62 F.I. Hydro-lock. Maybe.........

[Jerry J.]

Beautiful day yesterday. Went to start car for a ride. She turned over very nicely. Wanted to start. I heard what sounded like a very slight pop or backfire, again Very slight... Then she started. Sounded like a rod knock. Shut down immediatly. Turned key again. Instant start but same noise..

Does this sound like Hydro-lock, or could it be a valve or something else..

hope like h*ll it's not what the title implies.. Can someone help.

Thank all, in advance... Jerry....

[William C.]

Re: 62 F.I. Hydro-lock. Maybe.........

Sounds like a classic case of hydro-lock induced bent connecting rod, at least from my experience with one particular engine.

[Mike E.]

Re: 62 F.I. Hydro-lock. Maybe.........

Jerry--
I'm not all that proud that I've had three hydro-lock experiences with three different 62 FI cars--but I have. Unfortunately, it sounds to me, also, like a classic case. I was able to pull only one head (after identifying from below with the pan off, which rod was bent.) I've had 12 62 fuelies, and only three of them did this to me. I do now, on a car that's not to be NCRS judged, put a shut-off valve on the line between the spider and the fuel meter housing. If it comes to that, let me know, and I can tell you where I get the valve (through Parker).
Mike

[Jerry J.]

Re: 62 F.I. Hydro-lock. Maybe.........

Thanks so much, Bill and Mike for your quick response..
Am putting the car on hoist tonight to search for the cause...

Mike, I am interested in the valve shut off that you mentioned.. Will be in touch.. Will let you know what I find..
Again thanks....

Jerry.....

[Chuck G.]

Re: 62 F.I. Hydro-lock. Maybe.........

I hydrolocked and bent a rod in my 63 about 7 or 8 years ago. Happened JUST like you describe....starting the car, sitting in the garage.

Don't know if this is true, or just "urban legend", but I've been told that the rod most likely to bend is #8. That was true in my case.

I kept the bent rod for awhile, then gave it to John DeGregory. He uses it in his display. Chuck

[Loren L.]

Gee, if I had a scznner I could send you

a picture of #7 & #8 connecting rods - now shorter than stock, Car did NOT even make it off the jackstands.

[William C.]

Re: Gee, if I had a scznner I could send you

7 & 8 seem to be the popular items, mine was one or the other, but about 20 years ago, long enough I've forgiven the car and the unit!

[Loren L.]

I had sent my spider off for repair - the

"second" FI Repair person reported that #1 had left a piece of solder on the shoulder of the cutoff surface - on the third startup, it caught and the 11.25 cr powered its way to the second rod.....

[Tom P.]

Re: I had sent my spider off for repair - the

I agree with the above. Sounds VERY classic. As mentioned, the ONLY sure fire fix is an inline electric solenoid valve between the fuel line coming from the fuel meter and the fuel spider. You can buy the valve and fittings seperately and probably save a little money. Or, you can buy the shutoff valve kit from John DeGregory. Either way, the fix is fairly simple and straight forward.
Also, it is better to pull the pan and check for bent rods, rather than pull one or both heads to see which piston no longer comes up to the top.
I also have a souvenir bent rod over the workbench, but I'm not giving mine away!
I had heard about this occuring with FI engines for many years, but the first time I observed it in person was at the NCRS nationals in 81 at St Louis. A guy rolled a 57 out of the trailer, pushed it to the parking spot, had it judged and then when he started it up---------------knock, knock, knock! He had to be sick! That convinced me right then that it really can happen!