59 to 61 and 62 fuel injection owners

[John D.]

Here's a good tip for some of you with 59/61 and 62 fuel injections.
If you are running a repro fuel line that goes from the engine fuel pump up to the fuel filter you may find that the line is practically touching the valve cover. Therefore the gas is boiling away during this hot weather before it even gets to the FI unit.
Solution is to get the line up in the air-away from the hot engine and you may experience a little improvement with your vapor locks and perculation problems.
To move the line up on a 62 my friend, Barry Homes, cut about 1/2" off the line where it screws into the 90 degree fitting on the AC GF-90 filter. Then he double flared the line and was back in business. He said it was a marked improvement. Others I have talked to are doing the same thing.
Not saying it's going to cure all of your heat problems but it will help. Another way to really cure the heat problems is to run without a hood. Or to step up to a higher grade fuel. One that doesn't boil at such a low temperature. 100 low lead aviation fuel is one good trick but unfortunately it's not legal for street use. Available only to you plane owners. I know some of you don't like the stuff but that's a personal issue.
But try working out on the fuel line and you will be amazed at the results. Also try insulating the main fuel line from the pump to the FI.
You old timers remember what Dale Pearman used to do. He insulated everything and his old Black 62 Corvette ran extremely well in the dead of summer. Not real pretty to look at but his 400 small block with a 62 FI didn't miss a beat.
Also try getting some cool air under the FI unit. Run an electric fan, etc. I don't know any other answers on the solution. Open the hood when it's hot and let the thing cool down and she will start real nice. Today's gas boils at a lower temperature folks. It's only gonna get worse you know. JD

[Clem Z.]

i also have seen the fuel line touching the bottom

rad hose,same problem adding heat to the fuel

[Bruce B.]

Raise gas boiling point

John,
I have been told that if you add a quart or so of desiel fuel to a tank of gas it will raise the boiling point and therefore help the gas percolation problem. My friend does it with his 58 fuel car and the engine runs pretty good in hot weather.
Bruce B

[Don H.]

Re: 59 to 61 and 62 fuel injection owners

John,

I just put my '60 FI back together and you are right, the line touches the valve cover.

Thanks,
Don H.

[John D.]

Re: Raise gas boiling point

Bruce, I bet the old Marvel Mystery Oil may help also. Directions on the can say 4 ounces to each 10 gallons of gas. I have heard that some of the lead additives have diesel (desiel) fuel as a carrier so your friend has an interesting discovery when you think about it.
Another proven tip to combat the heat problem in 57 to 62 is to install a one piece base gasket between the FI and base plate (intake). Barry also told me that he insulated under the base gasket with some sort of material between it and the base plate. Just raising the fuel line, the one piece gasket & the insulation drastically improved the heat problem while still running pump gas on his 62.
BH if you are nebbing in as you usually do him feel free to jump in at any time. I mean we need all the help we can get with this problem. It's effecting many thousands of our favorite cars.

[John D.]

Re: 59 to 61 and 62 fuel injection owners

Don, In thinking about the configuration of the 59 to 61 FI fuel line you may have to reshape it somehow. I just went to look at one and it's not as easy to alter as the 62 line. I am sure though that you can come up with something.
I think you and others should tell the company you bought the line from that it is causing a lot of problems. Funny though that you are the only one that has chirped in and noticed this. I mean there has to be hundreds or thousands of you out there with 59 to 62 fuel cars that could take a look under your hood and report back as to your findings on this line thing. And then do something about it as if the gas is boiling before it hits the FI then forget it for sure. If you are not showing your car insulate this line also. Do what ever it takes to keep the line and components cool. Run an electric fan directing some air under the plenum also. See old posts for this info.
But when the weather reaches 90-100 park it and use the late model w/AC. John

[John Nuzzo]

Re: 59 to 61 and 62 fuel injection owners

John DeG., I thought I'd try and post a pic of my fuel line which I'm sure is the very original that came with the car. The fitting at the filter is quite chewed-up from using vise grips in the old days but I have been too lazy to put on the repro spare that I've had for years. I have to admit that I almost never drive my car in the heat of the summer anymore, but I don't remember having vapor lock but once in recent years. I have recently tried Podell's MAX LEAD and have ordered a case of KEMCO's same product. I have a feeling that a high dose of this stuff which appears to be pure lead (60 grams per qt ?) may stop any vapor lock. Not sure yet, but the car does run very strong with it and I have the timing set to the old 10 degrees advance on the tab. If I did this correctly, this should be a pic of my FI motor and the fuel line in question. Would be interested in your comments re: height above the valve cover (I never messed with it.)THANKS, John Nuzzo

[Verle R.]

Re: 59 to 61 and 62 fuel injection owners

"But when the weather reaches 90-100 park it and use the late model w/AC."

John,

That is spring time weather in Oklahoma (along with miscellaneous mild winds). What do we do the rest of the summer and fall?

Verle