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#48837 08/09/2005 6:20 PM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 47 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 47 | Sometimes the fix simply calls for a bigger hammer, but I fear I've used my biggest one... HELP!
I may have the mother of all fuel tank clogs.
Here's the lowdown.
3800 panel.
Clogged, rusty, 10 years of varnish, under frame tank.
Bought Por-15 tank restoration kit.
Powerwashed inside of tank several times.
-lots of crud out
Used the kits cleaning products.
-lots more crud
Did the whole "add gravel and shake with cleaner" trick"
-Lots of gravel and a bunch more crud came out.
Powerwashed again until water ran crud-free.
Followed the rest of the instructions with the kit and ended up with a nicely sealed and painted tank.
Installed tank and decided to try to blow a little air into the outlet to make sure all was well. Nothin. I puckered for all I was worth, but with no luck. I found a coat hanger and managed to get about 11 inches into the tank outlet. It came out with some traces of the familiar crud. Dang. Sprayed some carb cleaner into hole. Hole made strange "tube filling up" sounds. Packed up for the day.
Day 2
Got a compressor from work and put it in the back of a van... drove to the project truck and plumbed an air line from the compressor directly into the tank outlet. Removed the filler cap (good idea from other post here on the 'bolt) and started turning up the regulator.
20lbs
30lbs
40-50-60-70-75-80... Getting nervous.
Decided to take a walk. Came back in about 10 minutes and the pressure is SOLID at 80lbs.
Got INTO the back of the van... hid behind the compressor...
90
100... oh hell
125lbs
That's the max this compressor will deliver before the safety valve releases.
Ummmm. NOW WHAT? Any suggestions would be VERY welcome. Does anyone know of a flexable drill bit? How Long is that tube? I'd love to stop drilling before a drill bit simply poked out the bottom of my nicely re-done but very clogged tank!
This isn't something silly like a check-valve in line right?
'52 3800 Panel
School bus conversion... Glass all around. (check the gallery!)
outside of a dog, a book is a man's best freind.
inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx
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#48838 08/09/2005 6:45 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,863 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,863 | Take an old speedometer cable, chuck the end into your (variable speed) drill motor, and probe the tank outlet with it. If it tries to wind up into a pretzel, it might be necessary to cut it off where most of its length is supported by the pickup tube. Spin it with the drill motor, and gently feed it into the clog. Good luck!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
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#48839 08/09/2005 6:47 PM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 47 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 47 | Good Idea!!
I'll give it a shot.
Anyone else have any Clog-busting advice?
'52 3800 Panel
School bus conversion... Glass all around. (check the gallery!)
outside of a dog, a book is a man's best freind.
inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx
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#48840 08/09/2005 8:27 PM | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | I had the same problen on a 53 sub. I screwed a grease fitting in the outlet and used a grease gun. worked great!
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | |
#48841 08/10/2005 2:17 PM | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 17 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 17 | why not get a new tank and not risk the future hassles and driving problems? thats what i ended up having to do on my 57 truck. | | |
#48842 08/10/2005 7:41 PM | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 47 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 47 | Got short chunk of 1/4" aircraft cable. Chucked it up in the drill and zipped it right through. Thanks for the advice.
Clog busted.
'52 3800 Panel
School bus conversion... Glass all around. (check the gallery!)
outside of a dog, a book is a man's best freind.
inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx
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#48843 08/11/2005 12:48 PM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 343 Member | | Member Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 343 | I did the same type of resto on my 55 Caddy tank and it came out great axcept like you the outlet was now plugged. I think there was a screen filter inside the tank at the outlet and the polymer sealer sealed it up. What I ended up doing was I hooked my fuel line to the drain plug fitting and just put a plug in the outlet port.
1954 GMC 1/2-ton Longbed
1971 Pontiac LeMans Sport
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