Thread: 39 Chevy Coupe - All Steel - having issue with gas tank

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took over an all steel 39 chevy coupe w/455ci olds project from my father when he passed and would like to finish it for him but need lots of help so I google'd "best hotrod forum" and wallllaaaa found this place....

couple of pics

interior...


455 olds


I really love the nostalgic dark gray primer and will keep it this color for a while....also love the wide white walls and yes also a ford 9" rear.


trunk where the battery box and dead man switch is located...

really the only issue Im having is with the gas tank and the feed line.

notice how the bit is halfway up tank...there is a metal tube inside running down to the bottom of the tank which i can blow air into to see bubble's in the gas from the opening of the sending unit hole. But unable to suck out any gas. I can blow but not suck....huh..."TWSS"...anyways when fuel line is hooked up to bit, nothing. but when placing the fuel line directly into sending unit hole the fuel pump has no problem and it fires right up. I used my air hose to blow through the line into the tank and no issues.
Is there a secondary hole on this inner tube? it is a 1yr old tank but was bought brand new.... just not sure where.
And if the inner tube is faulty...how can i make this polyethylene tank work. can I drill a pilot hole in top and screw in an elbow connecter with a fuel line hanging to the bottom of the tank? also another newb Q - is this considered a "Rat-Rod"?

any help is greatly appreciated

Definitely not a rat rod from the little you've shown of it...........................rats are usually field rough and rusty in appearance..........as in "ratty". This term gained some unjustified traction a decade or so ago and has faded mostly except in some limited circles.

A bit confused on you tank commentary. The picture shows a steel tank, but you mention a polyethylene tank. We talking two different tanks here? Some, most (?) newer tanks have a rollover check valve/ball in the pickup tube, could it be that portion of the pickup is installe incorrectly?

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Definitely not a rat rod from the little you've shown of it...........................rats are usually field rough and rusty in appearance..........as in "ratty". This term gained some unjustified traction a decade or so ago and has faded mostly except in some limited circles.

A bit confused on you tank commentary. The picture shows a steel tank, but you mention a polyethylene tank. We talking two different tanks here? Some, most (?) newer tanks have a rollover check valve/ball in the pickup tube, could it be that portion of the pickup is installe incorrectly?

Thanks for the reply an my bad...yes it is a steel tank. And how do I check to see if rollover check valve is installed correctly? Sorry I am new to all this....

Usually the check is a ball in an external fitting on the poly tanks. Looking at the steel tank pictured, if it has one, it would be on the inside of the tank. Don't know if you've got visibility to that area to inspect. Also, is it possible you have one of those "sock" type filters on the end of the pickup tube? It could be it's clogged with debris that when you blow through it it acts like a "flap" in that it would allow air to push the material away, but when suction occurs it pulls the debris tight, blocking flow.

Is this an identical replacement tank for the original? Who made it?

I am not certain of this but.. I think that is for a return line. The suction should come out of the top of the tank.

From back in the 60's sometime. All tanks had to feed from the top for "safety" considerations. Even older truck fuel tanks had to be converted from bottom supply to top, local DOT would impound your truck if caught on the highway with "old style" tanks.

Check around the sending unit and see if there is another opening about the same size...

Originally Posted by 34_40

I am not certain of this but.. I think that is for a return line. The suction should come out of the top of the tank.

From back in the 60's sometime. All tanks had to feed from the top for "safety" considerations. Even older truck fuel tanks had to be converted from bottom supply to top, local DOT would impound your truck if caught on the highway with "old style" tanks.

Check around the sending unit and see if there is another opening about the same size...

Thanks....I was also thinking this thouhht carb'd engines don't need a return line where fuel injected do....and yes there is another circular flat spot on top of tank but needs cut out. Or should I find a compatable sending unit that incorporates the pickup line which the new original didn't have. I emptied the tank and using a 5gallon jug as temp tank for now.

Originally Posted by OUTL4W

Thanks....I was also thinking this thouhht carb'd engines don't need a return line where fuel injected do....and yes there is another circular flat spot on top of tank but needs cut out. Or should I find a compatable sending unit that incorporates the pickup line which the new original didn't have. I emptied the tank and using a 5gallon jug as temp tank for now.

I'd try to find the compatible sending unit that incorporates the fuel pickup and plug/seal the fitting on the side.

I don't think you'll have to search hard - I seem to remember that Speedway has a couple and/or Tanks Inc. , CRS at the moment!

FYI Some GM cars with Carbs do have return lines they run right from the fuel pump.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I'd try to find the compatible sending unit that incorporates the fuel pickup and plug/seal the fitting on the side.

I don't think you'll have to search hard - I seem to remember that Speedway has a couple and/or Tanks Inc. , CRS at the moment!

Went to local autozone but no luck and no local speedway.....much appreciated if you could link me to specific model....If needed it's 7" to bottom of tank from the sending unit hole.

Originally Posted by sfort

Is this an identical replacement tank for the original? Who made it?

Yes identical replacement and can't find any markings on it. My dads best friend who did majority of the work and I are not on the best of speaking terms right now.

Try this - Speedway Motors - Street Rod Parts, Race Parts, Ford Flathead Parts, Sprint and Midget Racing Parts, Pedal Car Parts You can do the search....

Your description of the problem sounds like there is check valve in there, could be for roll over. I wonder how the sending unit is mounted, on top? Post more pictures of that tank, folks will be able to assist you better, not much to go on in that shot. That fitting is in a strange place.

Look at these tanks everything is happening on top of the tank; Fuel Cells & Tanks - SummitRacing.com

So a shot of your sending unit would be very helpfull

Originally Posted by pepi

Your description of the problem sounds like there is check valve in there, could be for roll over. I wonder how the sending unit is mounted, on top? Post more pictures of that tank, folks will be able to assist you better, not much to go on in that shot. That fitting is in a strange place.

Look at these tanks everything is happening on top of the tank; Fuel Cells & Tanks - SummitRacing.com

So a shot of your sending unit would be very helpfull

heres a pic of top of tank. Or did you want a pic of the actual sending unit?


like I said...there's a small circular flat spot but would need cut out for the pickup tube or do they make self tappers?

Try TANKS Inc. gas tanks for street rods and custom cars and trucks ,


try this page about half way down..
Fuel Tank Accessories

They have the pickup and roll over /vent plus some mounting plates, etc.

.

That's the money shot here is a good idea .

This guy used the sending unit plate drilled a hole to the side for the pick up tube and fitting. Look over you're sending unit and see if you have the room to pull it off. Real straight forward and you will not have to add any more holes in the tank

Fuel sending unit - Nova Tech



Borrowed from 34_40 post, if you have the room on the sending unit this is a 3/8 pick up would be my first choice

http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/pa...prod/prd94.htm



1/4 NPT Withdrawal TANK to 24 inch High (Möller) - Reviews, Features, and Prices $16 - $18 at DealTime

Amazon.com: Moeller Mfg. 3350024 1/4NPT W/DRAWAL TANK TO 24IN H OEM FUEL CONNECTOR: Sports & Outdoors

You are working on a custom set up so plane ahead..