Still working on the "new" 69 Electra. I was hoping to drive it today, which would be a first for driving and a first for really running on the in-car tank. I've been running it from a outboard marine tank. The car came to me with a glass filter in the line to the carb, and I put a filter in between the line on the frame and the pump. I started warming the car up, running from the outboard tank, and then reconnected the cars tank out back. The car died before pulling much fuel.... it never reached the carb. I refilled the lines with fuel from the outboard tank and tried again. Somewhere along the line I noticed that the fuel line was collapsing. Even the short piece of rubber line at the tank is collapsing. If the short piece of rubber line at the tank is collapsing the blockage can't be in the line. It must be in the tank. The tank is open... I don't even have a fuel cap, so it's not a venting issue. The car had been sitting, and the fuel smells nasty, but since I wasn't getting anything but dribbles I figured it was about empty, so today I dumped 5 gallons of fresh premium fuel in. I'm guessing the fuel pickup is sludged up and blocked. What am I dealing with? I'm used to fuel injected vehicles with fuel pump "modules" with the pump, sending unit, and checks valves and such. Rockauto doesn't have any tanks or parts for it besides caps, so I wouldn't know where to look for pictures of replacement parts. I don't really know what's in the tank. It's kind of a mystery box to me. I thought about trying to blow air through the line from the engine compartment, but I'm betting I'll just blow the hoses off the fuel tubing. I'm running short on time.... the weather is getting cold and wet for working outside in the driveway. I just want to run this thing through the gears before putting it away for the winter. Any ideas besides dropping the tank? I've got other stuff that needs my attention, before snow flies.
Sender: You have a float to tell the gauge what the level is and a pickup tube with a sock(filter) to suck the fuel out. Rust and sediment can block the filter.
If it is OEM/stock, then you have the sock, pickup tube and sender on the hanger. Replace the vent line rubber, check the vent tubes for obstructions (them mud wasps...)
Ok thanks, I was afraid dropping the tank was the answer. I was hoping there was something I was missing. I think what I will do for now is to get a longer piece of hose and put the outboard tank in the car with me, for my test drive. Unless we get some real nice weather real quick, I think that's going to be a spring project.
I'll make sure the line is secure. It'll be fine. I'm just going to go up and down a country road a few times, to get the car fully warmed up and go through the gears...assuming I find the brakes are up to it.
The 1969 Electra, Wildcat, andLeSabre fuel pick up and float is way different than other years. It looks like a sealed canister. It looks like this, AFAIK, that pick up is not available. I believe they can be rebuilt. I found this business, https://tristarrradiator.com/ You need to drop the tank and pull the pick up. It has a locking ring just like a fuel pump module.
Interesting - OP may be able to replace the sock and clean out the tubes. I don't see any mention if the level indicator is working or not. Anyway, you still need to pull the tank and see whats going on.
Wow, I would never have guessed it to be a canister style deal. Thank you for the illustration and business link. Where would a guy find a sock? I've seen them listed for my newer vehicles, but not my old Buicks. My gas gauge is pegged full. I don't recall if that would mean disconnected or grounded. I don't think I have any eelctrical working on the back of the car....headlights work though, even the one with broken glass
As far as finding a sock, I would pull it and see what it looks like first. You may be able to adapt a commonly available one. https://www.amazon.com/Airtex-FS253-Universal-Sending-Strainer/dp/B006I441LQ
