Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I had the fuel tank for my 1947 Clipper resealed. The sealant clogged my whistle tube, so now it is very difficult to fill the tank. I was able to clear the top of the tube where it joins the filler neck, but I can't get a wire down the tube to clear the whistle and the bottom of the tube. I am considering cutting the tube near the filler neck near the top, drilling a new hole on the side of the tank toward the top, and installing a new tube which will connect to the old filler tube near the filler neck. If someone has a better idea, I would sure like to hear it.

Something else screwed up by people who just don't understand.
I had to explain why I wanted a ground wire soldered to the tank. They didn't realize their material didn't allow ground so that the fuel gauge wouldn't function. They do this for a living??

Don't know how much luck you will have since it is sealer causing the issue but a suggestion for clearing the whistle using air is in tech bulletin 50T-58 available in the literature section. There is another bulletin 51T-17 which tells how to remove the whistle by unsoldering a part of the vent tube. Not sure exactly where the thing is located unless it's the whole round piece but it must be fairly easily accessible so you can remove and clean it.

I had the same problem with my 2259-I tried to clear with all kinds of solvents and using a piece of speedo cable on an drill (this was done after removing the tank) I corrected the problem by drilling a 3/16 hole through the top of the vent housing and then soldering a penney over the hole. worked great and can now fill the tank with out gas coming back out the filler tube-no whisle however.

Had this same problem and I did the same as Dell, small hole in whistle, poke a wire thru to clean out sealer, and J-B Weld a penny over hole.

Only problem is you get to remove the tank again.

John

Sometimes I think fuel tank sealer causes more problems than it cures. I did the "ultimate" restoration on a tank from another car. After tank removal, cleaning, painting, sealing, and installation I figured I had the ultimate tank. However the sealant totally plugged the filter on the fuel pickup tube and the car would not run. Rather than cutting the tank apart to fix it I installed an old stock tank that was not sealed. The car has been running fine ever since. The product I got from Eastwood had NO mention of possibly clogging things with sealer. That's the second time I got something from Eastwood (without any warnings or instructions) that caused damage.

I had my tank done at a place that does the RENU process on it. Which is a baked on epoxy coating, which dries hard like powdercoat instead of rubbery like the Eastwood stuff. They said they blow air through all the tubing after coating is applied, but before it is baked to prevent those kind of clogs and them having to perform redos on it. I double checked it when I got, and before I reinstalled the tank, all was good. Then even installed a ground wire for me through the flange of the tank. Pricey yes, but guaranteed for life at anyplace in the USA that does RENU.

Thank you. I will remove the tank and drill the hole as you suggest.