1928 Auburn 8-90 Speedster

Hi Christian!
I got a '29 8-90.
As far as I can understand from your description, vapor lock is at least a very probable explanation. Of course, I can't rule out anything connected with ignition or the preheating system (mine is operational, but has not much influence on engine behavior if it is not rather cold outside - it tried it).
Is your mechanical fuel pump o.k.?
Somebody (i. e. I assume Kenneth R. Evenson, who restored my car) built in an additional fuel pump mounted somewhere below the driver's seat half concealed in the u-shaped left main beam of the chassis. It is switchable (by the switch right hand to the ignition key, which originally is used for the dashboard lights; this switch of course only gets "juice" only when ignition is on). Of course the pump is of a type which allows free flow of gasoline also if the pump is off. I have to use the pump only on mountain roads and sometimes on very hot days also on flat roads, if there is a traffic jam, or to restart after shutting the engine off, for refuelling e. g., when heat gets stuck in the engine bay, as the fan stands still.
Furthermore it is necessary to insulate the exhaust tube; as real asbestos is hard to get nowadays ask for stone-wool stove insulating thread at a hardware store; I used such material (about 8 mm gauge) to cover the exhaust tube from manifold to about bulkhead, tightly wound coil by coil; I think it took some 10 m.
I did not experience vapor lock problems when I use the additional pump and since I insulated the exhaust pipe in the engine bay.

Good luck and have a good time with your fine car!

E-mail the webmaster, Bill Hummel and he will help. Also have him change you to "ACD Club Member"
CORDially Mike

How do I put a picture under my name on the left side of my message.

BR

Christian

Hi again

Here is what I have tried so far. I took of the connection pipe between the inlet and exhaust manifolds and looked up into the exhaust manifold. There is no damper in there at all <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: -->
I then looked at the carb/manifold gasket and found it had a steel mesh build in. I then build a 10 layer fiber gasket about 5/8 inch thick. Took the car out an run it pretty hard for an hour..... no problems experienced. Perhaps that did it.....we will see. I will never drive anywhere without my cell pone, so my wife can come out and drag me home.

Thanks for all your god ideas and help.

Kurt, I have an updraft carburettor on the car.

Christian, has your car been converted from a updraft to a downdraft carb? A consealed electric fuel pump may solve the problem. I have one on all of my Auburns.

Glad you are Christian. Under your name it said new user. This means, not a member. The web master puts the title there but because of user names sometimes it is hard for him to tell.
CORDially Mike

Thank you all for some good ideas to try, and by the way, I am a member of the ACD club and has been for the last 5 years or so.
I am sure it is not the piston rings because the engine turns over fine when it stops. I still believe it is fuel related. I will try to find out if the valve in the exhaust manifold is stuck in the closed position and go from there. I will let you know how what it was when I find out.

Thanks again

Christian

Christian:
All the above suggestions are good ones and should be tried. New coils and condensers are never wasted money even if they don't solve this particular problem. When repairing these old cars without computers to tell us what is wrong, it gets down to trying one thing and then another to find the culprit.

If that heat valve is stuck closed, I would repair that immediately even if you have to remove the manifolds to do it. The owners manual states that in hot weather, it should only be closed for cold starting and then fully opened for the rest of the day. If that valve is stuck closed, the engine coolant may be at 180 degrees, but that carburetor and intake manifold are boiling your fuel. Lock it in the open position or remove it completely and plug the holes in the manifold if necessary.

Good luck,
Steve Stevens

Hi Christian, Have you verified what the temp. actually is with a infrared heat gun? Is your preheat valve not working open or closed? Your engine should be 246 cu, in, and 90 HP. What ratio did you regear to? You might have too much gear for the engine. Did you have this trouble before you changed gears? Have you tried a new cond. Easy to try, and they present variable symptoms. The fact that the engine suddenly stops is not my experience with bad coils or vapor lock. I did have that experience when the pistons where too tight in the bores and the engine actually sized. When it cooled down for 10 min. it started right back up like there was nothing wrong. Dropped the pan and looked up on the cyl. walls and I could see where the pistons where dragging on the walls. It didn't get all that hot either. Hope it is something else though.
After all the various people who have responded to you, how about joining The ACD Club. We would like to meet you and see your car.CORDially Mike

Christian , If Mike's method doesn't do the job , get a 6 volt Flame-Thrower coil from CBS Performance Automotive for $39 . Phone 800-685-1492 . A bum coil can have the same systems that you describe. Henry

Try wrapping the fuel line to the carb with an aluminized heat wrap. Available in sheets or tubing at any speed shop.

Hi all
I have a problem with overheating ( I believe ). If I drive the car on a 90 degree day for about an hour it certainly stops due to lack of fuel. After a complete cool down, it runs fine again. The cooling water sits at 180 deg. when driving. My manifold preheat valve does not work, so perhaps the carburettor becomes so hot that the gas in the bowl starts boiling and I get into a vapor lock? I have a 1/4 inch gasket between the carburettor and the manifold.
I am considering to isolate the preheat system with two thin plates slipped in between the flanges to keep the carb cooler.
Any ideas from anyone? I re-geared the car so it runs great at 60 mph.
BR