Strangest fuel filter ever

[ridefastflyfar]

Finally found the source of my fuel delivery problems that have been with me since buying my 40 about 10 years ago. Initially I tried the fuel filter, then lines, then carb(s), then fuel pump, then fuel injection, then carbs, then fuel injection with various pumps, then carbs, then back to fuel injection with a plan to do an in-tank, all because I had fine fuel pressure/supply at idle, but under load or on hot days it was weak and would stumble. Truck was still drivable, daily driven for several years, but never quite right. Yesterday I cut open the top of the tank to accommodate the new Tanks Inc pump, looked in, and had a “well here’s yer problem right here” moment. The photo shows a cigarette butt stuck to the fuel pickup tube in the tank. The next photo is butt, with a circle where it has been stuck over the inlet. While I was in there, I went ahead and removed the popsicle stick too, since I didn’t think it was providing any value.

Of course, it runs great with the in-tank pump. I probably wouldn’t have ever needed to change other stuff if the butt hadn’t been acting as a really fine, in-tank filter. At one point, I inspected the inside of the tank through the level sender hole and pulled one butt out, sloshed stuff around to get anything else out (I thought), and decided it was clear. Didn’t realize something could stick on the inlet like that, or that a popsicle stick could wedge under one of the baffles.

Worth noting that it’s a 78, with the locking flap. I’m assuming my buddy from high school, (who’s mom owned the truck and sold it to me), is the one who put this crap in there, probably back when we were being jackasses 25 years ago. Going to have to save the butt and put it in the tank of one of his jeeps…

 

[Dynosoar]

What fuel pickup / return unit is that? I need to do that ASAP.
Thx
Dyno

 

[emac]

nice find.....I dont smoke, but I would think a gas tank would be an odd place to throw a used cig??

 

[lcwizard]

nice find.....I dont smoke, but I would think a gas tank would be an odd place to throw a used cig??

come on, what better place to put out a light than a tank full of gas.......I knew a kid that was checking his water levels in his battery while the car was running and the battery charging...... using a lighter for illumination.

 

[scott fasken]

Had a Chevy dealer in the 1970s show me a tank with eggs in it back in the leaded days. one could put small eggs in then they would break and coat the pickup. Then by the time the mechanic did work on it the egg would be eaten up by the fuel. The guy had had it breakdown very couple of hundred miles,drove him crazy, someone really hated him.

 

[ridefastflyfar]

Dinosaur, it's made by Tanks Inc, and is the one for tbi fuel injection. You cut it to fit the depth of tank, assemble, and drop in. Has a built in sump tray too. Started down the path of cleaning out the tank but decided I was too impatient, so I punched a hole with a scribe to start, snipped the big hole, then used a Whitney punch to make the screw holes. Nice and tidy, without blowing myself up.

 

[ridefastflyfar]

come on, what better place to put out a light than a tank full of gas.......I knew a kid that was checking his water levels in his battery while the car was running and the battery charging...... using a lighter for illumination.

Yeah, I do see him from time to time, and I'm going to ask. Had to be someone with access to the key, his parents don't smoke, but he did in high school... if you look in the pic with the butt on the tube you can see the end of the popsicle stick too.

 

[lelandEOD]

How timely! I'm also [getting ready to run] a pair of Tanks Inc. in-tank pumps for my primary and auxiliary tanks. I've been putting off drilling the hole in the factory tank because I'm not sure how I'm going to get it to work under a stock tank cover and passenger seat. Are you using aftermarket seats/brackets? On my truck there is essentially no clearance at all between the metal seat pan and the top of the tank cover.

I was thinking of adding one of those recessed sheet metal kits sold by Tanks Inc, like this:

I'm also concerned about the noise level with the tank being so close to the occupants. I've currently got a Tanks Inc. PA-4 installed in my rear mounted Con-Fer tank and I can hear it hum through the tub.

Also, what are you going to do with the old supply and return lines?

 

[lcwizard]

How timely! I'm also [getting ready to run] a pair of Tanks Inc. in-tank pumps for my primary and auxiliary tanks. I've been putting off drilling the hole in the factory tank because I'm not sure how I'm going to get it to work under a stock tank cover and passenger seat. Are you using aftermarket seats/brackets? On my truck there is essentially no clearance at all between the metal seat pan and the top of the tank cover.

I was thinking of adding one of those recessed sheet metal kits sold by Tanks Inc, like this:View attachment 1498867



I'm also concerned about the noise level with the tank being so close to the occupants. I've currently got a Tanks Inc. PA-4 installed in my rear mounted Con-Fer tank and I can hear it hum through the tub.

Also, what are you going to do with the old supply and return lines?

We use that and a lot of their stuff for building tanks... I'll share a secret... running the fill neck to the opposite side from the filler keeps the fuel from spilling from the cap when you lay it on it's side.

 

[ridefastflyfar]

How timely! I'm also [getting ready to run] a pair of Tanks Inc. in-tank pumps for my primary and auxiliary tanks. I've been putting off drilling the hole in the factory tank because I'm not sure how I'm going to get it to work under a stock tank cover and passenger seat. Are you using aftermarket seats/brackets? On my truck there is essentially no clearance at all between the metal seat pan and the top of the tank cover.

I was thinking of adding one of those recessed sheet metal kits sold by Tanks Inc, like this:View attachment 1498867



I'm also concerned about the noise level with the tank being so close to the occupants. I've currently got a Tanks Inc. PA-4 installed in my rear mounted Con-Fer tank and I can hear it hum through the tub.

Also, what are you going to do with the old supply and return lines?

I cut a clearance hole in the tank cover and ran my lines across the top, down through the original holes in the tub. Stock seats/brackets, but there is a recess in the foam right where I put the pump, which allowed me to bend the seat sheet metal up enough to clear. If you're ok modifying those two pieces it makes for an easy, no hot work install.

The noise is really minimal, much less than the frame mounted Walbro that I used prior to this setup. You can hear it prime when you turn the key on, but that's the only time i can hear it.

I took a piece of fuel line and linked the old supply/return lines together.

 

[Downey]

I am very impressed with the Aplus (lcwizard) tank, especially the "across tank filler neck", but I do like the way our Downey tank (using Centroid electronic sender) keeps the sending unit on the center line where the reading is always more constant, not affected by gas sloshing inside the tank so much. We do offer an in-tank electric fuel pump kit for our 10" deep tank, and it can be cut down for a shallower tank, but I don't have any first hand knowledge of someone using it on a stock tank- - -should work.

 

[lcwizard]

We use Wema for our senders. They will build to suit with whatever ohm value you need. We needed the reed style sender with the float that
travels straight up. The swing arm style wouldn't fit.. too many baffles. The baffle and trap styling makes it virtually impossible to starve the pickup at any angle but upside down. We don't do much with carburetors these days. The fuel injection is less tolerant of momentary starvation


Liquid Sensors - Marine Diesel, Fuel, or Water Level Sensor