no-start issues, not a moment too soon!

A clean fuel system starts with the tank. I use Carb cleaner, bbs from a bb gun, and trans fluid to clean the fuel tank. Replace the fuel sock in the tank as well. I remove it using a floor jack and some plywood then drain it (dispose of old fuel as required) hang it from the rafters by rope then swish it around with the cleaning mixture. Rinse with fresh fuel... This disolves the dirt and varnish that builds up in ANY fuel tank over the years. Dispose of the fuel/varnish and bbs as required.

 

Does anyone make a tool specific to remove the tank pickup assembly? A kind of key for it or something? It's a bit, well, rusted shut and I'm quite nervous about opening it without creating explosions and such. It's been closed for a loonngg time apparently


BBs Sean? Ball bearings, the ones from the sporting goods store that I used to shoot things with, is that what you mean? I think I understand the explanation and I'm pretty sure this fuel system hasn't gotten such good treatment in a long time, if ever!

 

I just make sure the tank is empty then use a large flathead screwdriver and tap it with a hammer. I am sure there is a tool though... If the tank is not empty then siphon it out of the tank or turn it upside down and drain it out.

Yes BBs for a BB gun... The ones you shoot things will LOL. The trans fluid and carb cleaner loosen the crud, the BBs help loosen up the stuff.

I do this on all the old vehicles as soon as I buy them, it works great!

 

I never found anything clogged, nor any dirt or big chunks of something that could clog a fuel line. I did find a torn screen hanging from the fuel pickup, and the parts store says they can't get one...also I found a red plastic neck from a gas can that I guess somebody let fall in a long time ago!

since the tank was already out, I sanded off a bunch of rust, gunk and undercoating while cleaning up. I never got any much dirt out from inside the tank, it looks great in there!

anyway I dunked the pickup back in the tank and the car runs fine now. I haven't reinstalled the tank properly yet, but first I want to replace that pickup screen somehow. The parts store is checking tomorrow if they can actually get a new pickup/fuel level sending unit, but it would cost at least $120. Ideas?

 

Looks like Rock Auto has the fuel tank sending unit - "Includes Fuel Sender, Float and Strainer" (does not include pump) for $39 or $40 depending on whether you have the return line or non-return line configuration.

 

I can't believe how hard it is to find a strainer for a fuel pickup that still works just fine

 

Glad you are here on the board,,,,,, forget the sock in the tank,,, they are nothing but trouble.... take the thing, write a note that says ,''this thing aint worth a dang'' ,,,, attach the note to it and throw it into the first river that you get to.....:laugh: :laugh: then install a good , large, fuel filter in a place where you can get to it easy to change it when you need to....

 

I never use them after I clean the tank...

 

I feel the need for something to protect the tube in the tank, there is a marble or something in there and I tried for about an hour to get it out, honest but I never even actually saw the thing! So I made a kind of bulb shape out of a piece of stainless steel screen and stuck it over the pickup with a hose clamp.

I wish I would have tried starting the engine before putting the tank all the way back up there and pouring a few gals of gas back in it, because I obviously need to back up a few steps and change something. It's back to not starting...started right up with the tank on the floor using an extra hose to connect the fuel pickup, but that was before the homemade screen, before I secured the pickup/sending unit, before I put on the new fuel cap.

How much air should the tank be able to breathe? I can see a possible issue with the fuel pressure...just because it's old-school. There are 2 hoses acting as vents leading 6 inches up to free air from the back of the tank, and I changed both just because.

Oh and thanks Doc, I'm liking that idea about the easy-to-reach filter.

 

Are you still having trouble starting the engine? Maybe you have something stuck in the line between the tank and the fuel pump. have you turned over the engine with the outlet of the fuel pump plumbed into a container? This can tell you if the fuel pump is working.

 

Yes, I managed to get side-tracked and forgot to post about it.
I think at some point the battery became too weak to turn the starter fast enough, so the charging system may be the next project.
I've gotten it around the block a few times and back home safe, so I think the fuel system is working well enough for me. Maybe I flooded the engine in my impatience, and cranked too much juice out of the battery, but then I got frustrated and had to forget about it for a week.
I managed to spend a couple hours and a lot of 5-dollar receipts at the parts store last weekend and now I have working interior lights! More little fix-its going on that I will post about separately.

Thanks to you guys for helping me work through it!