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1957 Chevrolet 235 fuel boiling

1.5K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  tjsdelivery  
#1 ·
Hello guys I have a 1957 Chevrolet 210 with all original 235 motor with a Rochester bc on top. I have an issue with fuel boiling even though I have an insulator installed underneath carburetor. Any ideas on how to keep it cool? My symptoms is if I take her out for a short drive get it hot go into a store then try to start it again takes a good 3-4 tries before it will fire. Is that just the nature of the beast? Thanks for your help
 
#6 ·
First, use ethanol-free gas. Ethanol has a lower boiling point, besides being hard on carburetors.

Second, that stove pipe only heats the choke thermostat, and then only when the engine is running (it uses vacuum to pull in hot air).

Third, these carburetors have HUGE external bowl vents. Look on the rearward side of the air horn, and you'll see. Fuel evaporating from them is a fact of life.

Also, make sure the counterweight on the heat riser rotates freely. They do get stuck.

Finally, make sure you have the proper insulating spacer, which is about 1/2" thick and is not metallic.
 
#8 ·
I don't know about those engines, can you completely block the heat crossover? Even if you can it still might do it. This will unfortunately cause problems with the operation of the choke.
Different area's rules call for different fuel blends and some have a higher boiling point. You can do a search for the REID vapor value. There is a chance that buying gas in the neighboring county will have better gas, usually larger cities with smog problems have better gas. The worst conditions is when you are buying "winter gas" and have an unusually warm day. Winter gas has more butane in it and butane boils at 32F.
I have a 1" spacer, no exhaust crossover at all, and it can still do it some days if it's warm.
I tend to take as little time as possible when making a stop, still I'm toying with the idea of gluing a peltier junction on the rear bowl since for some reason that is usually the only one that boils. They take a bit of power so it would have to have a timer on it so it doesn't drain the battery. For now, if I stop for gas I open the hood, same when I get home.
 
#9 ·
I don't know about those engines, can you completely block the heat crossover? Even if you can it still might do it. This will unfortunately cause problems with the operation of the choke.
Not exactly.

The 235 intake and exhaust manifolds are bolted together at the carburetor mounting point, and are removed from the engine as a unit.

The 235 doesn't depend on a crossover for choke heat - it's pulled directly off the manifold's radiant heat (the stove pipe's inlet rests on top of the manifold).

On the up side, the carb sits off to the side of the block instead of on top of it, so radiant heat off the block while parked is a bit less of a problem than on a V8.