and a heat gun on his '39 Convertible?

Hi Bill, sorry that I'm a bit late in answering your question 😅 I don't come on here as often as I use to. Just happened to see this while doing a search.

Yes, I was there at GM's shop in Punta Gorda that day that he did his demonstration with the spacer and heat gun. That was pretty impressive. I miss having GM and his contributions to discussions here on Fordbarn.

BlueSpark · 05-12-2023, 10:21 AM

I have wondered the same thing. I have a phenolic spacer that is needed because the carb mount studs are too long to go without it. Unless I used a ton of washers I guess!

petehoovie · 05-12-2023, 10:50 AM

Fritz · 05-12-2023, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

Hi Bill, sorry that I'm a bit late in answering your question 😅 I don't come on here as often as I use to. Just happened to see this while doing a search.

Yes, I was there at GM's shop in Punta Gorda that day that he did his demonstration with the spacer and heat gun. That was pretty impressive. I miss having GM and his contributions to discussions here on Fordbarn.

I am not familiar with his experiment. What were his conclusions?

11-20-2022, 01:21 PM	#2
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,015	Re: Stromberg Spacer It is NOT original. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

11-20-2022, 01:42 PM	#3
drolston Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 1,627	Re: Stromberg Spacer The spacer was probably added as a heat insulator from the manifold which has an exhaust gas passage to heat the manifold and provide better fuel vaporization on its way from the carburetor to the intake valves. After shutting down heat from the manifold would heat the carburetor and cause the fuel in the bowl to evaporate quickly. That could cause much cranking to restart. Not exactly vapor lock, but related.

11-20-2022, 01:52 PM	#4
JM 35 Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland Posts: 10,859	Re: Stromberg Spacer That spacer may have been added in an attempt to prevent the dreaded vapor lock. __________________ *John* *"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein*

11-20-2022, 02:02 PM	#5
30ccpickup Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wakarusa, IN Posts: 928	Re: Stromberg Spacer Thank you! I am coming over from the Model A side and I am one for detail. It needs to look correct and be correct. I appreciate the answers to my questions. __________________ http://MODELABASICS.com/ How Things Work on a Model "A" Ford Fordbarners, Feel free to use the pictures on my site to answer questions and create tutorials/tech articles.

11-20-2022, 06:00 PM	#7
aussie merc Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: sydney australia Posts: 1,036	Re: Stromberg Spacer the spacer is not original but neither is todays fuel they are almost mandatory these days due to the lower boiling point of modern[ethanol] fuels that are designed for injected systems where it is sealed under pressure not sitting in a fuel bowl and vented to atmosphere on mine i have also fitted a stainless plate that extends under the fuel bowl to shield it from radiant heat from the eng [who dosent like polished stainless ] so its your choice it wont hurt anything and you may not need it if your climate is cold enough

11-20-2022, 06:03 PM	#8
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: Stromberg Spacer Spacer on under my 38's 97 looks similar. Only it's a 1/2" block of oak. Tapped for a decent-size vacuum port so --- as John Cameron Swayze might've once said --- the wipers keep on workin' when gas pedal needs some pushin'. Not to prevent vapor lock though --- only clothes pins do that. 8^)

11-21-2022, 07:39 AM	#9
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,753	Re: Stromberg Spacer I agree with Kube, What is vapor lock?

11-21-2022, 08:22 AM	#10
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: Stromberg Spacer Here's an authoritative tutorial on the phenomenon & prevention. https://www.hemmings.com/stories/201...act-or-fiction

11-21-2022, 11:30 AM	#11
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,321	Re: Stromberg Spacer "Vapor Lock" is a phenomena you may experience while driving a worn out Ford flathead that runs hot in traffic on a sweltering summer day. It used to happen to me on the '51 I had when I was in high school. Dousing the fuel pump with a shot of water usually cures it. I always carried a couple of gallon jugs of water in the trunk for just such a purpose. For some reason, now that I am old enough, experienced enough, and have enough spare cash to maintain my cars properly, I no longer need those gallon jugs.

11-22-2022, 07:21 AM	#12
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,753	Re: Stromberg Spacer Sarcasm can be an art form.

05-12-2023, 10:21 AM	#15
BlueSpark Member Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: San Jose CA Posts: 61	Re: Stromberg Spacer I have wondered the same thing. I have a phenolic spacer that is needed because the carb mount studs are too long to go without it. Unless I used a ton of washers I guess!

05-12-2023, 10:50 AM	#16
petehoovie Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 8,181	Re: Stromberg Spacer __________________ The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others.... *"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"* "We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0