1950 Special Deluxe Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 Vapor lock or not, here is my story. Yesterday here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan it was 33 degrees Celsius (about 92 F). I was driving to a car rally at the local Hot Rod club about 5 pm. My 1950 Special Deluxe has an added electric pump inline with the rebuilt mechanical pump. I have a heat shield installed. The electric pump is wired to a push button, I normally only use it to prime the engine after it has been sitting for a while. I drove about 15 minutes on the freeway and then turned off the freeway into the Industrial area where they are located. After about 5 minutes of reduced speed the car started to sputter and then die like it ran out of gas. I was pretty sure I was not out of gas but added 1 gallon from the jerry can I carry. It would start and then sputter and die, the heat gauge was normal as were all the other gauges before it died. I tried to start it with the electric pump energized and it would run longer and then quit. I took a gallon jug of water that I also carry and dumped it on the carb as I have seen discussed on here. Tried to start it with only the mechanical pump and it fired right up and I continued on the the rally. Sorry for the long winded story, but I tried to include as much information as I could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted June 9, 2015 Report Share Posted June 9, 2015 My truck will also do that in high ambient temps. And I also have an inline electric like you describe. However, mine is on a toggle switch. When this happens I switch the pump on and the engine will smooth out and run fine. After a while I can switch it back off and all is good again. Merle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1950 Special Deluxe Posted June 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 If this happens again, (hopefully it doesn't) I will try to be quicker on the draw and hold the push button in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopar_earl Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 Question, couldn't you run the electric pump all the time to prevent it from happening? Earl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted June 10, 2015 Report Share Posted June 10, 2015 I would check the fuel line from the tank to the pump and see if there is anywhere your lines could be sucking air, as mechanical pumps don't like to move air. Also check the condition of line between the cross member and the pump. If these get weak they will look fine on the outside but pull closed under high vacuum from the mechanical pump. I would also check my needle and seat/float assembly to make sure it is in proper working condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1950 Special Deluxe Posted June 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2015 Question, couldn't you run the electric pump all the time to prevent it from happening? Earl The problem with this is that unless you add an oil pressure switch or something similar, In the event of the car stalling or worse yet being in an accident the fuel pump will pump gas until the switch is turned off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54Illinois Posted June 12, 2015 Report Share Posted June 12, 2015 Sounds like vapor lock to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopar_earl Posted June 20, 2015 Report Share Posted June 20, 2015 The problem with this is that unless you add an oil pressure switch or something similar, In the event of the car stalling or worse yet being in an accident the fuel pump will pump gas until the switch is turned off. Yes a oil pressure switch or an inertia switch could easily be added if concerned. As far as the car stalling, there is no issue there. Not sure why you'd be concern with the car stalling with a electric fuel pump. Earl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redneck Coronet Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Its a bummer you cant get a Klemm vapor lock eliminator any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
51cambridge Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Yes a oil pressure switch or an inertia switch could easily be added if concerned. As far as the car stalling, there is no issue there. Not sure why you'd be concern with the car stalling with a electric fuel pump. Earl Id be more concerned with it feeding a fire in an accident. When i was younger a 67 GTO burned to the ground when the fuel pump fed a fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopar_earl Posted July 5, 2015 Report Share Posted July 5, 2015 Id be more concerned with it feeding a fire in an accident. When i was younger a 67 GTO burned to the ground when the fuel pump fed a fire.I agree and there are measures to take to prevent it. As I mention above if the person is concerned. Earl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowbrook Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 My 50 Meadowbrook has stalled like that before, but I believe it is not vapor lock but fuel boiling in the carb and flooding the engine. Has not happened this year but if it ever does, I will remove the air cleaner and give the carb a pump, if fuel squirts, then I'll know it is not vapor lock. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mopar_earl Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 My 50 Meadowbrook has stalled like that before, but I believe it is not vapor lock but fuel boiling in the carb and flooding the engine. Has not happened this year but if it ever does, I will remove the air cleaner and give the carb a pump, if fuel squirts, then I'll know it is not vapor lock. Is your heat riser working correctly? If not that can throw all kinds of heat to the intake/carb. Earl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 carburetors and percolation has always been an issue...IF NOT..the original sin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dale Posted July 22, 2015 Report Share Posted July 22, 2015 Have you tried puting on an adjustable gas pressure regulator ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meadowbrook Posted July 23, 2015 Report Share Posted July 23, 2015 Riser works, no, never tried a regulator. Thanks for the responses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezy Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 On 7/4/2015 at 9:08 PM, Redneck Coronet said: Its a bummer you cant get a Klemm vapor lock eliminator any more. I bought and installed one based on this thread. So far, no vapor lock issues... Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dartgame Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 How do these work ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Norlien Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 I had problems with what I thought was vapor lock on my '54 Savoy. Problems went away when I replaced my fuel pump with one intended for a Chrysler industrial engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwicranbrook Posted February 22, 2018 Report Share Posted February 22, 2018 Those of you with the in line electric fuel pump, are they mounted before or after the mechanical pump? I have one before the mechanical pump and occasionally it pushes fuel out the seal around the glass bowl, even with a new seal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ194950 Posted February 23, 2018 Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 You may need a fuel pressure regulator Before the mechanical pump in this system? A thought. DJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwicranbrook Posted February 23, 2018 Report Share Posted February 23, 2018 Yep that's what I was wondering. It only happens if I turn the electric pump on to help prime it if I haven't started in a few weeks. Wondering if it's just a case of the cork seal drying out a little? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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