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Curious if anyone has a tip for cleaning the line INSIDE the tank on my 49 Deluxe 8? I have tried to blow it out with 150 psi, no luck, carb cleaner, piano wire, cable, cable on a drill, tap in with a screw driver, and so on. The tank is out, on it's side soaking with parts cleaner now! Seems to be getting hung up at that uphill hump in the tank line...is this common?

Thanks a bunch.

Some have been able to chuck a short length of speedometer cable in a slow speed drill and push it while it rotates and get it thru that way. Sounds like that is your cable on a drill. Can you see thru the sender opening if the tube looks damaged in any way.

The end of tube is roughly 1/8 inch above the bottom of depression in tank but pointing straight into it. Varnish and sometimes repair sealer pooled in the depression can plug it up quite well. If the gas ran back and solidified in the horizontal part of tube, probably the carb cleaner while running the drill & cable is the best option. Position the tank so the tube is filled with cleaner.

I have the sending unit out, does not seem to be damaged, but has a hard end feel on the cable I am using. Not like running into goo. But, no carb cleaner is coming thru either....hmm....

Thank you for the response BTW! Think it is safe to just let it soak in parts cleaner over night? Like, fill up that tube and set it sideways at an angle?

I would think it would be OK to let it soak. I would also make sure tank is positioned so some could be poured into the tube outlet and let it run in from that direction as well. Hard to say what kind of condition the tank is in. If tube is plugged or rusted that badly, the tank may not be much better and good to find it out now.

Thanks Howard! Funny thing is the tank looks pretty good inside, and just a bit of sediment...It is soaking now in carb and parts cleaner, so close to being ready for a little ride, but I guess a tank comes in handy for that! It is up on one end, at an angle so the cleaner can work its way down and over the hump in the line...that's all i have soaking. Check it in the morning!

Try some thin welding wire. Also when it comes out the other end, it's only like 1/4" above the sump, be carefully you don't punch through the bottom.

The tubing could be rust plugged or bent.

I can get a thin wire about 12 inches in, but no air, I think I am right there at the hump.....thanks for the advice! If this cleaner does not work I will try some muriatic acid...

Soaked, poked, blown and through! getting closer! now to clean the tank, put the in line filter on....and some gas!

Thanks all!

geo

Geo,

You may have an issue running an inline filter between the tank and fuel pump if you have any sediment or dirt in your tank. I tried it, and as soon as the filter gets a little clogged with fine particles, your car will run out of gas. My trips got shorter each time, eventually going only about 1/4 mile. I think BigKev had the same problem.

I took the filter that I had placed right outside the tank off, and although the fuel coming out was clean, the intake side had orange, rusty gas coming out.

The remedy was to pull the tank again, clean it more, and treat it with the Eastwood gas tank repair kit.

I'm now driving all over with no filter between the tank and pump, and no problems.

BTW, my sending unit float was filled with gas, so I had to repair it. Let me know if you need detailed instructions on my method of repair.