The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Gas Tank pickup rusted out

So after doing the POR 15 gas tank reseal and a new fuel pump, I've found that my tank is sucking air, even with 5 gallons in it. I'm assuming the pick up tube is rusted through. My truck is a one ton, but someone wedged a 1/2 ton tank in there at one point. Any body have any experiences or knowledge of how to fix this? I really don't want to buy another tank since I just dumped $70 worth of sealer in it.

aren't all the panel tanks the same regardless of model? or do you think there's a pickup truck tank in your panel? how did you do the sealer without taking the sender and tube out?? what makes you think my assumption of how to remedy what you're assuming is the problem has any relation to reality?? assumptions aren't usually a good way to trouble shoot

tanks are supposed to "suck air" - if you mean the pump isn't pumping, have you checked the line tank-to-pump well? any cracked rubber hose involved there? how do you know it's "sucking air" and not sucking a vacuum because somethings plugged? such as the outlet plugged with tank sealer

Bill

When cranking engine and with putting a vacuum pump on the fuel line at the carbs,I have air bubbles coming up from the pump inlet as viewed through the clear pump bowl. If I remove the gas cap while this is happening, I hear the leak inside the tank. And it is not holding a vacuum.

When I sealed the tank, there was no way to remove the fuel pickup from inside the tank, it is behind a baffle and I assume its welded/brazed/solderer to the tank outlet. All I could do is shove a pipe brush down the oulet to keep it clear. The pickup is not part of the sender like the later trucks.

From what I can figure out on the panels, the 1/2 ton tank is shorter and wider then the 1 ton tank since the 1 ton frame rails are closer together. Someone has put a 1/2 tank in my panel because it looks and measures identical to all the pictures of 1/2 ton tanks Ive seen, including the reproductions. And this 1/2 ton tank sits about 1" from my driveshaft, even through the tank is up against the frame.

Always keep it more than half full?

Hahaha. Seriously though, you might want to see at what point it starts to just suck gasoline, and no air. You might want to drop the tank, or unhook it, and check the lines to see if they, or the glass bowl on the fuel pump it leaking.

Th bowl on my fuel pump seeped a tiny amount of air, and the truck wouldn't start right at all. I had a rough surface on the pump, from my old nemesis, corrosion.

the fuel line connects at the top of the tank and there's no way to access the tube? I thought all tank pickups had some sort of filter on them, like a 'sock', and the bottom outlet style a screen, there has to be a way to take either type out .... someone with a 53 will have to chime in

Bill

I know its not the glass bowl because the bubbles are coming directly from the inlet port inside the bowl. Does anyone know if the 54 sender, part number 23-525 in the Classic Parts catalog would fit my tank? It has the P/U included with the sender.

any of the senders fit the same size hole, but the one offered is for the behind the seat tank, it won't have the right shape/length to fit an under frame tank

Bill

First of all, what year are you working with? 1947/1953 used the same sending unit, 1954/55 used a different sending unit with a fill tube, the earlier tanks filled from the middle. Do you know which sending unit is being used?

But I also noticed that you put por-15 in the tank. Did you remove the tank and rotate it to make sure all of the tank got sealed?

Here is a previous POST that should help with understanding the gas tanks on the panels and suburban.

I just finished repairing the gas tank in my 53 burb. The tank had been damaged right where the pickup tube exits the tank. I won't go into detail on what I did, but as a result of the repair, the original pickup tube was eliminated. I then installed a "truck" gas tank sender unit, with built in pickup tube. This pickup tube exits the wrong direction, toward the frame, due to the screw holes and allows the guage arm to clear the tank wall. I purchased new "bendable" fuel line and re-routed it back to the center and around to the front of the tank.

Yes guys, I have the older style (1953), The fuel line comes out the front/side of the tank. not out the top. I did PRO-15 the tank, tank was removed and done properly. Looks like I'm going to order up a 54-55 sender with built in pick up and do some fuel line rerouting.

If you find a new 54/55 sender for a 54/55 panel-body fuel tank, woud you please post the name of the vendor and the part number?

Thanks,

The 1/2 and 1 tons used different tanks. The 1 ton had a larger 18 gallon tank. Not that this fact really makes a difference, except that new 1/2 ton tanks are available, while the larger 1 ton tank is not.

I think with what has been done to your tank already, there is little you can do at this point easily fix the tank. Yakimabowties solution might be your best bet.

One sure fix, perhaps the best long term, would be to buy a new 1/2 ton tank, which would be just like the one you have.... and deals done.

off the topic: I once lived in Mukilteo, just off the Speedway.

I ended up ordering a pickup truck sender. I'll do what I have to do to make it work. Its cheaper then the $350 for another tank.