Gas Tank Swap Leads To Aaa Call. Awww Crap

[greg g]

So today I had the gas tank that Young Ed was nice enought to part with installed at the dealership I work for once in a while. Glad I didn't try it at home. Old one came out pretty easily and with no harm to the straps. Took 2 hours with the lift a trans jack,an a much quicker fellow than me twisting the wrenches. The tank out let on the newer one did not match up with the fittings on the car's fuel line so some adapter fittings and a new outlet line needed to be ginned up. I had replaced a rusted out section of steel line years ago with some newer rubber stuff (or what subs for rubber these days) so instead of a 5/16ths line feeding the rubber line, it is now a 1/4. Hope that is not the problem. Any way got everything squared away put some gas in and checked for leaks and drove away, got about 2 miles and it started starving for gas. I am currently waiting for AAA to haul it back home where I will change out all the filters, I have three inlines installed as a result of rust problems with my old tank, and will back blow the lines into the tank with some compressed air and see it that returns things to a driveable condition.

What do you guys thing about the 1/16 reduction in Id of the outlet line??? I can;t see as that would restrict flow enough to effect driveability, do you. Maybe one of you engineering types can do a flow comparison in gallons per hour.

Arrrrrrgh!!!!

[Mark D]

did you blow out the lines before reconnection to the new tank?

[Don Coatney]

I would not think the reduction in the supply line would cause the problem. But if you are using a hose clamp to secure the old rubber hose to the now smaller line that may be a problem. If you suck any air on the suction side of the fuel pump it will not pump fuel. Path of least resistance and all that stuff.

[Dave72dt]

disconnect the lines at the tank before you blow back through them.  No reason to blow crud into a clean tank just to suck it back up a gain. 

[JerseyHarold]

If the new lines were rubber they could have reacted to the gasoline and swollen shut, or the pump suction could have collapsed the tube.   Is there a tank vent and is it clear?

[greg g]

The new flex lines are rated for the new fuel. Good point on disconning the line at the tank. Gotta get some new inline filters to so looks like a busy day tomorrow. Don, I think that the suction thing is OK as it ran great till it quit. I think an air leak would have caused a noticable probem with flow but not a complete stoppage.

Edited May 20, 2013 by greg g

[greg g]

Also when I pulled the car out of its winter spot this AM. there was trans oil in the drip pan under the trans. The only place it looks to be wet is around the speedo cable. But that shouldn't be leaking while its just sitting. I have a small weeper between the gear box casting and the tail shaft, but that seems to be a very minor deal. Guess I will have to clean it all up and see which is the biggest contributor. FRont of trans to bell housing is dry.

[_shel_ny]

nla

Edited May 26, 2013 by shel_bizzy_48

[greg g]

Spent a couple hours on the thing this afternoon, Got s new piece of flex line and plugged it into the fuel filter i have spliced in behind the door. Put the other end into a 2 gallon can and sshe started right up so thaat eliminated any probles from there forward. I hooked up the new line to the tank,pulled it out of the can, aprayed in a bunch of throttle body leane into the flex line, and then blew some compressed air through back into the tank. Did this three times. Then I dropped it into a catch pan, taped off the filler and put some compressed air to the tank. Flow started out very feeble but then built to a good level. So I reconnected everything and fired her off. Drove about 2 miles with no problem, then ran into a bit of a stumble but got home OK. Going to run a couple jugs of fuel system cleaner through it and hope that it will clean any residual crud off the pickup.

So how come I can see no gas in the see through filter while the car is running. I can see a small bit of flow but the canister doesn't seem to have any gas in it as the car is running even when I hold it at about 2000 RPm.

Edited May 22, 2013 by greg g

[Alshere59]

My guess is the filter on the pick up tube in the tank. I would drop it, clean the tank and try again.

[greg g]

Taking it out agai will be my last option.

[54Illinois]

I blew out the old screen on the 54 Plymouth with air.  I installed a filter near the carb.