Shewman carburetor spacer.

[37 Coupe]

I am thinking about using one of Bob Shewman's phenolic carb spacers as I think it would help keep the carburetor cool. Anyone else use one of these? I don't really know which style to order if it even makes a difference as I am using one of the new Strombergs but on the later manifold. Would you match up to the Stromberg base pattern or the one that would match up to the manifold which is the 59 Ford carb base? Thank You.

[fottyjs]

37 coupe....I have talked with Bob ,as I have been having starting and vapor lock problems, and he said if the spacer didnt help he would give me my monet back. Others have told me that the spacer works. I havent bought one yet....

[37 Coupe]

Thanks,going to order one just uncertain which style.

[alan]

put them on several cars, helps in the hot south!!

[Old Henry]

I bought one as it was supposed to stop the boiling of the gas in the carburetor bowl after I parked in the garage to keep the gas from smelling up the garage. The spacer made no difference. I still have to throw a wet rag on the carburetor to keep from smelling up the garage.

[JM 35 Sedan]

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I have one of the spacers designed and sold by 'CoolCarb' in Red Lion, PA. It is larger than just the footprint of the carb and extends out and under the fuel bowl. Dick Spadaro also sells this same spacer and has posted pictures of it here in the past. While this spacer did keep my carburetor cooler (temps measured w/infrared gun), I still had vapor lock problems while climbing the high elavations on hot days with 10% ethanol gas. The main problem was with the glass bowl fuel pump that's located so close to the intake manifold deck. Every time I had VL problems on the Cross Country Tour in June, I could see the gas boiling in the fuel bowl. By placing a small towel soaked in ice water on the FP and gas lines, I could eliminate the VL condition and be on my way again in less than 5 minutes. I am thinking about going back to an original steel top FP and raising the FP/breather stand 1" with some combination of spacer/insulator/gasket assembly and use the 1" longer FP push rod.

[37 Coupe]

I will try to find a picture of the spacer Dick Spadaro sells but not sure if it would clear or interfere with the wiper vacuum fitting that my 59AB manifold uses. John if I saw bubbles from the glass fuel bowl I would probably think it was air bubbles from a leak. The issue I had surprised me as awhile back I thought mayby engine was running to cool and needed thermostats,not going to run them.Engine ran 180-190 without thermostats but didn't want to start after stopping,carb was hot ,to hot to touch, wasn't Skip's coil either. Engine started but took some cranking.

[Old Henry]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

I am thinking about going back to an original steel top FP and raising the FP/breather stand 1" with some combination of spacer/insulator/gasket assembly and use the 1" longer FP push rod.

Or, even easier and does not disturb an authentic engine compartment, you could install an electric fuel pump back by the gas tank to turn on when vapor locked. Always works for me.

[oldford2]

John,
The next time you see gas "boiling" in the glass bowl, check the temp with your laser thermometer. Someone recently posted the boiling point of the new gas. If it is not that hot, maybe it is air bubbles.
John

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by 37 Coupe

I will try to find a picture of the spacer Dick Spadaro sells but not sure if it would clear or interfere with the wiper vacuum fitting that my 59AB manifold uses. John if I saw bubbles from the glass fuel bowl I would probably think it was air bubbles from a leak. The issue I had surprised me as awhile back I thought mayby engine was running to cool and needed thermostats,not going to run them.Engine ran 180-190 without thermostats but didn't want to start after stopping,carb was hot ,to hot to touch, wasn't Skip's coil either. Engine started but took some cranking.

Gerald, here is the link below to Dick's post that has the pictures and test info.
I am not necessarly saying it's better than Bob Shewman's spacer but I believe the part under the fuel bowl does help to deflect some heat away from the carb.
I am sure what I saw in the FP glass bowl, that I called boiling, was alcohol vaporizing from the bottom of the bowl and creating a pressure void in the top of the bowl. I had previously checked the thumb screw under the glass bowl to make sure it was tight against the cork gasket. I am also sure this pressure was going into the fuel lines which all help to stop the flow of fuel to the carb. As soon as the pump cooled down, the bowl began to refill and FP began working again. This always seemed to happen on a long climb up a mountain when engine/coolant temps reached 200°F+. A couple times this happened on a narrow two way road with no place for me to pull over and get out of the way of approaching vehicles. Very dangerous situation.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ght=vapor+lock

[JM 35 Sedan]

"Or, even easier and does not disturb an authentic engine compartment, you could install an electric fuel pump back by the gas tank to turn on when vapor locked. Always works for me"

That just may need to happen if the fuel pump change and elevated position does not correct the problem. I have also recently replaced the thermostats with higher flow versions that seem to have reduced running engine/coolant temps by 5-10°F. The EFV-8 Club Judging Standards Committee unfortunately does not recognize an electric fuel pump as a necessary safety feature that can be used on these cars without the loss of points on the show field. This does prevent some club members from installing an electric fuel pump, but I feel it's better to be safe than worry about loosing points during a show.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by oldford2

John,
The next time you see gas "boiling" in the glass bowl, check the temp with your laser thermometer. Someone recently posted the boiling point of the new gas. If it is not that hot, maybe it is air bubbles.
John

John, I will plan to do some laser gun heat testing during our PA tour next month.

[37 Coupe]

John,thanks for posting the thread that was current two years ago. Guess Spadaro's would take the guessing out of which one to order,but I guess common sense would say it should be the configuration of the carb base instead of manifold type? Can't you experiement with different types of insulation and shields if you think your heat problem is in the glass bowl area?

[37 Coupe]

All I wanted was an answer to which style carb insulator plate I should buy not a green eyed cheap shot at " you know who". I got my answer from Bob Shewman and ordered one. Thanks always to him and GM.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by 37 Coupe

All I wanted was an answer to which style carb insulator plate I should buy not a green eyed cheap shot at " you know who". I got my answer from Bob Shewman and ordered one. Thanks always to him and GM.

37 Coupe, I'm with you on that. George has his detractors, but yes, that was a cheap shot.

[JM 35 Sedan]

[QUOTE=Old Henry;712575]But they don't deduct for fuel pump risers? Fuel line insulation? Huge heat dissipating carburetor spacers? Heat shields? Or this kind of mess that someone came up with?

Is that a Skip's water pump impeller being used as a heat sink on the top of the fuel pump? May be some clue as to who concocted this.:rol]

Those pictures were originally posted by me of some strickly experimental testing that was being done to determine how cool the fuel pump, carburetor and other gas delivery components needed to be to stop vapor lock issues with 10% ethanol gas.
Also, I could care less what the judges consider as not acceptable for show field cars. What I do to my car to make it drivable under today's conditions should be of no concern to them or anyone else.

[ford38v8]

John, to add to that, I met a nice old octogenarian who would proudly open his hood to display his collection of wooden clothes pins. Many will remember him: He drove his 36 coupe solo to all the V8 Meets. Haven't seen him for a long time now, I'm sure the gentleman is in V8 Heaven now, and it would be nice if the new owner of his coupe continued the collection of clothes pins despite the occasional snicker!

[52merc]

jm35 stick to your guins john you drive your car and operate it the way you want,it seems the same ol knocker trys to shoot down the messanger

[Old Henry]

Sorry about the "cheap shot". I thought it was funny but I was wrong.

I deleted it.

[Cecil/WV]

Thanks!