QuestionI have a 1955 bird with a 292 that I'm having terrible time with vapor lock. If I drive it a short distance without letting the engine heat up to much I have no problem starting it again. But in a parade situation when I shut off the car I better have a good book because it takes about 2-3 hours to cool and by then I have killed the 6 volt battery trying to restart it. I tried starting fluid and even jumping it with a 12 volt system with no help. She just turns over. At this point AAA is by only option.
I'd like to keep everything original looking so I don't want to reroute the fuel line or update to a 12 volt.
I rebuilt the carb, starter, distributor, generator and fuel pump and I'm getting a little desperate.
Please help.
AnswerThe modern gas is what is doing you in. The new oxygenated fuels have a much higher vapor pressure than our old cars were designed for. Modern cars don't have a problem with it because they all have an electric fuel pump and a vapor return line to keep the gas circulating.
You can get a big improvement by adding an electric pump to your car. Install it so that it is plumbed in series with the original pump, and wire it so that it is only on when the key is on AND you turn on a hidden toggle switch - then use it for starting after the car has been parked for a long time (to save wear and tear on the starter) and for the parade situation, and any heat soak situation such as occurs after a hard run, then parking the car in the sun on a hot day.
I'm having the same problems with my old cars out here in the desert, where we see over 100 degrees almost every day. I've had to add electric pumps to all my cars to cure it. The fact that your car is a 6 volt car really doesn't change the situation, other than the fact that the battery won't spin the engine quite as fast - but there's no need to convert to 12 volts, with all the problems that brings!
NAPA stocks an excellent 6 volt pump - in fact I just bought one for my 55 Hudson last week, for the same reason (we had lots of vapor lock problems in Las Vegas with it). It will cost around $140, but it is well worth it to be rid of that problem.
The electric pump should be mounted low and toward the rear of the car, as close to the tank as you can get it, but keep it up out of the way of road debris. Be sure to replace ALL the rubber fuel lines while you are at it - the new gas is causing the fuel lines to crack and allow the ingestion of air on the suction side of the pumps - adding to the vapor lock woes.
The counter man looked at me like I was from MARS when I asked for a 6 volt pump, but his boss found it in their catalog quickly, and it was in stock.
Dick
