Boy, it sure is hot in here....(windy version)

[D&L Walters <WALTEE@prodigy.net>]

Hey peoples,
Just ran headlong into a problem that I haven't encountered in about ten
years. Ran my Notch down into town to take care of some work related
business, sunny and in the upper 80's. ~35 miles of highway, followed by
about 5 miles of short, traffic light-to-traffic light stop and go. The
car ran fine, as most usual. Went inside, shot the you-know-what for
about 15 minutes (while my daughter did the spin cycle off the wall
routine), figured it was time to go and wouldn't you know it-the car
won't run, starts-but won't run. Checked under the hatch and: 1) fuel
filter is half full, usually it's full, and 2) there's no fuel going
down the carb throats when pumped. Oh no! vapor lock! Waited about 15
minutes for the engine to cool, plus another hour for the passing
thunder storm, started it up and drove back up to home with a stop at
Micky D's for my daughter for being so good. Darn it! Same thing again.
This time, we chugged along for a minute or so and over rode it, then
skedaddled home. The $64.00 question is what have I done to bring this
nasty behaviour out in my car? Recent changes (all within the past two
months) are a Thunderbird exhaust w/ single QP & ceramic coating (one
size up from the last one, but I don't think that's it), two new heater
boxes (yeah, but these have the blankets and the old ones didn't), new
fuel pump (mechanical, a Bronsol, the old one was the domed type) and
elephant feet adjusters. I hadn't bumped the carb jets up one size with
the new exhaust like I was told to, but it was running better and the
fuel milage actually went up afterwards. I haven't reset the timing
(electronic pickup, 7.5 BTDC, I don't quite remember the full advance
but it was set as to the builders specs)) but I did set the valve lash
this past weekend. The head temp. gauge didn't register any hotter than
usual (ya listening, Toby E.?), so this was quite unexpected. I will
have to do the old take a step back and look at the results repair
evolution when I get off work on Weds. but until then, any quick
suggestions? Like I said, last time it was strictly timing so that's
what I'm leaning to this time. I'll keep you all posted with the
prognosis.
David Walters
'73 1.6 liters of vapor locked Notch
S. FL, USA