The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk tip for draining fuel tank on a TF truck

Thought I'd share a tip for draining the fuel tank on my 1957 3600 as I get ready to replace it.

I didn't want to drain it from the bottom drain plug. Several reasons...hard to get a funnel under the plug where it sits over the frame under the truck...didn't want to get a face full of gas in the process...and I want to reuse the gas in the tank.

Here is an easy, inexpensive way to drain the tank from the top using the sending unit/pickup tube. Removing the gas this way filters it through the sock filter on the pickup tube.

Disconnect your battery first. then disconnect the fuel line from the sending unit. Since this is a flare fitting for a 5/16" metal line, the thread size is 1/2-20. Attach the correct size male hose barb fitting to the sending unit (Dorman part #785-402 $3.99 at AutoZone).

I used a transfer pump that I bought at Harbor Freight for $7.99 (part #66418). The barb on the hose fitting was a little small for the line that came with the HF pump. This was easily solved with a couple wraps of electrical tape around the barb.

Worked like a charm. I will filter the gas again through layered cheese cloth in a funnel before reusing.

Here are a couple pix--

http://s844.photobucket.com/user/ma...5391_zpse2b601c5.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1

http://s844.photobucket.com/user/ma...5401_zpsc9f9b0fe.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Thought I'd share because this made easy work out of a pain-in-the-neck job.

Maybellene

good idea, but seems like you could have skipped the pump and just siphoned into a can outside on the ground

Bill

Just avoiding a mouth full of gas!

I was at Harbor Freight last week (30mi. away) and saw those on
one of the end caps. My thought at that time was, what in the
world would I ever use that for and.....it will probably just
dissolve if I used it for any type of fuel knowing HF.
Two days later I needed to empty 10 or 15 gallons of water out
of the center of a tarp I had over something and it would have
been perfect for that. Then I decided this week end that I need
to empty my fuel tank in my '50 for some work, so that's the
second time I should have bought one of those dang things.

DG

My mechanic clued me in on how to siphon out a gas tank without getting a mouth full of fuel. After putting your drain hose into the tank, plug the rest of the filler opening with a rag. Then take your air hose and blow compressed air into the tank, pressurizing it. The gas will start to flow immediately.

a boat gas siphon bulb is handy for that - also found with aquarium supplies, worth having and requires no power, surprised Rich's mechanic doesn't have one

Bill

Maybe he does, I don't know.
But I know he has an air hose!

I replaced the drain plug with a ball valve in mine. I also plugged the valve just in case and keep the handle in the glove box. To drain it, I remove the plug and thread a hose barb attached to tubing. Easy.