The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 47-54 suburban panel gas tank question

the fitting for the gas line the the fuel pump is about 5 inches above the bottom of the gas tank. how does the gas get sucked up when the tak is 1/4 full. is there a pickup tube that goes to the bottom of the tank?

so i better check if mines has one or did it rust away

John, the tank i just took out of my '52 suburban had the fitting on the bottom of the tank.. i will send you a picture of it if you like?
wayne

c.rogan,
That is the Drain/Cleanout plug and its on the same end of the tank as the pick up tube.
its possible that the PO took out the plug and put the pick up line in the drain hole to alleviate a weak fuel pump or worse,a Rotted thru pick up line.
John,
You are correct.
My 51 Subn tank is still not reinstalled yet and I just went out to measure it.
The fuel line connection is about 5 3/8" up from the bottom and on the same end as the filler pipeand drain plug.
It is "sweat",or soldered if you would,into the side of the tank.
I had mine boiled out at a friends radiator shop.
Kenny also made mention of the side pick up and He Unsweat and took it out,to make sure the Inner Pick up tube was TOTALLY sound,no rust and intact.
He then Resoldered the fitting/pickup tube back in before Seal coating the inside of the tank.
I dont know what the stuff is but was told its impervious to all the ethanols and additives and such so i,m not worried.
Well worth the C Note to have piece of mind.
Regards Steve Sr.

i guess i will stick a small wire in the fitting hole to determine if the tube is there

steve, thanks for clearing that up for me. guess i'll have to look in the tank and see if the tube is still there, but i wouldn't think so if they moved it to the bottom... wayne

c.rogen,
No problem
Chances are the plug was moved up to the side fitting,closing it off and used the bottom as a feed,Just like the pick up trucks
Or it is a replacement Knock off tank that only has a bottom fitting.
John
Thats an idea but still wont tell if the pickup inside the tank is porous or worse has a rot hole in its side
Only other suggestion that I have Short of taking it out as I did is to use the tank,
Knowing its 16 gal capacity,start with 6 or 7 Gals.
That should cover over the side pick up and fitting.
If it sputters and dies the pickup is ok if the tank is Empty.
If it sputters and dies and there is still gas in the tank,well then You Know What You Gotta do
Keep in mind Everyone that the pickups in tanks Usually Rot off or rust away at the level of all the old Gunky stuff once it evaps down to the usual Goo Level
Do it in the drive way or dont go far and carry a 2 Gal can to get home :p
Regards,

Since the title to this thread does say 47-54 suburban gas tank question, here is some useless information (relative to what John wants to know).

Apparently, the gas tanks were not the same for all panel body 47-54 trucks. As shown in the Factory Assembly Manual (Section 8; Sheet 1), the 1954/55 gas tank (and maybe more years ?) had the pick-up tube (feed pipe) and sender inserted into the top of the tank (the Meter Assembly). The pickup tube in my '54 Suburban goes in the top and down to almost the bottom of the tank.

I cannot make any sense out of the Master Parts Catalog listings of fuel tanks, fuel pick ups, and senders.

Tim

thats i purchased a used gas tank that was opened up and cleaned (you can tell the top was opened). if the tube is removed i can put a different sending unit that includes a pickup tube. i know 54 chevy pickups have a tube in the sending unit, and the prior trucks dont.thanks for your help Tim

Tim,
Obviously,the tanks have changed.
Only thing in the top of my unmolested 51 tank is a sending unit similar to the pickups.
The gas feed is in the side,seperate from the sender.
regards,

Steve,

I believe you. I also believe John. Stop! - They are both right (but perhaps not in the same year).

John,

Put a gasoline-safe tube on the end of your metal pick-up tube. If your gas tank was cleaned and sealed, maybe you could run the tube to within 1/2" of the bottom?

Where did you get your sender/pickup - I could not find one when I looked for one several years ago. Luckily, I was able to clean up and reuse my old/original(?) formerly non-working pick-up/sender.

Tim

Tim
I,m thinking that the 54 and newer had to deal with a sender and a pickup out of the top
Whatcha Think?
Regards,

Steve,

I really do not know. I cannot figure out the parts/years in the 29-57 Master Parts Catalog (3.107 is the gasoline gauge sender).

This is an example, perhaps, of why it is so difficult to make a general statement about a series of trucks that supposedly did not change significantly for 6-7 years. The compounded problem is that we never know if the old parts in our trucks are original.

Tim

tim i hooked up the gas line to the tank and its not picking up the gas. i am going to hook it up to the drain plug outlet tempary and i will look for a 54 gas tank sender unit

Can one of you have a look at this post and tell me if this is the same tank
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=22;t=008917
Thanks
Maxx

i dont think its the same tank. thanks everyone for your help i got the tank working from the factory pickup tube inlet the burb is starting