Fuel is a funny color.......

[67dartgt]

Hey guys,

I just replaced the pickup in the tank, the metal line from the tank to the engine compartment, the rubber lines from there to the new fuel pump and on up to the carb. This is in response to low fuel pressure problems, so i enlarged the line and put a holley mechanical high volume pump on it, and had a fuel pressure guage temporarily rigged in the line that reached to the windshield so that I could watch the pressure while driving. Well, I went from 4-5 psi to 7-8, and the car LOVES IT! 

Tonight, i went back to remove the temporarily rigged pressure guage, and the gas that came out of the lines is a nice red/orange color. It was not like this before I changed the lines and was wondering what everyone's thought was. Everything up to and including the fuel pump from the tank is new. The old screen on the old pickup was a bit clogged, do you think i'm pumping rust through everything? If so, as long as my filter is in place before the carb, I should be good to go, yeah?

- Don

[68_Val_Sedan]

time to replace the tank ... the rust will eat that pump up in no time ...

[chryco]

Did you put any octane boost in there ?

[67dartgt]

No. no octane boost.

[dodgeboy]

I had the same fuel problems and tried all the same solutions you have in an effort to avoid replacing the fuel tank. I learned the hard way and had to replace the tank anyway. Oh well, at least all my fuel system is new now.

Roger

[67dartgt]

Is this going to hurt the engine in any way? Due to recent starter woes and some other issues, I'm not sure a new tank is in the budget until later this summer. Any thoughts?

- Don

[Crazy68Dart]

Is this going to hurt the engine in any way? Due to recent starter woes and some other issues, I'm not sure a new tank is in the budget until later this summer. Any thoughts?

- Don

Put up a want add.  I am sure you will find a nice used one on here somewhere that someone has pulled to replace with a fuel cell.  I sold mine a few years back on here.  There were a few dents, but it was still fine.  I just bought a new one because I am anal... .

[67dartgt]

I'm anal too. Especially when it comes to this kind of stuff. I'll probably drop the dough on a new tank. How does the filler tube work? Is that an easy disconnect? Should a new one of those be used as well?

ANd thanks for the help, by the way! I appreciate it!

- Don

[moparteacher]

You can take the tank to a radiator shop and have it cleaned for a fraction of the cost of a replacement tank.

[67dartgt]

You can take the tank to a radiator shop and have it cleaned for a fraction of the cost of a replacement tank.

 

You are the man, moparteacher! I called the local radiator shop, and while they can't do it, they directed me to a place that can. Takes them 4 days and costs $3 per gallon based on the size of the tank. That's around a $50 bill instead of $200.

Now all I have to do is wrestle the tank out of the car. I'll have to look at it tonight after work, but until then, does anyone have an answer to whether or not this is an easy task?

- Don

[Crazy68Dart]

Now that is a good idea.

It's not a bad job, but as with any other 40 year old car things tend to rust and get nasty, so be prepaired to get dirty.

[67dartgt]

Getting dirty isn't an issue. The only thing I'm really concerned about is, do I have to drop the rear end at all?

- Don

[jamesdart]

shop around for a new tank, i bought mine a few years ago for 110 on ebay. brand new, the local rad and tank shop wanted to rape me to clean and seal.

[thecarfarmer]

(snip)

Now all I have to do is wrestle the tank out of the car. I'll have to look at it tonight after work, but until then, does anyone have an answer to whether or not this is an easy task?

- Don

It's harder if you don't empty it first.  Ask how I know...

-bill

[67dartgt]

One last question, guys, and thanks again for all of your help!

When looking at removing it, I removed the vent tube and I pulled the plate off of the trunk floor.......where the fill tube fits into the tank.......how does that come apart? I see what looks to be some form of rubber sleeve, but no obvious locking ring. Is this a situation where the filler tube is angled at the end and it just slips in and then is angled downward so that it fits in and can't come out? (If that makes any sense?)

- Don

[moparteacher]

The filler tube just slips into the tank and seals with a rubber donut like grommet. There should be a few screws at the top of the filler so you can remove the filler first and then drop the tank.

[therocks]

The tank in my 65 had cas that was at least 10 years old in it.This was probally 10 years ago at least.It also had a pin hole.I used the POR15 sealer kit.It looks better than a new tank and I never get any crud from it.I followed the instructions and also let it bake in the sun for a few days.Better than new and cost like 25 bucks.Rocky

[flyboy01]

The real issue is, if its rusty inside, chances are you have a hundred little pinholes in the seams, once the rust is out, you will have to coat the inside to keep it from seeping fuel. I replaced mine, it was the best $200 I spent.

[67dartgt]

Hmmmm...............that's an interesting thought. I'll have to consider that one.......especially since I'm trying to have the car on the road for a show and cruise on the 31st of this month.

- Don

[ValiantOne]

The real issue is, if its rusty inside, chances are you have a hundred little pinholes in the seams, once the rust is out, you will have to coat the inside to keep it from seeping fuel. I replaced mine, it was the best $200 I spent.

 

I tried two used tanks for my 68. No luck, they all had pinholes. I'm going to bite the bullet soon and buy a new one.

I put the tank from m 66 Val on a cement mixer and rotated it for a couple of hours with gravel inside. Then I put some muratic acid in for about 10 minutes or so. Tank was CLEAN!!! Also full of pinholes 

[CA Duster 383]

The stock gas tank out of my 1974 Duster has/had rust in it from sitting for many years before I
bought the car.  When I pulled the gas tank I found that there were rust holes in the top of the
tank. 
I now have a 12 gallon fuel cell that is going into the trunk well area.

About the only thing my old gas tank would be useful for would be target practice with a shot gun.

[67dartgt]

My new tank shipped this morning......much to the dismay of my wallet. Thanks everyone!

- Don

[67dartgt]

So, i went out to pull my tank out of the car after work this afternoon and I started siphoning gas out of the tank through the pick-up. The gas coming out of the tank is a nice clean gas color.......not the tannish red color that I pulled out of the line up between the pump and the carburetor. This is confusing me, as I thought the source of the red fuel color was rust in the tank. But is this not hte case? Do my new lines or my new pump have something in them that needs to be eaten or washed away maybe? Some kind of coating?

Right now, I have no idea, and thought that it was a bit odd that all of the sudden i was having a rust problem when I've been driving the thing for years? Maybe the rust has settled in the tank from not driving it for a couple of weeks? Any thoughts?

- Don

[67dartgt]

Doesn't matter. The tank is a bit of a mess anyway, now that I'm looking at it out of the car. needed to be done.