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ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms?

Posted By: PAULS_340

ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 03:51 PM

Just had my 800 TQ restored. Runs great around the neighborhood but got back from a 40 mile trip in 85 degree temps. Shifted in 1st & 2nd, no problem but the hotter it got had all kinds of stuttering and bogging and drowneding. Couldn't get any faster than 40-42 mph. I stopped for 10 minutes, it got better for the next mile, barrely got up the hills. Engine temp was fine on the gauge, engine compartment is very hot. Was the gas boiling? Thanks
Posted By: dmerc

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 04:30 PM

Better verify your coolant temp. Thermoquads are the best carb for hot temps because of the plastic center section. Fuel stays a good bit cooler. Sounds like your problem lies elsewhere unless the carb rebuild was goofed up.
Posted By: Rug_Trucker

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 07:01 PM

Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 07:22 PM

NEED more info ......like ...

Is the carb tooo hot to touch ? ... is the intake exh-heat crossover open? .. how hot is that? what is the water temp?

WHO did the restro on the carb?
Posted By: stumpy

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 07:33 PM

I would think vapor lock will be a fuel line heat problem not a carb trouble. Silly question but did you look at the choke to make sure it was wide open?
Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 07:39 PM

Heated fuel line ? ...could be. Something for him to check. ALSO see how hot the fuel pump is. The choke-blade? ... also something to check .. but if it was closed(or close to-it) .. there would be tons of black-smoke.

LEADS to another Q ...what type of choke are you using ?
Posted By: PAULS_340

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 08:18 PM

OK, Scott Smith @ Harms did the resto, he has been a wealth of info. The car doesnot run hot on the temp gauge, heat crossover is open and has burned the newly powder coated intake, stock divorced choke is working and seems to be closing and opening correctly BUT everything is scorching HOT...the air cleaner, all the hoses and gas line. I'll check cooling fluid,again.

Attached picture 6129397-CarbTQpic.jpg
Posted By: PAULS_340

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 08:25 PM

2

Attached picture 6129403-CarbTQRestored.jpg
Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 09:55 PM

Quote:



BUT everything is scorching HOT...the air cleaner, all the hoses and gas line. I'll check cooling fluid,again.




SS knows his stuff so that is not the problem. But scorching HOT is. What is that all about? ... tight motor?

The temp guage shows OK ? .. maybe that is way-off.

What type of gasket do you have separating the carb and intake?
Posted By: SattyNoCar

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 11:02 PM

Quote:

2




Trying to not go off on a rant here. Trying REAL hard.

Look at this pic, you've got the fuel line coming up between two heat sources going to a METAL fuel filter which is basically acting like a HUGE heat soak, and , you say its gotta be the thermoquad.



Nothing really wrong with the fuel filter, except it should be down close to the fuel pump. The factory ran fuel lines near heat sources, but, todays gas boils at a lower temp. What worked then, doesn't work now. At the very least, you need to reroute and insulate the fuel line to the carb. In an extreme case, you may need to rig up a later 'three prong' fuel filter to vent off the vapors. This is what I had to do with my wagon.
Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 11:09 PM

ONE HUNDRED and THREE degrees in TX ? ....DAMN.

It is a nice 84 here
Posted By: PAULS_340

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 11:18 PM

Those are the factory stock TQ fuel lines. That pic doesn't show the vac advance hose which is now conected. Has nothing to do with my issue. Before the TQ I had a 670 Holley and never had any hot issues.
Posted By: PAULS_340

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 11:21 PM

Regarding gaskets. Ihave a thin cork gasket above and below a wood fibre type 1/2" thick spacer.
Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/08/10 11:41 PM



You might have a vacuum leak making it go lean ...and then really HOT. OR ... the carb itself is lean.

How do the plugs look? ...
Posted By: PAULS_340

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/09/10 02:19 AM

I'm do for plugs. Should I go a couple of levels colder? If the engine just wants to be hot, should the colder plugs help?
Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/09/10 02:22 AM

How do the plugs "read" ? .... 1 or 2 steps colder would not hurt.

I would look more-for a vac-leak though.
Posted By: PAULS_340

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/09/10 03:08 AM

Vacuum Leaks...effin things. A so-called friend took a can of carb cleaner or brake clean and sprayed it at my newly resto TQ ! Now the phenolic is fogged.
Posted By: solarguy

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/09/10 12:56 PM

I think you need to get your underhood temps in check. Your other posts regarding heat problems are probably related to this problem. Get that motor and the engine compartment as cool as you can first then see where you're at.
Posted By: Mopar_Country

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/09/10 06:52 PM

Quote:

Before the TQ I had a 670 Holley and never had any hot issues.




I would assume carb if you had no previous issues. Have you tuned the carb to the engine? If not start there, you may have a lean condition. Are there any other symptoms such as stumbling on take off? TQ's are tricky to tune but I like mine.
Posted By: PAULS_340

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/10/10 02:53 AM

I think we got the carb tuned to the engine, one more tweak to the secondaries. No stumbling until the engine got real hot. I want it to look pure stock but i'm going to reroute the fuel filter away from the heater hoses.

Attached picture 6131931-CarbTQRestored.jpg
Posted By: Mopar_Country

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/10/10 04:34 PM

Put the filter just off the pump and run a new line up to carb. If this is where it was with the other carb how is it going to help by moving it? Just a thought.

I am inclined to think your running lean.
Posted By: Rug_Trucker

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/10/10 04:55 PM

Quote:


I am inclined to think your running lean.




Especially if you have the stock jetting and gasahol. You need to jet up 10% or more. Well in the case of a TQ richer rods.
Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/10/10 05:00 PM

Hay Paul ......

HOW MANY people have to tell-you .....you are probably running WAAAY lean !!

Take it out again ...and CHECK THE PLUGS.
Posted By: broncobra

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/10/10 07:58 PM

You can use a hand held propane torch, with the flame turned off, just a light breeze of propane to prevent that when you detect leaks.
Posted By: GO_Fish

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/11/10 01:33 AM

Or even a spray bottle of water. That should create a stumble in rpm's instead of an increase in rpm's when you found the leak?

Yes, I think it is vapor lock, and yes, I'm having identical problems with my 360 and AVS. The puller mechanical fuel pump is made to pump liquid, it cannot pump vapor. So yes, high temps anywhere along the fuel line can be heating the E10 gas to the boiling point, and then you're stuck until things cool down. I have tried insulating my fuel line under hood without significant improvement. A very good point was made about the metal fuel filter attracting heat. They used to make a plastic filter with the same dimensions. I may try and find one of those and paint it silver??? My best solution may be to swap my stock 22" 3 core radiator with a new 22 or 26" 4 row core when I can get some money together.
Posted By: Paul_Fancsali

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/11/10 08:32 PM

The only way I could run a Carter on hot day at the track was with electric pump and cool can and ice. Try blocking the heat passage that will help and a electric pump will also help. I would place the Holley back on and run it screw the factory look when you are involved in wreck due to carb vapor lock its not worth it. I'm now running a 195 stat on 93 degree days and not having any problems at all with my 340 with a Holley and a spacer and todays crap gas
Posted By: bboogieart

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/11/10 08:58 PM

try a glass see through type filter to see if fuel is boiling off or getting to the carb. This will close in on where your problem is. You will then know what the lean condition is related too. Can easily be put back to stock appearing once the problem is fixed.
Posted By: Mopar_Country

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/11/10 09:32 PM

If all that was changed was the carb, I say it's lean. Lean condition WILL make your engine hot.

1. Take a propane torch, unlit, and check for vacuum leaks, leaks can cause a lean condition. Once you are satisfied there are no leaks I would look at the carb.

2. After the carb was rebuilt it was probably set to factory specs, which is a baseline, it still has to be tuned to the engine. You have to adjust the metering tree UP to richen it. There is a screw down in the little hole above the metering tree. It requires a small screwdriver to access. It could be you need to adjust your accelerator pump as well.
Posted By: dOoC

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/11/10 09:42 PM

Hay M C ...

EXSIST ....or EXIST ?
Posted By: Mopar_Country

Re: ThermoQuad vapor lock, what is it? What are symptoms? - 08/11/10 09:45 PM

oops!
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