Engine Dies after freeway drive

[Ronbo]

Is the fuel cap vented? The other thing that comes to mind, when was the carb last rebuilt? Being that old of a vehicle does it have all the parts still on it? My mustang ran with like half a carb :roll: until I could get enough money to get another. I had the thing JB welded together and used coat hangar pieces for linkage rods It didn't run well but it ran. Some carbs had a dashpot on them to keep the throttle from just snapping shut from high speed, it kind of eased the throttle closed that last little bit. I dont "think" our sixes had 'em but you never know. Just some more stuff to look at

Question: Did they even have filters in the tanks in 62? My 69 did not but it was a different manufacture and it could have been removed.

 

[Born2Lose]

Was it a SoCal car before?

Was built in Los Angeles and has never left SoCal. Still has the original black and yellow plates.

 

[Born2Lose]

Is the fuel cap vented? The other thing that comes to mind, when was the carb last rebuilt? Being that old of a vehicle does it have all the parts still on it? My mustang ran with like half a carb :roll: until I could get enough money to get another. I had the thing JB welded together and used coat hangar pieces for linkage rods It didn't run well but it ran. Some carbs had a dashpot on them to keep the throttle from just snapping shut from high speed, it kind of eased the throttle closed that last little bit. I dont "think" our sixes had 'em but you never know. Just some more stuff to look at

Question: Did they even have filters in the tanks in 62? My 69 did not but it was a different manufacture and it could have been removed.

Its the original fuel cap i believe. Don't think it's vented. Carb rebuilt...dunno not since i've owned it. Doesn't look very fresh. Like i've said before i want to keep it as cheap as humanly possible so i don't take too big a hit when i sell it..eventually.

 

[Born2Lose]

Here's the wagon by the way.

 

[Ronbo]

Nice wagon! Thats huge for a 144 eh?

 

[Born2Lose]

Indeed it is. Which always puzzles me when people come to look at buying and are suprised when i tell them that sixty is about top speed for it..and it takes a while to get there.

 

[66 Fastback]

I don't doubt that it could be vapor lock. But it is not uncommon for my cars to have fuel filters that are not full. The ambient temps you cited are not something that should contribute to vapor lock.
But this comment caught my eye....

I noticed the green light was off on the sealed battery.

It sounds like you may have a battery that is low on charge or the charging system needs attention. After running on the highway, your battery voltage should be topped off. But if the charging system is not up to snuff, you could be drawing the battery voltage down on the highway instead of charging it.
Being a '62, I would assume your car may have a generator???
It is not uncommon for the generator to not put out enough power at idle or at a stop light, especially with an automatic transmission lugging the idle down a bit more.

It could be that the generator, voltage regulator or battery need replacement. It could also be as simple as cleaning some of the wiring connections or raising your idle speed to keep sufficient engine rpms up in order to charge the battery. But if your battery is not holding a charge or it is not getting charged, then you will have trouble idling a generator equipped car at the stop light. (and it sounds like you do this occasionally by dropping into neutral and revving the engine).

It could actually be a combination of the vapor lock or poor fuel delivery and low ignition power. If the mixture is going lean due to fuel delivery problems and your ignition is not up to par, then you will have trouble lighting off the mixture. Lean mixtures require more power to light off.
Doug

 

[Born2Lose]

The green light was only off after cranking it quite a bit to try and get it too start. When it cooled down for a few minutes it cranked it and it started right up. When i got home i put it on the charger but it was already fully charged and the green light was back on. I'm pretty sure it was just from the cranking it over and over again.

 

[Ronbo]

Doug, Good call! The charging systems back then were really funky and a generator puts a heck of a load on the engine.

Born2Lose, I "think", not the sharpest tack in the box, the indicator is not so much for charge as it is for the condition of the electrolytes. Someone else who knows more will chime in. If it's green it means its capable of holding a charge, not so much that its charged up. Make sense?

Ron

 

[jamyers]

Regarding air in the filters, I wouldn't worry a whole lot about it.
I've seen several vehicles that ran just fine with the filters anywhere from 1/2 full of fuel to "I can't see any fuel at all in there".

If you can, put a pressure gauge on the fuel line and test again. Should be 4-7 lbs pressure. You *can* have flow with very little pressure. The poor-man's pressure test is to hold your thumb over the end of the line - it should spray gas almost like a garden hose (7psi vs 30+, but you get the idea...).