Fuel Help!

Long story short.. I had the gas tank and fuel lines replaces on my 69 GTX and when I started driving it after filling up, gas started flowing out of the top of the gas tank. The tank and line were replaced at the local dodge dealership by a mechanic that has been working there since 1972, he said that "it didn't look like I needed an return line" and that I needed to replace the fuel filler neck with part# 2856332, a vented fuel neck.
Now I've been trying to track this part down and everyone I talk to thinks I'm crazy, they all say that ALL 440 GTX's have a return line, is this true?
Should I just have the return line installed and forget about the fuel neck?

HELP!

Pettynerd

I thought only fuel injected cars had a return line, does the car have an electric or a mechanical fuel pump?

Nope. I think the 440 (HP's) 440 Six Packs, Hemis, and possibly the 340 Six Packs had a return. They had a canister mounted near the fuel pump that most people will mistake for a filter. They have a 1/4" nipple on them for the 1/4" return line to the tank. This canister is a vapor separator and was there to help reduce the possibility of vapor lock.

Correct. All R/T's and GTX's with the factory installed 440 HP had this vapor separator can - six packs too.

Mechanical fuel pump is on the RT side (pass) of the engine. 1/4" pipe plug just below the fuel pump mount is to access the fuel pump push rod and also used as the engine oil cooler return on the cop cars. Should you need to install or replace the fuel pump, use plenty of grease on the push rod end to help it stick to the eccentric on the cam while you install the fuel pump.

Thanks for the info.

I do not think that the absence of the vapor separator can and vapor return line should cause your problem (gas flowing out of the top of the gas tank after filling up). I believe that the vapor separator was to help prevent vapor lock in a warm engine.

I think that there should be vent lines in the fuel tank itself. You might want to check to see if your tank is suppose to have them, and if so, were they installed per factory specs.

It could cause a "leak" after a fillup because the level of fuel in the tank could be above the return line. And if the return line fitting on the tank isn't attached or capped off.......

I agree, but if the return line fitting is leaking / not capped off at the tank, I think that it would leak anytime there is more than half a tank of gas. I feel that way because the 1/4" return line is next to the 3/8" connection on the sending unit. Correct?

Nope. If you pull the sender you will see the pick up line is long, and is bent down to the bottom of the tank. The return line just pokes in to the tank and that's it

Thanks for the illustration. I see that the 1/4" line actually points upward in the tank, so it would have to be almost full of gas for it to run out the vent line, if it wasn't capped off.

My mechanic will not install the return line, he still claims that it won't fit!
He now says that the vapor separator won't fit next to the fuel pump and the best way to deal with the pressure in the tank is to drill a hole in the NEW gas tank!

Can anybody send me a picture of the vapor separator mounted?

:mad:

No...No...No.... There is already one in his head, why drill another?

No...No...No.... There is already one in his head, why drill another?

I Fully Agree. :yes:

What.

You need to get another mechanic.

and NOW

Here`s a setup on my 70 440 6 PK . You can see there`s not much room but that it`s all there & working fine. Top pic 1st then from the bottom and one of the hook up for the 3/8 & 1/4 @ the sending unit. Hope these help. Fred

My mechanic will not install the return line, he still claims that it won't fit!
He now says that the vapor separator won't fit next to the fuel pump and the best way to deal with the pressure in the tank is to drill a hole in the NEW gas tank!

Can anybody send me a picture of the vapor separator mounted?

:mad:

That's asking for trouble because the vapors are the most flammable aspect of gasoline! You should do it yourself so you won't have anyone fight you.

My 440+6 has three nipples on the fuel filter - the one out the side is the return line. I don't have a canister. Give me a few days and I can post some pics for ya.

I think the 69's have some extra vent tubes in the top of the tank, and if so, what if the guy broke a solder joint while replacing the hoses?? I don't know.....but you might slide under there and see what's going on.

There should be a "vent hose" from the tank to the top of the "fill neck". The older cars were that way. Maybe not on this year...

I`ve done work on a 69 RR and a Sat. before where the sending unit had the vent line attach to a factory bent, 1/4 steel line by a small 5 inch piece of rubber fuel line. This steel line goes directly up through a rubber gromet into the trunk compartment into the high area over the diff. and outwards toward the passenger side and then goes down again through another rubber gromet into the frame rail. This whole setup would be roughly 10 inches higher then any part of the tank and would be considered venting. I have two of these lines ,if you`d like a pic ,just let me know and i`ll dig one up. :yes:

I'd like to see those pics 6pktgo. Im replumbing my fuel system. All new stuff. Went from a 383 to a 440. Never had a return lin on the car. I was told by a guy on a tech line i didnt need the vapor seperator, but im not so sure he knows what he's talking about.

If you don't have the 1/4 return line then the vapor separator will be of no use

I`ll see about those pics tomorrow, just check back here.

Today is Prom Day for my daughter :grin: ( check out the Welcome Wagon here & "New Canuck Member" for the whole story ) :grin: and we are now open for business @ our resort, so it`s very very busy.

I don't have one to check with now, but my memory says there was a vent tube from the gas tank that ran to a 5/16th line that looped upward thru a grommet into the trunk, about 8 inches, did a U turn, came back down thru the grommet and exited beneath the car. Anyone able to check that out?

Here`s your pics :yes: of both those lines. One from a 69 RR and the other from a 69 Sat. no difference. 1/4 outside diameter & both grommet #`s 2216552. Hope these help.

My question is: Do i need to run a vapor seperator or not? I swapped out a 383 for a 440. It has rpm intake, super comp headers (1 7/8), 509 purple cam and is 60 over. The manuel says 426's and 440's came stoke with one. I know that it never had one befor but will vapor lock be an issue with this motor or is it fine with the regular supply line and vented tank. Thanks.

No. You don't need to unless you're having issues

Ok, thanks runner. Was wondering about it. But couldn't seem to get any answers

Thanks all for the help, had the car in a body shop, they had a Mopar guy and he knew how to set it up, driven 200+ miles and have had no issue's with gas spewing out, now if I could only get help with Galen Govier sending me my info, mailed him a check and all documents Feb. 09 and ain't heard nothing even after sending emails and leaving messages.