Failing Fuel Check?

[Rory McNeil]

When I first built my Mustang Stocker ,in 2003, I started out with VP 110 Red, for price, and not thinking my 8.4-1 compression 302 needed anything better. The 110 failed, I brought some more from a just opened barrel, and it failed too. Several other racers told me that lots of guys had good luck with C-12, so I bought some, and have been running it ever since, never had an issue at fuel check since. On occasion, I have tried Chevron mid grade pump gas at a bracket race, (car actually ran a tad quicker!), and when I needed to run at a divisonal race again, I would just unhook the fuel line for the carb, and pump out the factory gas tank till it wouldn`t pump anymore out, added a couple of gallons of C12, shake the car a bit, and pumped that out, then just added more C-12. The C-12 always passed after doing that. A buddy inheirited a Q/SA 65 Caprice a few years ago, which had sat for over a year, with 1/2 tank of C-12 still in the factory gas tank. Wouldn`t you know it, even THAT gas passed fuel check the first time he brought the car back out. I buy my C-12 by the 54 gallon barrel, and just take the fuel out of the barrell as needed, and even the year old stuff always passes. Now, a question, VP says that fuel in a sealed drum has an almost indefinite shelf life, any confirm that? I stiff have a bit of C-12 left in a drum from 2008, and I have a never been opened drum that I bought early last year, that I`m hoping will get me by for this season. Should I have any concerns?

[Ed Fernandez]

Originally Posted by Rory McNeil

When I first built my Mustang Stocker ,in 2003, I started out with VP 110 Red, for price, and not thinking my 8.4-1 compression 302 needed anything better. The 110 failed, I brought some more from a just opened barrel, and it failed too. Several other racers told me that lots of guys had good luck with C-12, so I bought some, and have been running it ever since, never had an issue at fuel check since. On occasion, I have tried Chevron mid grade pump gas at a bracket race, (car actually ran a tad quicker!), and when I needed to run at a divisonal race again, I would just unhook the fuel line for the carb, and pump out the factory gas tank till it wouldn`t pump anymore out, added a couple of gallons of C12, shake the car a bit, and pumped that out, then just added more C-12. The C-12 always passed after doing that. A buddy inheirited a Q/SA 65 Caprice a few years ago, which had sat for over a year, with 1/2 tank of C-12 still in the factory gas tank. Wouldn`t you know it, even THAT gas passed fuel check the first time he brought the car back out. I buy my C-12 by the 54 gallon barrel, and just take the fuel out of the barrell as needed, and even the year old stuff always passes. Now, a question, VP says that fuel in a sealed drum has an almost indefinite shelf life, any confirm that? I stiff have a bit of C-12 left in a drum from 2008, and I have a never been opened drum that I bought early last year, that I`m hoping will get me by for this season. Should I have any concerns?

Rory,is the 65 wagon Calvin Quehpana's old car?Take the gas to your first race and have it checked.If it's borderline I'd be suspect about it.

[Rory McNeil]

Ed, the 65 Caprice is a 4 dr hardtop, not a wagon. Years ago it was a Cal Method car, until recently owned by Doug Marx. As for Quehpamas wagon, I remember he had a white 66 Impala wagon a few years before he died, but normally I saw him running a 66 Chevelle wagon in P/SA. He may well have had a 65 Caprice wagon, but I can`t say that I have seen it before. Back in the 70`s & 80`s, it seemed that most guys that ran a 65 or 66 Chevy, must have had at least one of every body style & model "in stock" for changing classes with !!