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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Still Getting Vapor Lock

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wlobb

04-17-2026 @ 4:19 AM

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My 1951 8BA is just about 100% stock and I’m trying hard to keep it that way.
I’ve allowed myself a modern 6 v starter with a modern Bendix. I added 6 v electric fuel pump, radial tires, that’s about it.

I’m still dealing with vapor lock. It was about 90° here yesterday and it was pretty bad. I use only non-ethanol 91 octane (that’s the only non-ethanol I can get.) I only got home thanks to the electric pump.

I’ve rebuild my carburetor, and put a phenolic spacer between the carb and the intake. I rebuilt the AC 9597 fuel/air pump. My pump to carb fuel line is back to original 1/4” line. I fixed up my cooling system, it runs much cooler now, even on hot days. (180 vs 200+ on a hot day)

I may pull the intake and block those carb heater holes in the block with freeze-out plugs, after that I’m out of ideas.

What else am I missing?

Thanks for any ideas,

Bill

carcrazy

04-17-2026 @ 7:19 AM

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On very hot days you will notice that Flatheads will get very hot! When driving my 1953 Ford through the desert several years ago, my coolant temperature would be about 100 degrees above the outside ambient air temperature. Unfortunately when we made the trip to the Central National Convention in Tulsa the outside temperature was frequently over 120 degrees. Our coolant temperature was over 220 degrees for hour after hour of driving.
Several things you can do to minimize under hood temperatures are:
Install an electric cooling fan as a "puller" on the upper third of the radiator.
If your car doesn't already have one, install an insulation pad to the bottom of the hood to cut down on the heat coming through the hood due to the sun load.
Wrap the exhaust pipes where they are exposed under the hood.
If you plan to drive the car through the desert during the hottest time of the year, confine you driving time to the cooler parts of the day.

JayChicago

04-17-2026 @ 8:06 AM

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Seems like overheating is not the problem here.
From the original post: "...it runs much cooler now, even on hot days. (180...)"

RAK402A

04-17-2026 @ 8:18 AM

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Have you taken the air cleaner off and looked down the carb throat while actuating the accelerator pump to see if fuel is squirting out?

I have heard stories of vapor lock for years. I live in southern California where it gets very hot in the Summer. In the 50 years that I have owned the car, I have had difficulty re-starting it when it is hot, but it has NEVER been vapor lock.

It has been ignition related (cured with Skip Haney coils and a good distributor set up.

JayChicago

04-17-2026 @ 8:40 AM

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My thought too, was this may not be fuel related.
But then the original post does say: "I only got home thanks to the electric pump."

And this is a '51, which I believe has the more robust can coil.

carcrazy

04-17-2026 @ 11:35 AM

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Are you using fresh gasoline? If you are using old gas that was purchased during the Winter, it will be blended with lighter ingredients to enhance cold weather cold starting. This Winter grade of gas will more readily vaporize and could be causing your problem.

wlobb

04-17-2026 @ 1:02 PM

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Hmmm interesting question, I filled up last week but there is probably 5-6 gallons of winter gas in it. I just thought of this: those 3 holes on the carb (Ford Model 94) that attach to the accelerator pump, would being in the winter hole cause a problem?

wlobb

04-17-2026 @ 1:04 PM

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they are some great ideas, thank you! i am going to wrap my headers. I have been thinking of louvers in the hood actually to allow heat to escape, I never thought about it coming in from the sun on the hood...

wlobb

04-17-2026 @ 1:05 PM

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Yeah, I don't it's overheating at all. Even after it sat in the sun it didn't go over 200 degrees.

wlobb

04-17-2026 @ 1:09 PM

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I'll do that. good idea! The coil and condenser is new, timing is right on. Points gapped at .14 plugs at .28 (I think?) I don't remember exactly, easy enough to check. The coil is a 40,000 volt PerTronix but its a 12volt coil. Could that be a problem? It starts and runs great except for this.

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