Three's Company? (fuel system issues)

[53ryder]

I took delivery of my Monaco in mid-January. There wasn't much gas in the tank. Reading the fine print on the shipping receipt the shipper prefers to haul cars with little fuel in the tank (safety precaution I'd guess). Got the car, ran fine a couple of times I drove it. About a week ago I figured I ought to add some gas to the tank as the gauge read just about empty. I added 2 gallons from a gas can. Car started and ran okay for a few minutes then started run real rough and then stalled. Wouldn't start after several tries. Well...I knew where this was going.

Today on the way home from work I bought a new, clear fuel filter. I pulled off the old filter and put the new one on, turned the key over a few cranks to see what the new filter looked like. Well it's a mess. There's a lot of dark red grit in the gas. So I'll be pulling this tank off and deciding whether or nor to replace it or clean it.

The old filter on top. The new filter below. So you can see what's what.


Glenn

 

[greasemonkeyman]

One way of cleaning it out(assuming there is rust in there) would be to fill it with plain old white vinegar(the cheapest you can find),but the tank is probably a twenty-five gallon one.I think Walmart sells it for $2. gallon.Let it sit in the tank for a week or two and it will clean it like new inside.Then rinse it out and use a good tank sealer.

 

[53ryder]

White vinegar huh? Woulda never thunk of it.

Glenn

 

[greasemonkeyman]

White vinegar huh? Woulda never thunk of it.

Glenn

It works great for killing rust,but depending on how strong you use it(full strength or deluted with water up to 5:1),will matter how long you have to soak it.It works great for rusty old work tools.I'll usually get some rusty old pliers and soak them full strength for about two days.Sometimes it helps to scrub them after they have soaked for a day.I use a wire brush(soft or hard bristle),or a scotchbrite pad to help things progress a little quicker.With a fuel tank I'd leave it for at least a week,maybe 2 or 3 depending on how ruff it is inside.It almost comes out like clean metal and won't eat away at any painted surfaces unless there is rust under the paint.

 

[53ryder]

Pulled gas tank off yesterday. Here's some pictures.

As you can see I drained the tank the old fashioned way with some 5/16 fuel line. The tank has 2 vents. It doesn't look to me like the original but a replacement. When? dunno. The sending unit was was rusty. The inside of the tank looks rusty, but I'm waiting for the leftover gas to evaporate before I check it out with more detail. No wonder the gauge didn't work! No grounding strap and the float wouldn't float. The last picture shows what the gas looked like at the bottom of the tank. Yummy!

 

[polara71]

Ooooff that looks bad

 

[53ryder]

Ooooff that looks bad

Not as bad as my 65 Dodge Dart I owned 3 years ago. Here's a shot of the sending unit on that sucker!

 

[commando1]

It's only going to get worse with the 10% ethanol.

 

[bulldogchesty]

That's some nasty chit.

 

[BIGBARNEYCARS]

Go find ah radiator shop that can boil that puppy out. Won't cost yeah much more then 25 gallons of vinager. Then all you need iz ah new sending unit or at least ah new float. Piece-ah-cake, Jer

 

[440Sled]

Damn, thats messed up!

 

[53ryder]

Go find ah radiator shop that can boil that puppy out. Won't cost yeah much more then 25 gallons of vinager. Then all you need iz ah new sending unit or at least ah new float. Piece-ah-cake, Jer

Found a radiator shop in Tacoma, about 40 miles south of me, that will 'hot clean' (boil out, cleanse with muratic acid, rinse with MEK and then seal tank) my Monaco gas tank for $385. A new tank at Summit Racing is $425 (Spectra) or a Quanta tank is $459.

I think I may just run my tank down to Tacoma and have it boiled out. Thanks for the info!


Glenn

 

[68plymouth383]

Here's a brand new tank for 100 less than the cleaning. With free shipping. I think that radiator shop is proud of there work. It shouldn't cost more than 200 to boil out, and seal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/67-73-Mopar...odge|Model:Monaco&hash=item5af75be87b&vxp=mtr

Found a radiator shop in Tacoma, about 40 miles south of me, that will 'hot clean' (boil out, cleanse with muratic acid, rinse with MEK and then seal tank) my Monaco gas tank for $385. A new tank at Summit Racing is $425 (Spectra) or a Quanta tank is $459.

I think I may just run my tank down to Tacoma and have it boiled out. Thanks for the info!


Glenn

 

[53ryder]

Here's a brand new tank for 100 less than the cleaning. With free shipping. I think that radiator shop is proud of there work. It shouldn't cost more than 200 to boil out, and seal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/67-73-Mopar...odge|Model:Monaco&hash=item5af75be87b&vxp=mtr

That's darned tempting! Hmmmm.

Glenn

 

[polara71]

something about original that would have me boil it out...

 

[68plymouth383]

It looks like an aftermarket tank from his pic. The outside looks to clean to be 47 years old. It still has a white sticker that says made in Canada. Looks like a spectra tank to me.

something about original that would have me boil it out...

 

[53ryder]

I don't think it's original. Too clean under pad. Has the Canadian sticker from Spectra. Sending unit wasn't all the bad, certainly not for 47 years worth. It's been replace, but I don't know when.

Glenn

 

[polara71]

then theres your answer............

 

[53ryder]

Here's a brand new tank for 100 less than the cleaning. With free shipping. I think that radiator shop is proud of there work. It shouldn't cost more than 200 to boil out, and seal.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/67-73-Mopar...odge|Model:Monaco&hash=item5af75be87b&vxp=mtr

Thanks for the tip! I went and ordered one of these!

Glenn