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| | | Forums66 Topics128,048 Posts1,055,663 Members48,426 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 11 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 11 | I am back working in my chevy 54 truck. after 7 years of being stopped, you can imagine how the fuel tank was. I cleaned it this weekend. After washing and making sure no more dirt came out, I put it under the sun for hours to dry.
Now the question is should I keep it full or empty of gas if I will not start the engine in maybe couple of months? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | I think I would just use a little out of a jug before I got serious about putting the tank back on, do all the preparations for restarting after all this time not running first before you even try to get it running.. Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 | They sell a product you can spray into the tank to keep it from rusting while you finish you other work. Should be available at your FLAPS.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,272 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,272 | Now the question is should I keep it full or empty of gas if I will not start the engine in maybe couple of months? To answer your question directly, I would suggest filling the tank completely with ethanol-free gas. I bought my current 1950 3100 with 12 gallons of 15-20 year old gas in the tank. I drained the tank and poured the orange-colored gas into a work truck (not mine)and drove it 120 miles to get rid of it. There was very little sediment in the tank, nor rust on the side of the tank. I am assuming that the old gas was ethanol-free, given the age and that ethanol didn't come to Virginia until 2006. Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | I have used old gas, non-alcohol, and ended up bending pushrods when the valves seized due to varnish from old fuel, others have had same issues-don't waste energy on old fuel, not worth it.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires. '47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle. '54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed. '55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,272 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,272 | I have used old gas, non-alcohol, and ended up bending pushrods when the valves seized due to varnish from old fuel, others have had same issues-don't waste energy on old fuel, not worth it.
Ed You bring up a good point, Ed. I would not have used that ancient gas in any of my vehicles. I used up that gas in a truck which was literally on its way to the bone yard. Carl
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,987 | I never bent any push rods, but I gummed up the valves pretty good on my F-350 when I first got it running. Ended up replacing the tank. Fortunately I was able to find a used one that was nice and clean. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 336 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2015 Posts: 336 | I wouldn't trust just putting it under the sun to dry. I recommend purging the tank with a fan blowing into it.
1959 3100 Apache Fleetside
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 2,307 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 2,307 | Put a little outboard oil in with the gas and swish it around to get some oil in the. Cracks. The oil wont hurt the engine might smoke a bit. Will keep the tank from starting to rust inside especially after a rince. The outboard oil is made to. Burnt by the outboard anyway. | | |
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