Re: Vapor lock poll

Posted by Dave Merrick On 2011/3/12 11:39:10

I know this is an old thread, but I thought I would share my experience on my '51 300.

The Previous owner told me "Don't shut it off at the fuel pump, or you'll be stuck there" I drove this car home about 400 miles. I didn't turn it off at the pump, but did when I went into the convenience store (out of habit). And sure enough, I had to sit there for 2.5 hours until it cooled down.

After reading all the vapor lock/ percolation threads, I started to hunt down the problem. The P.O. had already installed an electric pusher pump to unsuccessfully combat the issue. I then proceeded to insulate all the fuel lines and add heat shields and everything I could think of to combat the problem. No. Luck.

Finally I said to myself "this can't be the problem, what else could be affected by heat?" Well as it turns out my first guess was right. THE PRIMARY IGNITION COIL!

Autozone just happened to have the coil in-stock. I stuck it in and the problem went away forever. It never was vapor lock at all. Moral of the story is; How old is your ignition coil?