Fuel tank pipes

[Roy_S]

Yes, my 3rd post, but been a busy weekend.

The tank was half full of old fuel, I took the tank out to empty and check, the fuel was brown and the tank is pretty rusted inside so think I'll be replacing it. The pick up pipe to the pump had a small original short piece of rubber hose connected, it wasn't coming off easy and felt soft so I cut it, but looking inside you can see the pipe has collapsed and would never have allowed fuel through again. Anyone with fuel starvation issues it might be worth a check.

I can see fuel has been leaking in the boot not found from where but new tank and pipes will probably fix it, but puzzeld as to why the breather pipe from inside the filler simply goes down into the boot. They could have T'd into the tank breather that goes out the boot floor

[DJT]

Have a look at this thread: https://www.socforum.com/forum/forum...tank-vent-pipe

There is an excellent photo showing the correct arrangement for the vent pipes.

[Ceejay 72]

Roy - If you are replacing the tank with a new one, just be aware that, depending on the supplier, you may run into a few fettling issues, as I did last year!
This was replacing a 1972 Mk 1 tank, so a new longer filler hose was required, as the Mk 1 type tank is no longer available.

A trial fit showed that the mounting flange holes did not align with the threaded support brackets in the boot, so the holes had to be elongated by about 1/4 inch.
The new tank had a drain plug, unlike the original and this fouled the boot floor, so a hole had to be cut in the floor to accommodate the plug.
The new filler hose was too long and had to be cut down by about 1 inch.
The vent pipe on the tank was too long by about 1 3/8 inches and had to be cut off to allow the fitting of the short hose length and the upper vent pipe section.
A trial depth check for the fuel pick-up pipe showed that the tank was effectively about 2 inches deeper than the original, when measured from the threaded pick up socket to the tank floor. This would have left the pick-up pipe 2 inches short of the floor, so losing effective capacity. I compensated for this to a certain extent by using the lower socket, where the blanking plug normally sits. This gained me just over an inch.
Finally, I found that the depth of the female thread on the socket was longer than on the original and the nut securing the pick-up pipe bottomed before the olive reached its seat. I made up a copper dished washer which I slid over the pipe and which allowed the nut to tighten down on the olive. Alternatively, you could just fit another olive I suppose. In the end I also soldered an extension onto the pick up pipe to allow it to reach the bottom of the tank.
Good luck!
Chris

[trunt]

I had a similar experience, I was able to avoid drilling a new hole in the floor for the drain plug by grinding the Plugs head down from its original 3/4”(?) depth to 1/4” (but it doesn’t fully line up with the existing hole) I made a new pickup from appropriate size brake line so was unaware that it would have been short.

Terry

[Roy_S]

Thats interesting feedback, where did both of you get the tanks from?

I've just checked the vent pipe holes in the boot as per DJT reply, mine just has the boot floor one open, no gromet in there, the other one for the filler vent sort of towards the back seat is still blanked off, never been used. Might look to see if I can get both to go out of the boot floor one when I have a found a gromet to go in there.

[NeilR]

I too had a new tank from "Lincoln".

Had to cut a hole in the floor for the drain plug. Fitted well apart from that until I came to put the
wood floor panels back in (my are 6mm marine plywood). It was bellied out on the top surface, as if
the maker had pressure tested it with too much pressure. So took the sender unit out again & a few whacks
with a rubber mallet sorted it. All fine now.

Neil.

[JOHNS]

Have a look at this thread: https://www.socforum.com/forum/forum...tank-vent-pipe

There is an excellent photo showing the correct arrangement for the vent pipes.

This must be the most viewed picture on the forum

[Ceejay 72]

Roy - My tank came from Rimmers. As Neil found out, my boot boards also bulged up but only slightly, they still fit in the original fastening points.
Chris

[Roy_S]

My boot boards are bowed down after all these years so will be interesting, dare say it all depends on what stock they get in as well. Tempted to put a second fuel filter between the tank and pump to keep that from being damaged, would easily fit at the back of the tank. Notice that rimmers fuel filter kit shows two, and I only have 1 under the bonnet.

[richardthestag]

if the old tank is not holed and only has surface rust inside, I might be inclined to slosh it.... no commercial link. I have used this product on a few tanks now and am happy enough to recommend it

https://www.rust.co.uk/product/slosh-fuel-tank-sealer-7

sweary reviews of the product are here on my yootoob channel

https://youtu.be/9XBRGIpzIbA

[DJT]

My boot boards are bowed down after all these years so will be interesting, dare say it all depends on what stock they get in as well. Tempted to put a second fuel filter between the tank and pump to keep that from being damaged, would easily fit at the back of the tank. Notice that rimmers fuel filter kit shows two, and I only have 1 under the bonnet.

The other fuel filter is for the vent pipe as per the photo in the link at post #2

[DJT]

This must be the most viewed picture on the forum

I think it would be good if it were posted in the Technical Section under Fuel & Exhaust, if you were to give permission, and Drew could do the honours.............

[trunt]

Mine was from Lincoln as well, I did feed back the issues but received a stony silence!

I can't imagine too many manufacturing this tank, has anyone purchased a new one in the last couple of years that does not have these problems?

Anyway found some pics, after opening up the mounting holes to fit and shift it a bit, I got the drain to almost line up, and you can see how ridiculously large the drain plug is, I ground it down.. a lot! I seem to remember employing a rubber mallet as well, --- but not a lot! just enough


tank1.JPGtank2.JPG

[Roy_S]

if the old tank is not holed and only has surface rust inside, I might be inclined to slosh it.... no commercial link. I have used this product on a few tanks now and am happy enough to recommend it

https://www.rust.co.uk/product/slosh-fuel-tank-sealer-7

sweary reviews of the product are here on my yootoob channel

https://youtu.be/9XBRGIpzIbA

Think I might just give that a go, pretty sure this tank has been replaced at some point, certainly was removed before as bolt missing and the boot has been sprayed inside after some panel work. Watched the video, I can give it a good clean with a presure washer then treat. Thanks for the tip.

[sujitroy]

Ejwards has new custom made tanks.