Headers and vapor lock....?
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 63
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Headers and vapor lock....?
As I continue in my quest to freshen up the 460 in my truck I'm considering a set of headers. My friend says I might experience excessive vapor lock if I do, due to the heat coming off the headers. Anyone else experienced this?
Mike
77 F150 XLT Ranger
Mike
77 F150 XLT Ranger
New User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Headers and vapor lock....?
Yep. not on a ford though, it was an AMC.
I cured it by going to an electric pump at the tank
(instead of mech pump on the block ) and while I was
re-doing the lines I placed rubber hose over the metal fuel
lines by the engine. I also added a phenolic (plastic)
spacer under the carb. It only vapor locked on me when
shutdown hot. After going back to cast iron manifolds
( I got fed up with the noise and replacing blown head
to header gaskets ) I went back to mech pump and didn't have
vapor lock problems. so I don't know how much of the problem
was 'carb fuel boiling related' or 'fuel line/pump header related'. It quit leaving me stranded till it cooled down
after those changes which was all I cared about....
I cured it by going to an electric pump at the tank
(instead of mech pump on the block ) and while I was
re-doing the lines I placed rubber hose over the metal fuel
lines by the engine. I also added a phenolic (plastic)
spacer under the carb. It only vapor locked on me when
shutdown hot. After going back to cast iron manifolds
( I got fed up with the noise and replacing blown head
to header gaskets ) I went back to mech pump and didn't have
vapor lock problems. so I don't know how much of the problem
was 'carb fuel boiling related' or 'fuel line/pump header related'. It quit leaving me stranded till it cooled down
after those changes which was all I cared about....
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: texarkana, tx
Headers and vapor lock....?
BentPushrodz....
Hi! The L&L headers on my 460 2wd F100 don't cause that kind of a problem (I think due to the size of the headers a lot of problems might be eliminated - specifically heat and access to the starter...I've noticed the L&L's hang down a little more than competitors headers...but DARN they sing when I whomp on it!!). I'm using a Carter electric pump outside of the 40 gallon tank. I've routed my 3/8" steel fuel line from the tank up to the front under the left engine mount tower and up the front of the block to the Holley 770. I drive in Atlanta - you've seen our stop-n-go traffic if you have a TV - if he was going to lock, he certainly would then....perhaps the 4 core heavy duty radiator helps - he normally runs at about 175 degrees, rarely climbing to 180 degrees...
Hope that helps,
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
Hi! The L&L headers on my 460 2wd F100 don't cause that kind of a problem (I think due to the size of the headers a lot of problems might be eliminated - specifically heat and access to the starter...I've noticed the L&L's hang down a little more than competitors headers...but DARN they sing when I whomp on it!!). I'm using a Carter electric pump outside of the 40 gallon tank. I've routed my 3/8" steel fuel line from the tank up to the front under the left engine mount tower and up the front of the block to the Holley 770. I drive in Atlanta - you've seen our stop-n-go traffic if you have a TV - if he was going to lock, he certainly would then....perhaps the 4 core heavy duty radiator helps - he normally runs at about 175 degrees, rarely climbing to 180 degrees...
Hope that helps,
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,639
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
Headers and vapor lock....?
Actually the vapor lock problem in older vehicles is becoming more and more common with advances (?) in gasoline formulation. The next thing to bend over for is actually called reformulation. Things have gotten prgressively worse since the 80s or so. I even experimented with fuel injection but thats another story. F.I. cars aren't suseptable to vapor lock. Headers do make it worse.
What helps: Electric pump, return style regulator and line to tank, carb insulators and spacers, cooler underhood temps (bigger radiator, lower thermo.) I wound up doing all of these things one at a time.
Good luck!
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
What helps: Electric pump, return style regulator and line to tank, carb insulators and spacers, cooler underhood temps (bigger radiator, lower thermo.) I wound up doing all of these things one at a time.
Good luck!
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: texarkana, tx
Headers and vapor lock....?
BearTracks...
I used to run a "kool-kan" in my '57 Chebie w/ 454 bored and stroked. It was mounted on the firewall and the fuel ran through it...I'd pack it with ice before going to the local 1/4 mile running C/modified. Back in the good ole days....I think gas was 60 cents a gallon. Never had percolation or lock-ups with that!!
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
I used to run a "kool-kan" in my '57 Chebie w/ 454 bored and stroked. It was mounted on the firewall and the fuel ran through it...I'd pack it with ice before going to the local 1/4 mile running C/modified. Back in the good ole days....I think gas was 60 cents a gallon. Never had percolation or lock-ups with that!!
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,639
Likes: 349
From: Albuquerque
Headers and vapor lock....?
Well this will date me but I used to pump gas for as low as 19 cents a gallon when there was a price war in Oklahoma City. A couple of bucks would last all night cruising.
I have heard of people with air conditioning actually wrap rubber fuel line around one of the ac lines for cooling. I guess anything that will cool the fuel or the engine compartmaent is a plus.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
I have heard of people with air conditioning actually wrap rubber fuel line around one of the ac lines for cooling. I guess anything that will cool the fuel or the engine compartmaent is a plus.
1977 Ford F-100
400m/c6/4:11/Gear Vender O.D.
Crane hydralic roller, forged, ported polished,Deamon,Edlebrock, yada, yada, yada
280,000 miles
Stock on the outside
modified/rebuilt everything
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 997
Likes: 0
From: texarkana, tx
Headers and vapor lock....?
Beartracks, U B dated, man!! I started driving when gas was 25 cents a gallon, just before I was drafted for 'nam - would last me a week in my VW; you've got ME beat...
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
The LaptopGeek -----
1974 White F100 Custom Fleetside
460 bored .040 over & C-6 automatic 2WD
Lunati cam, L&L Headers / mounts
Holley Avenger 770CFM & Edlebrock RPM
Plush black leather 40-20-40 bench seat
38 gallon JC Whitney fuel tank
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