I am new to the forum and just thought I would put some information out that may be helpful to others. I bought a 1996 Cruise Master a year and a half ago. It sits on the Ford F53 Chassis and has the 460 gas guzzler. It had 36k miles when we got it. On the first short trip we took the motorhome wouldn't restart after stopping on a 95 degree day. It took approximately two hours with the engine cover off and fan blowing directly on the motor before it would run long enough to pull into the state park entrance. Long story short, after much research, I figured out a couple of things: The stock exhaust manifolds on the 460 are too restrictive causing excessive heat which then causes fuel to vapor lock at the motor. Second, I found out the original Ford fuel pump from that era does not have enough volume which adds to the vapor locking problem. Third, the transmission constantly downshifts and doesn't hold a gear worth a darn. My solution was a Banks System with trans command and updated Ford fuel pump. It now runs cool, has noticeably more power and holds its gears longer. In my case, it was well worth the investment.

Glad you found and fixed your issues. That was good trouble shooting. We have the 1993 Pursuit from GBM on the P30 chassis and love it. GBM made good houses in that era.

Hi,I also have a 1997 F-53 chassis with the 460" motor. I still have not replaced my fuel pump, and only have about 40,000 miles on my RV. I installed a Banks exhaust and Trans Command back when it was only 1 year old. Yes I agree that the Ford exhaust had huge problems with cracking and overheating. Banks is a very good system, and after more than 16 years, it is still working great - with the exception of the exhaust tip. I bent it while backing into a tire curb in a campsite. I only had vapor lock once. I had been running cheap fuel, and I think that was a big part of it. Also higher altitude can cause it. You mentioned it was one of your first trips. Keeping old fuel in the tank, and the octane can reduce, the fuel can degrade, making vapor lock more likely. When you changed your fuel pump, likely the tank was drained completely. Hopefully the old fuel was added to cars, and not put back into the RV. So likely you have fairly new fuel in the RV today. Fred.

I thought fuel vapor locks were a carburetor issue only, fuel inject systems are under pressure and that avoids vapor locks, are you sure there is not another issues such as fuel pump gets hot and shuts down..

timmac wrote:I thought fuel vapor locks were a carburetor issue only, fuel inject systems are under pressure and that avoids vapor locks, are you sure there is not another issues such as fuel pump gets hot and shuts down..X2 Ford had a lot of problems, with fuel pumps of that vintage.

I posted a similar query a few months ago about my Ford 460 V8 powered 1994 Holiday Rambler shutting down occasionally. The consensus of the board members was that I had a chronic fuel pump problem common to that vintage Ford. The last 500 mile leg of my Grand North American Tour and shakedown journey I made certain to get gas every 200-250 miles. A nuisance but the engine gave me no troubles and I did some pretty long steep grades going north on I-5 out of Redding. I plan to change out the fuel pump and am hoping this work-around I've been doing will work until I get back to Texas.Steve

1996 Ford F53 Vapor Locking | Good Sam Community

Geocritter
Explorer
Jul 02, 2014
You've made some interesting observations BK. As for my 1994 33' HR, it rides great, I haven't had any problems with the cruise control and the 4 wheel disc brakes work fine (knock on wood). Even though it visually needs rear sway bar bushings, I don't have any problems with sway, and the engine compartment/front floor area stays cool, which has been very important since my AC doesn't work. My rig was seriously neglected by its former owner and is currently a work-in-progress. I must just be darned lucky that I got a good one in spite of myself!

Steve
John_Joey
Explorer
Jul 02, 2014
Thanks for the response BK. My feet would catch fire also on a long haul. At least my CC worked like a champ so I could pull my feet backwards for a temporary break from the engine heat.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2014
My 97 was on a 35 Holiday Rambler chassis with tag. 16" tires.
It weighed over 19k EMPTY. 300 pounds CCC. It drove and rode fine on nice smooth new roads, like during the test drive. The front axel was at max rating.
It rode horrible on rough or when the pitch would suddenly change. It would whip side to side so hard it would throw stuff out of the cabinets. Constantly fought brake problems which were not adequate, had the fuel pump issue, popped ex manifold bolts the cruise control sucked.
I think on a 32' Rv it would been better. Going through the Appalachians was no fun.
The coach part was fine. No complaints about the HR part.
Oh and my feet would catch fire in the mountains
ThorResidencyNe
Explorer
Jul 01, 2014
I don't know why everyone dislikes the F53/460 combo. I have a 97 and think it rides great. Now, this is my first RV, but I really enjoy it and it's a pleasure to drive. I did replace the rear sway bar bushings and mine has a tag axle, so maybe that helps. However, for the price, it's a great motorhome. I also did the full Banks kit and transcommander to avoid all the issues mentioned earlier. I haven't had any vapor lock and my RV was made in 9/96'. Hopefully it has the newer pump in it.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jul 01, 2014
Big Katuna wrote:
I had a 97 F53 35'. Worst chassis in the world.

Without a doubt they are bread trucks, but just wondering what make did you have? My old GBM Cruise Master must have paid special attention to tank placement, since that F53 never once made me feel the way you do.

For those with older (16 inch tires) F53 I got a fairly good ride once I replaced the rear sway bar bushing, and got the front leaf spring shackles working. It was still a bread truck chassis, but then the price was right, and after those fixes I could do 400-500 miles in a day before I was tired. Prior to that 200 miles was enough.

Now when it came to braking and the care and feeding of those F53 parts.....
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Jul 01, 2014
I had a 97 F53 35'. Worst chassis in the world. I think the vapor lock symptoms was low fuel pressure due to the faulty pump. Once the pressure drops below 32 PSI the ECU goes wacky.
topflite51
Explorer
Jul 01, 2014
At one time I had an email from Ford stating that the last of the poor quality(my choice of words) pumps were installed in Oct/Nov of 1996. Sure hope that is correct. :b

Driving on the top half of the tank and during cooler temps is a good plan of attack to get you home, then you can replace the pump assembly.
John_Joey
Explorer
Jul 01, 2014
Had a '96 GBM Cruise Master on a F53/460 and never had a vapor lock or downshifting issues. The original fuel pump had a design issue and was swapped out by the original owner within a year of purchase. The rig would lose power according to his shop bill. The new design pumps require a new wiring harness. If you did not replace the wiring harness, then you had the new pump design.

Did you make sure you had spark, before assuming it was a vapor lock? Ford was also known for control module problems. They would run once they cooled down.
JimD10796
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
1996 f-53 with 38K. Fuel pump replaced within a week of purchase(carter pump). It would idle but cut out under acceleration.
royl
Explorer
Jun 30, 2014
A fuel injected motor will not vapor lock. The problem is the poor quality fuel pump that ford put in them. The late 97 models and up had the updated pump in them from the factory. Mine was built in December of 97 and I have had no fuel problems. I did also install the full Banks intake and exhaust system and the transmission control module, best money ever spent. It runs much cooler, pulls the hills much better and the fan clutch rarely locks in now unless it is over 90 degrees or so.

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