driv'n through hades and back (vapor lock)

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  • scott
    Overdrive
    • Oct 2006
    • 1226

    driv'n through hades and back (vapor lock)

    me and my iia move to 29 palms ca. average temps here about 105. back in albuquerque i was having vapor lock problem on days when the temps hit the high 90s. new exhaust, carb heat shield added, steal fuel line routed behind instead of over and the problem went away. the truck has been running great out here even with the 105 degree days.

    drove down to palm desert in the middle of the day, the truck she runs great. hang with my nephew and after a couple of beers i ask him if he want to go 4 wheeling. he drags my iia w/ his big dodge out to some desert canyons. 7pm and it's still 118. i did some serious pucker factor climbs and desents and now about 8pm we're crusin slow down a dry river bed and it vapor locks. now it's start drive 20 yards die, let sit, retart and another 20 yards. suns gone so i give him my shoes as he had sandles on, and my mini mag and send him on a 2 mile hike to his truck. after about 20 minutes i put the crank to it, cuz the battery's gone and get it going. get out of the river bed and limp back to the highway where i find his truck, turn arround and head out into the darken desert towards a bobbibg little light. it's the neph, he jumps end, we turn around make it about a 1/4 mile and PD lives up to her name. so we get out and start walking back to his truck. can't find it in the dark, walk in circles for more than an hour. find it and head off to look for PD. find her, hook her up and drag her back to palm desert.

    next day i head out for 29 palms at the hottest part of the day. 120 degrees (why do people live here?) she dies about 3 time befor i get to highway 10. i throw the spare and the bonnet in the tub. head down the highway and she dies. i wrap a shop rage around the fuel filter just befor the carb, wet it down and cruise doing about 30 mph on the shoulder. turn east on 62 and head back to the stumps, stopping every 10 minutes to let it cool off and cuz she dies. i finally crawl on to the base after an 1 1/2 hour drive that took 6.

    i've learn that even though i can't tell the difference between 105 and 120 Princess Died can
    '64 Series IIA 88 Canvas Tilt
    '68 Series IIA RHD Ambulance
    '76 Spitfire 1500
    '07 LR3 (Series Recovery Vehicle)
  • jp-
    5th Gear
    • Oct 2006
    • 981

    #2
    I didn't see a question in the story, but if you want to solve the problem you will need to:

    Insulate the fuel line.

    Use an electric fuel pump mounted under the truck on the frame and away from all engine heat.
    61 II 109" Pickup (Restomod, 350 small block, TR4050)
    66 IIA 88" Station Wagon (sold)
    66 IIA 109" Pickup (Restomod, 5MGE, R380)
    67 IIA 109" NADA Wagon (sold)
    88, 2.5TD 110 RHD non-hicap pickup

    -I used to know everything there was to know about Land Rovers; then I joined the RN Bulletin Board.

    Comment

    • LaneRover
      Overdrive
      • Oct 2006
      • 1743

      #3
      I am not sure why people live out there either. Did do a job in Phoenix in August once and had to bring my 65 Rover to it (which has original type fuel lines and pump). I only had a vapourlock problem once and that was at the ASU book store after driving, parking,driving parking and then dead. I let it cool down a bit and I was fine - but it might not have been 120.

      Yes insulating the fuel line and an electric pump by the tank may solve the problem in the future.

      But if the fuel in the tank is already hot from a 120ยบ day then it will vapour lock very easily. In a pinch you may have been better off stopping and getting some cooler fuel (may not have been an option) or stopping for ice to throw on the tank and another bag or two in your footwell as you might as well try to be a bit cooler too!

      Or, wait until it isn't 120 to go 4 wheelin!

      Let me know if you head down San Diego way!

      Brent
      1958 107 SW - Sold to a better home
      1965 109 SW - nearly running well
      1966 88 SW - running but needing attention
      1969 109 P-UP

      http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=64cfe23aa2

      Comment

      • scott
        Overdrive
        • Oct 2006
        • 1226

        #4
        i do have an elec pump by the tank. i didn't think about icing down the tank. i will insulate the fuel lines and i'll be in mirmar the end of sep.
        '64 Series IIA 88 Canvas Tilt
        '68 Series IIA RHD Ambulance
        '76 Spitfire 1500
        '07 LR3 (Series Recovery Vehicle)

        Comment

        • jp-
          5th Gear
          • Oct 2006
          • 981

          #5
          You could put some dry ice in the tank... Maybe...
          61 II 109" Pickup (Restomod, 350 small block, TR4050)
          66 IIA 88" Station Wagon (sold)
          66 IIA 109" Pickup (Restomod, 5MGE, R380)
          67 IIA 109" NADA Wagon (sold)
          88, 2.5TD 110 RHD non-hicap pickup

          -I used to know everything there was to know about Land Rovers; then I joined the RN Bulletin Board.

          Comment

          • scott
            Overdrive
            • Oct 2006
            • 1226

            #6
            i think i'll remove the psg seat and access panel, cut the bottom out of an ice chest and sit it on top of the tank. that way cold drinks and cool fuel will be right at hand
            '64 Series IIA 88 Canvas Tilt
            '68 Series IIA RHD Ambulance
            '76 Spitfire 1500
            '07 LR3 (Series Recovery Vehicle)

            Comment

            • daveb
              5th Gear
              • Nov 2006
              • 513

              #7
              Originally posted by scott
              new exhaust, carb heat shield added, steal fuel line routed behind instead of over
              LOL, cool name.

              Correct routing for the 2.25 fuel line is up and forward from the fuel pump, passing in FRONT of the valve cover but behind the thermostat housing, then back to the carb. I've always run mine this way and I've NEVER experienced vapor lock. I use the plastic hose that is stock for a series. I've also never driven a series in anything over 100F, so YMMV. What electric pump are you using?

              rgrds
              dave
              A Land Rover would never turn up to collect an Oscar. It'd be far too busy doing something important, somewhere, for someone."


              Comment

              • LaneRover
                Overdrive
                • Oct 2006
                • 1743

                #8
                Originally posted by scott
                i do have an elec pump by the tank. i didn't think about icing down the tank. i will insulate the fuel lines and i'll be in mirmar the end of sep.
                Damn! I guess that means I'd better get my Rover running well! I currently spend my weeks in LA and week-ends in SD, lets talk later in the month and maybe we can get together for a beer.

                Brent
                1958 107 SW - Sold to a better home
                1965 109 SW - nearly running well
                1966 88 SW - running but needing attention
                1969 109 P-UP

                http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=64cfe23aa2

                Comment

                • scott
                  Overdrive
                  • Oct 2006
                  • 1226

                  #9
                  daveb thanks. i'll try routing it forward as you explained. i've a cheap checker auto parts elec diaphram type. the neph suggested an impelar type. PD is crapp'n out today, 110 at noon and climbing

                  lane, beer is good.
                  '64 Series IIA 88 Canvas Tilt
                  '68 Series IIA RHD Ambulance
                  '76 Spitfire 1500
                  '07 LR3 (Series Recovery Vehicle)

                  Comment

                  • Leslie
                    5th Gear
                    • Oct 2006
                    • 613

                    #10
                    29 stumps..... only reason to live there is to train up folks like you to go to other places of the world as the military needs you, and you won't fall over instantly upon arrival! I've got a friend living in Bahrain right now (Navy, FWIW), and the stories he tells......
                    -L

                    '72 SIII SW 88"
                    '60 SII 88" RHD

                    Comment

                    • badvibes
                      3rd Gear
                      • Mar 2007
                      • 364

                      #11
                      Scotty-

                      Darnation! Thought we had the problem solved. Are you having any issue with the sediment from the fuel additive? Filters clear? What about your radiator issues? Leaks fixed? There is an anti-freeze, water replacement radiator coolant available. I don't recall the name. I'll try to run it down. It supposedly has greater efficiency than anti-freeze and water and can cool high engine temps better.

                      On a side note, the bulls are bugling in 5 already. No shots. Rain everyday, some hail. T's still in camp, I got back tonight. Going back Friday. Had to drag a blowdown, like that time with you, off the road to get back out today.

                      Jeff
                      1964 Series 2A SW, LHD mostly stock, often runs!

                      1991 Range Rover Hunter

                      Comment

                      • scott
                        Overdrive
                        • Oct 2006
                        • 1226

                        #12
                        dude you may have hit on something, and it ain't an elk. i haven't fixed the radiator and as much water as i've been adding there's gotta be no anti-freeze left in it. some marines just drug it back up to my quarters from where she died today. it's 830 pm and still in the 90s
                        '64 Series IIA 88 Canvas Tilt
                        '68 Series IIA RHD Ambulance
                        '76 Spitfire 1500
                        '07 LR3 (Series Recovery Vehicle)

                        Comment

                        • scott
                          Overdrive
                          • Oct 2006
                          • 1226

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Leslie
                          29 stumps..... only reason to live there is to train up folks like you to go to other places of the world as the military needs you, and you won't fall over instantly upon arrival! I've got a friend living in Bahrain right now (Navy, FWIW), and the stories he tells......
                          les

                          a squid in bahrain has got to be living the good life! if the addage "we sweat in training to minimize bleeding in battle" hold true then i ain't got crap to fret over. heck i'm soaked just walking from my house to chow
                          '64 Series IIA 88 Canvas Tilt
                          '68 Series IIA RHD Ambulance
                          '76 Spitfire 1500
                          '07 LR3 (Series Recovery Vehicle)

                          Comment

                          • badvibes
                            3rd Gear
                            • Mar 2007
                            • 364

                            #14
                            Scott-

                            There's a product called "Purple Ice" that increases the ability of your coolant to deal with extreme heat. It's an additive. There's another one that totally replaces the water and antifreeze but I can't find the name.

                            J
                            1964 Series 2A SW, LHD mostly stock, often runs!

                            1991 Range Rover Hunter

                            Comment

                            • LaneRover
                              Overdrive
                              • Oct 2006
                              • 1743

                              #15
                              I like the idea of a cooler with the bottom cut-off. Cool fuel and brews - just glad I don't have a series III so that I always have a bottle opener with me!

                              Though with my 109 Station Wagon I'll have to get that 'vacation smacking arm' that my Dad had whenever I was acting up in the back of the '73 Mercury station wagon if I want to be able to reach for a brew from the drivers seat!

                              Brent
                              1958 107 SW - Sold to a better home
                              1965 109 SW - nearly running well
                              1966 88 SW - running but needing attention
                              1969 109 P-UP

                              http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...2&l=64cfe23aa2

                              Comment

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