fuel feed problem - a filter in the tank?

[Uncle-Pekka]

Howdy,

I have a sort of random problem with the running of my engine, I suspect it is due to failures in fuel feed: The engine often coughs when stepping on the pedal prior it accelerates. Also after a tight turn the engine temps to die off. Some times it has quite randomly simply died in the speed. In a couple of seconds it looses the power and immediately after dies. Then it requires long starting.

The carburettor is tight and sound. The engine idles fine and even, it responds to throttle without a load precisely - the problem only occurs when driving. I do have a fuel filter with a nylon grid btw. the pump and carburettor - there appears not to be dirt blocking it.

I do suspect the fuel pump, but then a friend with a 1946 D24 told, that there would be a filter in the gas tank. Since the car has has several owners during past 20 yrs. and it has never been throughly restored, I assume the tank may be corroded & rusty inside.

Where is the inner filter located?

Is there a way to pull out the filter, or how should it be cleaned?

[Norm's Coupe]

You may very well have a problem with fuel feed. However, from what you wrote it sounds like the problem is with the carb. It either needs rebuilding or better adjustment. Just because the car idles does not mean the carb is in good shape or it's adjusted correctly. Sounds like it could be a float or jet problem in the carb. Or, the pump in the carb.

[david lazarus]

Had a similar problem, firstly found fuel filter blocked (should have taken that as the warning) then when I replaced the filter continued to have probs. Found a whole lot of muck (bugs,dirt,rust) in the fuel tank...which randomly would block the tank outlet. Removed tank, cleaned and sealed with POR15 brand fuel tank cleaner/sealer. Never another problem.

[greg g]

There is an oilite filter in the tank around the pickup. It is unfortunately not removable for service. Oilite is a porous brass material, in this case it is a casting the surrounds the inlet of the fuel pickup. The simple way to clear it is to disconnect the flexible fule line just in front of the fuel pump, and put some low pressure compressed air to the line to back flush the line and unclog the filter. With the gas filler cap off, you should be able to hear a stream of air bubbles coming thought the tank.

I have often wondered what the inner coating process does to this inline filter. I guess it works but I would be concerned that the sealing material would plug this pickup filter. If you feel the need to remove the gas tank, take care when removing the fuel line fromthe tank, there is a small ferrell around the fule line that usually gets unnoticed and gets away. It get noticed really fast after the line is installed without it as the line will steadilly leak. It is a small brass piece about the size of a pencil eraser. Take care to locate it secure it and reinstall it.

[Harold M]

If you loose the ferrule[ as I did ] the brass outlet fitting from a master cyl. is the same thread , also use the brass washer.

[Fireball]

I lost that piece week ago when cleaning and sealing my tank. It's easy to loose since I didn't even notice the existence before installing the line pickup pipe back into tank, and it was loose. Well trip to a local hydraulic/plumbing store saved the day, they had a hose nipple with correct thread and I was able to install new lines afterall.

I secured my intank filter not to get glogged by sealer with blowing air "backwards" into pipe couple of times during first two days, thus keeping the sealer away from the filter. Seems to run now. Let's see what happens when I get it onto road for longer runs.

[greg g]

Hey Shel thanks for sharing that. But maybe you shoulda kept that one to yourself and started a little cottage ebay industry. You could make a few and auction them of as "ETHANOL SAFE" fuel line ferrels..........

[Norm's Coupe]

Greg, already thought of that, but didn't think there would be a huge market for them, and also thought about the liability factor. At todays gas prices I would probably be hunted down and pistol whipped if one did not seat properly and leaked that golden juice. Big pain to test fit them first. 10 minutes to make one. Cost less than 50 cents. Priceless if it works.

I did not lose mine,most likely because I was ready for it from following the forum threads several times about the lost *#@##^&$#^7 ferrule, but I am prone to doing such things, so I gave the nylon post a try just for a spare. I have picked up a larger nylon spacer along the same lines, but with a larger ID and OD, but I have not tried it yet. That would be needed for more flow for those modified flatheads.

Never could match anything up a the parts stores or the hardware that would do the deed unmodified.

Good point Shel. Seems everyone is sue happy today, so it's not worth the trouble if just one or two people complain. Right after I did my door panels several years ago, I had people asking me to make them and others saying I should sell them. Number one, I didn't want to because they take too much time. Number two, a lot of people are just too picky so I just refused to make them. It's not worth the grief.

[Uncle-Pekka]

Thank you folks!

Amazing amount of valuable hints and experiences in a nut shell in just one overnight (We finns sleep when you help us).

I just unplugged the fuel gauge sender unit form the boot floor and took a peep in with a flashlight. The bloody tank is full of garbage & rust! I drained it and made a sort of a spoon like tool to shovel most off before flushing it. I lifted about a quart of dirt throught the sender hole with my tank-spoon!

I suppose I've just found the major reason for the running problems...

I'll continue the report later on - Now excuse me, I'm off to continue the digging in the dirt!

Oh yeah - I'll also mind the ferrule - Let's keep at least one in the country in the spot where it should be - what do you say, Fireball?

[Fireball]

Oh yeah - I'll also mind the ferrule - Let's keep at least one in the country in the spot where it should be - what do you say, Fireball?

Sounds like a deal to me Maybe I should try to locate mine from the yard, and then sell it on iibey as an valuable matching number original part, and move to Hawaiji with the money collected... Naaaaah I rather live here where it is cold and dark and people are rude, taxes high and everything overpriced exept our salaries:p