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gas tank won't empty

F

flatheadgary

Well-Known Member
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Jul 20, 2014
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boron, ca
this thing is driving me crazy. '63 bel stock tank. i stopped driving it and put another motor in it and that took 3 days. i had 7 gallons of gas in it. when i got done with the motor swap i tried to start it and no gas came from the tank. i put another 5 gallons in it and still no joy. i put an electric pump in it and still no joy. i drained the tank and took it out. i removed the sender unit and made sure the pickup tube was clear. reassembled and still no joy. is there some kind of thing where you have to fill the tank full to get the fuel to flow up hill to the gas line. if you looked at one of these you know what i mean. i also used air to clear the gas line too. anybody know of any other thing that would cause this.
 
Where did you put the electric pump? They push fuel, pull not so good.
Should be mounted as close to the tank and as low as possible. In the tank is even better.
 
it wouldn't matter if it is mounted lower as no gas comes out of the pickup line anyway.
 
there is only about a foot of line between the tank and the pump. it would be hard to kink it, they are both curved with no bends. anyway i blew them through with air. this is so crazy as i have had this car for about 30 years and it has sat for some time before and when i needed to start it, i would just put a few gallons and away i would go.
 
Sounds like it could be sucking air instead of fuel. But even with a crack in the pick up you would still be getting fuel I would think. When you blow into the line going to the tank do you hear bubbles from it?
 
The little section of rubber fuel line that connects the sending unit to the hard fuel. If it is cracked or wrong size, you wont pull fuel through the pick up in the tank
 
Will it start if you dump fuel in carb? Also, Sounds crazy simple but I’d take a gas can and run hose right from fuel pump to can. Bypassing everything tank related. Just to make sure for my own piece of mind. If it doesn’t start, youve taken tank and lines right out of equation. Good luck.
 
You have a few short pieces of rubber fuel hose in the system, at the sending unit, and fuel pump. Have they ever been changed? This new gas messes with the insides of the old style fuel hose...needs to be changed, using Gates fuel injector hose, so it will hold up.
What shape is the fuel filter in? Maybe change it.
Last, but not least...with the motor work done, and the fuel lines, the fuel lines are empty. Even with a electric pump, it's possible that it might need to be primed.

I always 'prime' my fuel system, by carefully, using low air pressure. Air compressor, pressure down about 20 lbs., at the tank fill tube. Just use a clean rag, with a air nozzle there, 3-4 short blasts of air into the tank. That will force fuel into the fuel lines, and prime the entire length. Might not be a bad idea, to break the carb fuel line connection loose, 1) easy air escape, 2) to actually see fuel get to the carb.
 
Capitalization pleaaaaaaaaaaaase! How can you folks read that?
 
Have you checked to see if any fuel is being pumped by the fuel pump? If so, have you checked the fuel filter (hopefully you have one)? Also, there could be crap in the carb, needle not opening.
 
Those are all good suggestions and I have tried all of them. Well, as of today Wed, I filled the tank full and I guess with the weight of that much gas, it finally (with the electric pump) got fuel to the carb. Then the pump quit working. It was an old pump anyway. I don't like electric pumps for street cars, so I will be buying another mechanical pump and see where that takes me. Thanks for all the replies. p.s. All the caps for you 69a100. HaHaHa I actually agree with you. Poor grammar shows 3 things. 1. Fingers are to big to type easily 2. Low grasp of the English language and 3. Just lazy. There may be more, but I am just to tired to think of anymore.
 
Last edited:
flatheadgary said:
Poor grammer shows 3 things. 1. Fingers are to big to type easily There may be more, but i am just to tried to think of anymore.
Click to expand...
Now lets work on your spelling mate...
Poor grammer (grammar)
Fingers are to big to type (too)
i am just to tried (I am just too tired)
:thumbsup:
 
I finannly got it running. I used my brake bleeder to suck the gas up to the stock pump and now it runs. lesson learned.
 
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