Drain the tank by putting a hose down the filler neck. Seal up the hose with a rag or whatever and put compressed air in next to it. The air will blow the fuel out the hose and into a bucket. Or siphon it the old fashioned way and get a mouthful of gas.
Are you replacing the tank? If so, just crank away with a long handled wrench and a persuader.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Otto's trick works well to start a siphon. Once you have fuel running out the hose, as long as the end of the hose is below the bottom of the fuel tank, you can quit with the compressed air. If you pull the drain plug with fuel in the tank, expect a gasoline shower.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Otto On siphoning use a not very big hose 1/4 inch fuel line,long enough to be in the fuel and hang down to the ground. Stand up full hight when you start your siphon, this way you wont even get fumes have your catch can on the ground. the next time you use it (few days) will be dry and ready to go again. Good way to do lawn mower fuel, with a big bolt can send it right in the mower.
Take a length of hose, on one end make a cut about 1/4 way through the hose about 1 inch from the end, from the front make a slice toward the cut so that you are removing a portion to make a triangular opening. Insert the other end into fuel tank. Insert hose exit end into a can, now place compressed air hose into triangle cut and blow lightly unto flow is started then remove compressed air hose.
His question is how does he get the drain plug out, I’m assuming without heat, without ruining the tank.
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)
His question is how does he get the drain plug out, I’m assuming without heat, without ruining the tank.
Right, but the stuff that came out was full of rust so if the tank is being replaced, getting the plug out isn't necessary if it can be emptied.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy) 1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1956 Cadillac Sixty Special Fleetwood (The Godfather) | 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado (The Purple Knif) | 1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe | 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
I've siphoned out gas also using Otto's method. Don't need much compressed air--only enough to slightly pressurize the tank. Once the gas starts running, no more compressed air is needed. Whether he's replacing the tank or not, it's much easier to work with and less mess if it can be emptied first.
Once that plug is out, I'd suggest a drain valve when you put it back together. After draining mine multiple times for various reasons, i saw it's worth..... Photo for visual aid.
