So today, after cutting a couple of acres of grass, taking care of other chores, and extracting my '51 Land Cruiser from the Man Cave for a well needed cleaning, I decided to drive it about seven miles to my daughter's church for a fund-raising hot dog supper.
Off we go, 90 degrees and all windows down. This is one of the most fun to drive cars I have ever had.
Usually, my wife has the windows rolled up no matter what the temp is. However, this time, even she was OK with the wind blowing her hair.
I backed the car into a parking space on the black asphalt pavement. The front was facing the blazing sun. There is no shady area in this parking lot. We were inside the church gym for about half an hour, had a good meal and spent some time with the grandkids and friends.
As we left, my daughter and grand-daughter walked us to the car. It cranked up with out a hitch, made it about 15 yards and died.
I let it roll back to a parking space, pulled the hood latch, got out and attempted to raise the hood. Ouch! It was so hot, I had to abort that task and search for a towel to place between the hot metal and my hand. Once that was accomplished, I got the hood up and saw that the glass bowl on the top mounted fuel pump on the 232 was full of fuel. (no air bubbles) After removing the big oil bath air filter, I manipulated the linkage and noticed no fuel squirting in the carb. By this time, I was pouring sweat.
My daughter brought me a cup of ice water. I urged my wife to go back into the gym while I worked out the problem with the car. My son-in-law made a quick dash home to get his lawn mower gas can.
While every one was out of sight, I used the ice water my daughter had brought me to cool off the fuel pump and gas line. When my sun-in-law returned with his gas can, I poured a small amount of gas down the carb and fired up the engine. It cranked briefly and died again. One more shot of gas down the carb and it fired up and kept running.
My wife returned from the air-conditioned building and we had a trouble-free trip back home. This car has always been very reliable and this is the first time I have ever had it to vapor lock. I especially hate it when something like this happens when someone is along for the ride...especially my wife.
For me, a trip in one of these old cars is truly a trip back in time. Windows down, wind blowing, the aroma of honeysuckle blossoms, the ticking of the big Stewart Warner clock, and a steel car made by craftsmen proud of their work.
Unfortunately, for my wife, the memory will be of the time the car nearly left her stranded in a hot church parking lot, seven miles from home.
I plan to drive the car over two hundred miles to a meet in Boone N.C. this coming weekend. I hope this is not a new trend for the car.
Off we go, 90 degrees and all windows down. This is one of the most fun to drive cars I have ever had.
Usually, my wife has the windows rolled up no matter what the temp is. However, this time, even she was OK with the wind blowing her hair. I backed the car into a parking space on the black asphalt pavement. The front was facing the blazing sun. There is no shady area in this parking lot. We were inside the church gym for about half an hour, had a good meal and spent some time with the grandkids and friends.
As we left, my daughter and grand-daughter walked us to the car. It cranked up with out a hitch, made it about 15 yards and died.
I let it roll back to a parking space, pulled the hood latch, got out and attempted to raise the hood. Ouch! It was so hot, I had to abort that task and search for a towel to place between the hot metal and my hand. Once that was accomplished, I got the hood up and saw that the glass bowl on the top mounted fuel pump on the 232 was full of fuel. (no air bubbles) After removing the big oil bath air filter, I manipulated the linkage and noticed no fuel squirting in the carb. By this time, I was pouring sweat. My daughter brought me a cup of ice water. I urged my wife to go back into the gym while I worked out the problem with the car. My son-in-law made a quick dash home to get his lawn mower gas can.While every one was out of sight, I used the ice water my daughter had brought me to cool off the fuel pump and gas line. When my sun-in-law returned with his gas can, I poured a small amount of gas down the carb and fired up the engine. It cranked briefly and died again. One more shot of gas down the carb and it fired up and kept running.
My wife returned from the air-conditioned building and we had a trouble-free trip back home. This car has always been very reliable and this is the first time I have ever had it to vapor lock. I especially hate it when something like this happens when someone is along for the ride...especially my wife.
For me, a trip in one of these old cars is truly a trip back in time. Windows down, wind blowing, the aroma of honeysuckle blossoms, the ticking of the big Stewart Warner clock, and a steel car made by craftsmen proud of their work.
Unfortunately, for my wife, the memory will be of the time the car nearly left her stranded in a hot church parking lot, seven miles from home.
I plan to drive the car over two hundred miles to a meet in Boone N.C. this coming weekend. I hope this is not a new trend for the car.
'63 Avanti R-1384. sold 12/10.
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