Gas tank fuel line not seating completly, fuel line loose, leaks

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

In process of getting my 47 Plymouth running after last time it ran was in 2001. Drained old gas from tank. Disconnected gas line at the tank which oddly had a black rubberized gunk loaded around the fitting with electrical tape to hold the gunk in place yet later finding it was holding back a gas leak. I removed the tape and rubberized gunk to remove the gas line from the tank to blow out bad gas or possible blockage. Line was clear after blowing 20 psi air thru the line. Re-install the gas line to the tank, tighten fitting, couple gallons of gas in tank and the gas is dripping from the fitting and gas line. Ok I'm thinking maybe the hand bend line may have gone wrong and the gas found an escape route. Next to replace the 5/16 line at the tank and noticed i've got a problem. The threaded fitting tightened is not enough to seat the flared gas line  to the tank. I need a threaded fitting at least another 1/4 inch since now the gas line is free floating, able to spin and moves the 1/4 inch at the tank sliding back and forth. I have a second spare tank and the same issue. Been to two auto parts stores with spare tank to show problem and also to 2 local antique car restorers in town. They all agree with my findings but have all found the threaded fitting on the line is too short and the fitting is a standard length. Suggestion is to find a business that specializes in a threaded fitting with extra 1/4 thread length to seat the lines flare into the gas tank. Or come on here and post to see where the problem is from seasoned Plymouth veterans.

[fordkustom]

evco house of hose

[Dave72dt]

If you used a standard brake line to replace the fuel line, check the other end of it.  You'll find that one of the fittings is longer than the other.  Use the longer fitting.  You can also get the longer fitting separately and reflare the line with the longer fitting if by chance the current fittings are the same length.

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

If you used a standard brake line to replace the fuel line, check the other end of it.  You'll find that one of the fittings is longer than the other.  Use the longer fitting.  You can also get the longer fitting separately and reflare the line with the longer fitting if by chance the current fittings are the same length.

Both auto parts stores tried to find the longer threaded fitting and only found the longer fitting on a 3/8 line. The 5/16 line fittings are one length only and when seen it was just one length the remark was "wtf" every time. I will measure the threads per inch and OD of the fitting and dig deeper online for one that's longer which seems to be my only choice at this time.

[Don Coatney]

Can you not change the fitting in the tank? By the looks of the flare seat it looks like it needs replacing.

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

Researching and finding fittings at 3/8 long enough but need for 5/16. The name of the fitting is called a Dorman fitting with the inerted flare to mate to the tanks outter flare.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Leroy_47_Plymouth

[Plymouthy Adams]

are you not supposed to have a ferrule at the gas tank bung and the line itself...

[Captain Neon]

Dorman is just a brand name.  It is not a type of fitting.  It is like calling a refrigerator a Frigidaire, or a sewing machine a Singer.  Dorman is one of the big names in aftermarket auto parts.  I don't think there is an aftermarket auto parts supplier that doesn't carry at least some of their stuff.

[dpollo]

Somebody has lost the ferrule which goes between the gas line and the inner tank line. (see Plymouthy's comment)  It is a little barrel shaped piece which mates up with the inverted flare on each of the other lines.  Without it you are sunk.

 

  A brass fitting and someone who is good with a lathe will get you rolling.  Possibly a ferrule from a brass compression fitting might work

 

 In 49 and up, a fitting with a longer snout on it and half a flare on the pipe  took the place of the ferrule.  Master cylinder connections used a similar flare nut in the sixties.  So also did the splice in the fuel line on 49 and up.

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

Dorman is just a brand name.  It is not a type of fitting.  It is like calling a refrigerator a Frigidaire, or a sewing machine a Singer.  Dorman is one of the big names in aftermarket auto parts.  I don't think there is an aftermarket auto parts supplier that doesn't carry at least some of their stuff.

Thank you for clarifying the name Dorman where views of inner and outer flares were being shown that it was lead to believe it was the difference as to both were to mate/connect on say splicing lines together. Much appreciated.

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

Somebody has lost the ferrule which goes between the gas line and the inner tank line. (see Plymouthy's comment)  It is a little barrel shaped piece which mates up with the inverted flare on each of the other lines.  Without it you are sunk.

 

  A brass fitting and someone who is good with a lathe will get you rolling.  Possibly a ferrule from a brass compression fitting might work

 

 In 49 and up, a fitting with a longer snout on it and half a flare on the pipe  took the place of the ferrule.  Master cylinder connections used a similar flare nut in the sixties.  So also did the splice in the fuel line on 49 and up.

Ahhhhh! Now it's making sense if the ferrule between gas line and inner tank line. And yes I'm definitely sunk without it. One of the body shop guys I spoke with did have a solution using a compression fitting in such a way that would compensate for the 1/4" needed to tighten the gas line to the tank. Knowing now I have a good idea as to where I'm at 24hrs prior. Thank you dpollo for your input and info.

[busycoupe]

Several years back I took my fuel tank out and lost the ferrule in the process. I bought a plumbing compression fitting ferrule at Lowes and filled one end flat. No problems in seven years.

[_shel_ny]

You can make a ferrule from a nylon spacer from Lowe's.  Just need to bevel the ends to match the angle of the fitting.

 

The I.D. is smaller, but I ran one for several years with no fuel starvation issues.

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

You can make a ferrule from a nylon spacer from Lowe's.  Just need to bevel the ends to match the angle of the fitting.

 

The I.D. is smaller, but I ran one for several years with no fuel starvation issues.

Wow great if this is the best route to go with no issues with busycoupes post and shel_ny with some awesome pics and dimensions to help then I'm all for it and it's working all these years. I'll open the ID for my own peace of mind tho no issues to date and will open to the same as the ID on the gas line. Great job guys. I'll update with pics on results.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I see no reason to make the ferrule ID larger....the line itself is your biggest problem due to age and internal corrosion for the most part..(restrictions)..given that you had 21 gallon tank and drove for one hour....you could deplete your tank by just gravity flow in that time span..hardly think your engine is sucking that much fuel..

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

Ok update after a trip to both Home Depot and Lowes. Seems the stores here in NH don't carry the metal ferule nor the plastic one. I have 2 other alternatives. There's a hardware store in Mass that been in business in the city I grew up in since 1920's. They carry every piece of hardware under sun, moon and stars of every grade. And I have a parts store in Washington state with the NOS. I'm no stranger to chasing down parts. They great part are the people I meet in my travels.

[Plymouthy Adams]

often the ferrule is part of the compression fitting in big box stores...often hardware stores from the olden days will have a few ferrules serviced by line size out of a display box.....

[Young Ed]

Spend about 10min with a piece of brass, a drill or drill press, and a file. Dad and I cranked out a homemade one doing that. Hold the file at 45° to the fitting until it cuts through. Do both ends clean it up a little and bam done.

[_shel_ny]

Would not expect HD/Lowe's to carry the metal ferrule, but very off that they do not have the Hillman nylon spacer in the pull out drawers in the hardware section.

 

There is a spacer assortment online with ship to store $4.98  EDIT: not sure what sizes in it.

 

I will try to find the part #.  Had  a pic, and also posted it here in the past, but I think the search only goes 2 years now.

 

 

EDIT: Lowe's may have dropped those 2 packs in the US.  Seems Lowe's Canada may have.

Edited July 22, 2016 by shel_ny

[_shel_ny]

Try # 815118  at Home Depot in Salem, or Nashua

[Leroy_47_Plymouth]

Paid a visit at an old hardware store where everyone in the city knows you can find any hardware you're looking for. A brief browse in the place and a point in the right direction after a quick description of the soon to be modified ferule I found a brass nipple that had the right stuff for the job. I was able to cut and grind/file to size as I needed to fit into the flaired 5/16 gas line and to the tank with the right length I cut at .407 bored open to .234. Filled the tank with approx 8 gallons of gas. I covered the gas filler with a heavy duty tape, cut a hole and blew in 45 psi of air to fill the line and the glass bowl of the fuel pump. My next task is getting the engine to run. A second carb I have is out for rebuild. With all the advice and help it was all taken into consideration. The ferule is installed, no leaks. Onto the next task to get the Plymouth running since 2001.

[48ply1stcar]

Very cool, I need to put gas in my tank for the first time in 4 years.

 

I have a disposal filter in the line well before the fuel pump, so I'll change that soon after.