Vapor Lock, My car died! Options

[warrenoliver]

I have searched for previous references to "vapor lock" and I found numerous references to the problem, but very few for prevention and fix.
This weekend, we finally had some summer like weather (IMG:style_emoticons/default/boldblue.gif) Temp was in the 70's and 80's. I used my 73' 2.0 (stock FI) for running a bunch of errands. The temp guage showed that the oil was warming up, but it never moved very much above the lowest line. I noticed that after my 3rd and 4th stop at stores, I had difficulty starting - it would fire right up, but then it would barely idle regardless of what I did with the accelerator - it would not respond to the accelerator at all. Some of the time it would stall, then I could restart and it would fire right up and run well.
On my way home, when I started up from a stop sign, the engine just died like it was starved for gas. It would not start even though it cranked just fine. It didn't matter what I did with the accelerator. I then did what every good thinking guy would do - I opened the engine lid and stared at it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) The engine was still there.
After getting a ride home, I returned about an hour later with jumper cables in case I ran the battery down. I tried starting it first and of course it fired right up!
I am assuming that it is vapor lock, but I don't know how to confirm that.
The question I have is: How do I prevent this from happening again? I do know that it runs fine when the temps are cooler, but I would like to drive it this summer.
The archives mention relocating to the front, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) but I am very reluctant to do that. What else can I do to prevent this? Once it happens, is the only solution to let it sit for a while, or can I do something to get it going quickly?
Thanks.

Warrenoliver

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

This weekend, we finally had some summer like weather (IMG:style_emoticons/default/boldblue.gif) Temp was in the 70's and 80's. I used my 73' 2.0 (stock FI) for running a bunch of errands. The temp guage showed that the oil was warming up, but it never moved very much above the lowest line. I noticed that after my 3rd and 4th stop at stores, I had difficulty starting - it would fire right up, but then it would barely idle regardless of what I did with the accelerator - it would not respond to the accelerator at all. Some of the time it would stall, then I could restart and it would fire right up and run well.
On my way home, when I started up from a stop sign, the engine just died like it was starved for gas. It would not start even though it cranked just fine. It didn't matter what I did with the accelerator. I then did what every good thinking guy would do - I opened the engine lid and stared at it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) The engine was still there.


Warrenoliver

Warren,
That sounds exactly like the problem that I was having several years ago. The temps and conditions you describe don't seem to necessarily indicate vapor lock. My vapor lock problems arise when it's really hot (90+), running hard and with very little fuel in the tank. Keeping the fuel level in the top half of the guage seems to alleviate the problem in all but the most severe conditions.

The problem that I had that was just like you described was attributable to bad intake manifold seals. After replacing them, the car ran fine, idled perfectly and no longer did I have any "hot" starting problems.

The first thing I would do would be to top off the gas tank and see if that improves the driveability in that the "cooler" gas in the tank is less likely to get so hot as to cause vapor bubbles that can "lock" your fuel pump. If that doesn't help, I'd look at the aforementioned intake seals.

Paul