My son was driving his early 65 Mustang on Monday afternoon and it died while accelerating up a slight incline after a 4 way stop. This is the first time this has happened in 2 years of driving. He said that he had been driving around for a little over an hour. It was over 100 degrees outside at the time. He said that the car didn't over heat. There was coolant in the radiator and there were no signs of coolant leaks so I think we were good there. We pushed the car up the incline and into a parking lot. It had spark, and I could get it to try to start with carb cleaner. I was lazy and it was too hot to try to work on in the parking lot so I called a wrecker and had it towed home.
The next morning I tried to start the car without any luck and then took the fuel line loose from the rubber hose at the inlet filter to the carburetor. I then cranked the car over for about 10 seconds with fuel line feeding into a plastic soda bottle until fuel started pumping. I put everything back together and the car fired right up and has run fine ever since. Several startups and short trips. My guess is that it was vapor locked and I just didn't try to start it long enough before taking the fuel line loose? I went ahead and ordered a new fuel pump from Rockauto but have not had a chance to install it yet.
Should I go ahead and replace the pump?
Is the vapor lock theory a valid one or do I have another under lying issue?
Has anyone else experienced something like this?
The engine is a 170, carburetor is a Motorcraft service replacement (Holley 1940), Ignition is a Pertronix setup. I do still have the heater hose plumbed through the base plate spacer on the carb.
I appreciate any and all input!
Thanks,
Kevin
The next morning I tried to start the car without any luck and then took the fuel line loose from the rubber hose at the inlet filter to the carburetor. I then cranked the car over for about 10 seconds with fuel line feeding into a plastic soda bottle until fuel started pumping. I put everything back together and the car fired right up and has run fine ever since. Several startups and short trips. My guess is that it was vapor locked and I just didn't try to start it long enough before taking the fuel line loose? I went ahead and ordered a new fuel pump from Rockauto but have not had a chance to install it yet.
Should I go ahead and replace the pump?
Is the vapor lock theory a valid one or do I have another under lying issue?
Has anyone else experienced something like this?
The engine is a 170, carburetor is a Motorcraft service replacement (Holley 1940), Ignition is a Pertronix setup. I do still have the heater hose plumbed through the base plate spacer on the carb.
I appreciate any and all input!
Thanks,
Kevin