Time to put that Carb Spacer in!

[Sheepdip]

Awhile back I ordered two 1" carb spacer kits from Summit, 1 for Otis my avatar, and 1 for Cheryl Ann the 40 Ford Coupe, but been too damn busy with other stuff to install them.

Today was blistering hot and I'm getting ready to build a 16' operated gate, so I drove over to Oakdale about 15mi. from home to the shop to check some quantity's of metal I got stored there with my Ice Cold A/C blasting away.
On the way home I stopped for fuel and when I got back in he started hard. got on the road Otis fell flat on his face under acceleration getting up to speed, I knew the fuel was boiling so I slowed to the right lane, shut off the A/C flipped the fan thermostat override toggle on and nursed him back up to traffic speed.

After 1/8 of a mi. or so it cleared up and drove 5 mi. home with my window down and fans running. Walked in the house and the wife says "Your Back is Soaked"

It's supposed to cool down to the mid 80's this weekend so I think I will make it a priority to get those spacers in. They don't cure everything but they help keep the fuel a little cooler.

Gotta love the old trucks!

[yuccales]

Do it buddy. Made all the difference in the world to mine. No more vapor locks! Throttle and trans kick down no problem.

['63GENIII]

I can only imagine that it was smokin' out there. Couple of years back, I had to go pull a trailer down to the bay from Pedro. Tandem trailer with a bent front axle. Pulled the bent side of the axle up with a ratchet strap, took the wheel off and away we went. 109 degrees that day when I came over Altamont. Had to have been hotter when I rolled back through Oakdale at 3 pm.

Those carb spacers work wonders! When I was running the 396 and had an Eddy on it, there were times that I could hear the fuel boiling! A bit disconcerting to say the least.

All of that went away with a 1" phenolic spacer.

[davischevy]

I have a spacer on my BB Longhorn.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Do it buddy. Made all the difference in the world to mine. No more vapor locks! Throttle and trans kick down no problem.

Looks like you have a Q-jet. Which spacer did you use? I haven't had any issues with vapor lock, but I don't think adding one would be a bad idea

[special-K]

My '72 K2500 cuts out on hard acceleration in the heat. It'll run all day driving normal. I've been meaning to pick up a phenolic spacer hoping to solve the issue.

Does ethanol boil at a lower temperature? I don't recall such these problems in the past

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Looks like you have a Q-jet. Which spacer did you use? I haven't had any issues with vapor lock, but I don't think adding one would be a bad idea

Came from Summit. Longer bolts and gaskets included. Will look through receipts tonite for a part number.

[Sheepdip]

Originally Posted by special-K

My '72 K2500 cuts out on hard acceleration in the heat. It'll run all day driving normal. I've been meaning to pick up a phenolic spacer hoping to solve the issue.

Does ethanol boil at a lower temperature? I don't recall such these problems in the past

I believe it boils at about 20 deg. cooler than straight gas. I've used these spacers in the past and they do work, but I just did not put one on the 40 and when I acquired the GMC from PO it did not have it either.

I'll install both this weekend. I have seen some made of wood, those are supposed to be superior....not sure, and I don't have time to experiment anyway.

[special-K]

Yeah, it was always wood spacers until phenolics gave a second option. You can stack these, too. Not usually what you need in a truck, though.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Came from Summit. Longer bolts and gaskets included. Will look through receipts tonite for a part number.

Thanks!

[72c20customcamper]

Have to say I've never had a problem running non ethonal gas in my carbed vehicles/ equipment. But when I get out to places that dont have it it's not fun.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by cwcarpenter98

Thanks!

Mr Gasket carb spacer # 3406. I got the phenolic plastic one.

[cwcarpenter98]

Originally Posted by yuccales

Mr Gasket carb spacer # 3406. I got the phenolic plastic one.

Thanks, that's the one I was leaning towards while I was looking at them all.

[Sheepdip]

Got the 70 GMC Flatbed heat spacer installed today, the studs Summit sent were exactly 1/2" short.

I ordered the 1" thick spacer kit with studs and gaskets, I think I got the studs for the 1/2" thick spacer.

Adapt and overcome....it's done.

[RodnRudy]

I used a 1/2" phenolic spacer when I built my 350 with an Eddy carb and manifold. I also used intake gaskets that had the heat passage under the carb blocked. Running an electric choke so I don't need to heat any fuel. I've never had a problem with fuel boiling or vaper lock.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

Adapt and overcome....it's done.

We got to do what we got to do! Hope it helps you out.

[burnin oil]

You have to be careful with phenolic. They are usually hollow so there is an increased chance of a leak depending on the intake casting. Its also easier to warp them if you snug bolts down. I run them but a little caution and yes the wood ones seem to work a little better. I wager it is because they are solid and have more mass.

[truckdude239]

ls swap solved all my fuel lock issuses lol

[dmjlambert]

New to me Quadrajet from National Carburetor bolted to the stock intake manifold, no spacer. I use the stock thin gasket and thin hot slot metal gasket (1969 and earlier), and steel fuel line routed so it does not touch the engine. Works great in hottest Texas days, using regular 10% ethanol 87 octane cheap gas. The small hot slot holes were blocked by my engine rebuilder. I wonder if he did that because I asked him to build the engine for regular gas.

[The Rocknrod]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

... The small hot slot holes were blocked by my engine rebuilder. ...

Do you have a pic of these hot slot holes?

[Dukk]

Wood makes for a superior spacer because it has a higher specific heat capacity compared to phenolic which means it insulates better. The obvious drawback is it is wood.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Do you have a pic of these hot slot holes?

Perhaps these, or the cross over.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Do you have a pic of these hot slot holes?

Yes, here's mine with the blocked holes.



And the incorrect thick gasket (left) and proper gasket and thin hot slot metal gasket (right)



More info:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=762751

[rgunlock]

Did any of you that have installed the 1" Mr. Gasket spacer have trouble with clearance for your primaries? I installed one under my Q-Jet and couldn't get the primaries to open. Loosen the nuts and move the carb a bit within the small tolerance of the studs and then I can open the primaries but they don't close all the way. So far, I can't find the sweet spot. I'm wondering whether anyone had to modify the spacer for more clearance? Or maybe I installed it upside down? I put the smooth flat side up.

[yuccales]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Or maybe I installed it upside down? I put the smooth flat side up.

For the life of me I can not remember which way I put it on, BUT I think the smooth side went down on the intake. Which ever way it went on, the small ones and the big ones both open up nicely.