<VV> good news bad news

[N. Joseph Potts]

Very likely you have a hairline crack in the fuel line very close to, or in,
the flare. You've got to get this end under a strong magnifying glass to
even find it. The crack CAN be longitudinal to the line and just as likely,
it's transverse where the flare starts out from the tubing. Test this by
replacing ONLY the tubing and re-using all your other existing components.
My bet is, your leak will go away. Hope the damage to that sheet metal
finish wasn't too bad.
     These cracks, being developed by vibration and sometimes residual
torque, can develop very suddenly. Our cars originally came with clamps
attaching fuel lines to each other to reduce overall flexibility, and this
is what that is to prevent. Busy "mechanics" neglected to replace these
clamps, particularly after they broke, but Clark's sells new ones.

Joe Potts
Miami, Florida USA
1966 Corsa coupe 140hp 4-speed with A/C

-----Original Message-----
From: virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org]On Behalf Of Arthur Landis
Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 11:37 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: <VV> good news bad news


The good news is that my rebuilt engine runs like a top.  Thanks to Paul Fox
and his great work.  Good job Paul!  The car ran great and I was enjoying
the drive back home, stopping every hundred miles to check on things.  Now
the bad news.  After only 300 miles on the new engine, she developed a gas
leak at the right primary carb where the fuel line connects.  I put a wrench
on it to tighten it up but the leak got worse.  Gas was filling the engine
compartment and ruining the freshly painted sheet metal.  I shut it off and
removed the small line connecting to the carb for inspection.  Seeing
nothing wrong there I tried it again to no avail.  I shut her down and
figured some Teflon tape and permatex would patch it right up temporarily
enough to go the remaining 200 miles.  This was about 6pm and none of the
gas stations nearby had anything.  I had to walk an hour to Wal-Mart and an
hour back so it was after 8 when I got back to the car.  After letting the
permatex set up for an hour, I got the leak to slow up quite a bit but she
was still dripping.  I thought I would try to get going and just take it
easy but the tail lights went out before I ever got on the hiway.  I
discovered the fuse was blown so I just swapped the radio fuse for the tail
light fuse.  It blew immediately when I turned on the lights.  I tracked the
short down to the right tail light.  I didn't want to even attempt hiway
driving at night with no tail lights and a gas leak in the engine
compartment so I figured I would get a motel room for the night and leave in
the morning.  No vacancies at 4 motels so I just sat in the car and waited
for the sun.  This morning I headed out and made it home around 10.

Any thoughts on why the sudden leak?  Any suggestions about the short in the
tail light?  I just ordered a new fuel line, carb nut and gasket as well as
a tail light socket but I'd appreciate any advise.