C1 Fuel Tank

[Joseph U.]

As i mentioned in a previous post (1960 C1 fuel gauge) I am having problems with my 1960, specifically it seems to just stop while running. As we have concluded from the prior posts the fuel sender unit is most likely shot, but the car will stop while running with plenty of gas in the tank. Last week it stopped, would not start (but would turn over and start up if you put gas in the carb) but would not keep running). Gas tank was full (gas overflows when I tried to put more in). I had the car towed home (on a flat bed trailer), pushed it into the garage, cranked the engine and it started right up. And started right up the next morning. I am starting to think that although the fuel gauge may be broken, the fuel pump is good, the ignition system must be OK and the lines (at least when it is running) must be clear, there must be something that intermittently blocks the flow of fuel. I am wondering if there could be something in the tank itself that blocks the flow of gas, which then gets dislodged or moved when the car is tilted up to get onto the trailer. Does this make any sense? Is there some other possible explanation?
If this is so:
How might I check this theory?
How hard is it to clean out a fuel tank?
How hard is it to replace the fuel tank?
Do I need to take the body off to replace the tank?
Thanks for any thoughts and ideas.
Joe

[Eric E.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Hi Joe,

I know you have had a lot of ideas thrown at you but the first thing that pops to my mind is vapor lock. An easy test would be to see if the engine starts with the cap loose.

The movement under tow and the overnight cure leads me to believe the line might be partially blocked or pinched.

Worth a shot. Good luck!
Eric

[Joseph U.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Interesting thought Eric,
When I get home I will loosen the cap and as best I can, I will check the line from the tank to the fuel pump for a kink.
That would fit with the fact that the mechanic told me that he pressurized the tank and then started up the car.
Thanks for the idea.
Joe

[Eric E.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Interesting thought Eric,
When I get home I will loosen the cap and as best I can, I will check the line from the tank to the fuel pump for a kink.
That would fit with the fact that the mechanic told me that he pressurized the tank and then started up the car.
Thanks for the idea.
Joe

Joe, I think your issue would be with the vent side of the tank and not the feed side. Fuel pulls with the pump until the pressure gets to high in the tank. Eric

[Mark E.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Joe, I think your issue would be with the vent side of the tank and not the feed side. Fuel pulls with the pump until the pressure gets too high in the tank. Eric

Do you mean until pressure gets too low in the tank?

Eric- Why would loosening the gas cap test for vapor lock?

Loosening the gas cap could be a test for poor venting in the gas tank causing a problem.

Joseph- An intermittent fuel restriction in the lines is possible, but there's a host of more likely causes. You may need to methodically go through the ignition and fuel systems to diagnose.

[Eric E.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Mark,

I know its a very basic test but sometimes the little things are what gets missed.

i work in the motorcycle industry and often we find that when the tank stops venting we see issues just like Joe is describing.

Figured it was worth a shot.

Eric

[Joseph U.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

I agree and think a logical approach is best. The facts as I know them are as follows:
1. While running down the road the car "bucked" and started to die - but kept going when I raced the engine and "road the clutch" so to speak to manage the speed, and then started to run just fine.
2. The car died while normally running, just seemed to have no gas
3. Tank was full
4. If I put gas right into the carb, the car would turn over and "catch" run for a few seconds they die.
5. Had the car towed home and pushed it into the garage.
6. Turned the car and the car started right up and continues to start.
SO by my analysis
1. There is fuel in the tank.
2. The fuel pump works (unless there is some sort of intermittent fuel pump problem - and I don't know what that would be with a mechanical fuel pump.
3. The carburetors are OK
4. I think the ignition set-up is ok since even when I had the problem, the car would fire up if I physically put fuel in the carb.

Somehow that leads me to a problem of some kind that intermittently prevents fuel from getting to the carb from the fuel tank.

Is my logic sound?
If so, now I need to figure out what those possibilities might be.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
Joe

[Don H.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Joe, Another possibility is the pivot pin in the fuel pump has come out. Many will say and logic agrees that the car would not run without it but I KNOW it can. I had almost the same symptoms as you and the car ran hundreds of miles before I figured out it had lost the pivot pin in the fuel pump. You should be able to check it with a light and mirror. Good luck, Don H.

[Richard P.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

I suspect an intermittent fuel pump issue. Had a similar episode a few years ago. The second flat bed ride led to replacing the "new" fuel pump. Problem solved.

[Terry D.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Have you actually looked down in the fuel tank? I worked a 61 once that had same problem, when I went to replace the float in the take there was all kinds of craps floating around. I drained as much gas out as I could (it's a wonder it ran at all) pulled the tank and it sounded like there was slush in the bottom. New tank solved the problem. We later found out that Bubba had lied about the car sitting for years with old gas in the tank.

[Joseph U.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Thanks Terry,
Question is "How would I look down into the tank?
Joe

[Joseph U.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

So I ran the car today for about 30 min without problems - then the car died (luckily in the garage). So I was able to do a few tests:
1. I purchased a spark checker ($8 at Advanced Auto) and there was spark present - so it would seem electrical is not the issue.
2. I took off fuel tank cap - no help car still would not start.
3. There was fuel in the glass bowl between fuel pump and carb set-up (2x4 carter wcfb), so I emptied the gas from the bowl and cranked the engine - bowl filled up with gas - so fuel pump should be ok and lines between gas tank and fuel pump should be ok.

that leaves me with a problem with the dual quad set-up - any thoughts on an intermittent problem with the carbs?
The Carb set-up was restored by Chuck Smith in California in 2002 and has not been touched since.
Joe

[Terry D.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

To look in the fuel tank take the sending unit out. you could also drain the take and see what comes out.

[Joseph U.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

Thanks Terry,
Did you see my last post - what do you think about my thoughts concerning the Carbs?
Is there anyway to check the carbs without rebuilding them?
Joe

[Terry D.]

Re: C1 Fuel Tank

sure, take the air cleaner off and pump the throttle, see if gas shoots into the carb, if so car should run if not maybe float is stuck or carb is blocked at inlet. Call Joe, he probably has several things you can check. Car needs 3 things to run, gas air spark. Where did you test for spark?