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

[r_towle]

I live in New England, and its not super hot here...I moved my fuel pump, like the factory did in the later year cars.
The factory had a reason, heat and vapor lock was one of them....
Its a simple thing to relocate the pump.

I also recommend that you remove and clean the distributor, and clean and re-grease the advance plates.
I Always reccomend this...its my favorite $0.05 thing to do...
Every one I have ever seen needs this done.

In hot situations, if this has not been done, it can heat the distributor up enough that the plates will not return to the non-advanced setting after you shut the car down....now you can not start the car...seems like vapor lock, because you will see a good solid spark when you check the plug... but it wont start because the timing is 28 degrees advanced and the motor it turning at 200 rpms...
Next time it happens, see if you have fuel pressure.
Get and inline fuel pressure gauge, plumb it in the engine bay and leave it there for a while...safe and secure..
If it happens and you have good 28-35PSI fuel pressure, then it could be loose FI grounds, they also get affected by high temps.
If you are brave...when it happens again...there is a little 7 or 8mm bolt tapped into the top of the fuel rail (for a fuel pressure tester)
Just take that out, slowly...let the air out..put it back in...off you go.

Or, call the Capn...he could at least tell you what he did, and did not do.
He cant fix everything, it would cost a fortune...so he fixed some stuff..checked that other stuff ( at the time he checked it) was within specs...and sent it home..
These old cars always find new and exciting ways to mess with us...

Rich