The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 50 chevy stalling won't start

Has nothing to do this flat head vs V8 .........they are just another engine group flat heads that deals with vapor lock from time to time.

The fuel filter attached to the front of the carb or the fuel line is the most likely location for the fuel to boil. The filter bowl inches away from the manifolds is the place where boiling can be seen. That where the old school fix of aluminum foil, cloths pins and shields were applied. Others cooled the line, filter and carb by any means possible to get back on the road. Been there a few times.


As long as we are some state of denial that vapor lock can be a problem and can be related to the original design. We should add hot restart problems related flooding to the issue as it its related to the vapor point of the fuel and the temp the carb can see after engine shut down.

Hot day, hot engine, shut down, manifold heat heats the carb to above the boiling point of the fuel. (Which can be 100-200* depending ) Fuel floods over into the intake, hot restart symptoms might be long crank, acts like its flooded, misfire, black smoke on restart.

These fuel vapor point issues went when into the '80s on carburetor engine. Fuel injection fixed most of the problems.

Again hot restart problems does not happen all the time just like vapor lock, carb icing and other random issues.
If you never experienced vapor lock consider your self lucky. Fuel is the real wild card. If you want to try to experience vapor lock use winter grade fuel in the 4th of July parade in Kansas.