Fuel Line Replace

[ed_in_pa]

I believe I have to replace my fuel lines on my 76 from tank to pump due to leakage. Can anyone give me an idea of what's involved. I would have to do this on jack stands and I was wondering if it was possible. There seems to be some pretty tight spots I'd have to get it thru.

Thanks

 

[pgtr]

Hi Ed,

I can't be specific to '76 - If you are talking about the metal lines that run along the right frame rail from the tank up to the pump - ouch! I've never done this but some people say the body has to either be off or 'up' to access the steel fuel lines.

But a common place for them to leak is at rotten cracked rubber hoses coming off the tank that connect to teh steel lines on the frame rail. Drop your spare tire and see what kind of access you have if that's the case and see what it will take to replace the rubber hoses.

You can review the C3 Fire thread for information on rubber fuel hoses. The parts store fuel hose will be cheap and convenient. Same hoses from Vette parts supplier will be more 'correct' as to shape etc.

Of course be SUPER careful around gas - siphon the tank as much as possible, disconnect bat, be wary of sparks etc...

If it's been a while - when this is all said and done - may not be a bad idea to check/replace the fuel filter...

 

[ed_in_pa]

Thanks for the info.

 

[celeryman22]

I just replaced mine with the body off and it wasn't to0 hard. With the body on it would have been impossible becuase they were prebent.

 

[CQRT]

Ed:
There was a thread where a member described that replacing the rubber lines was accomplished by removing the rubber collar around the filler neck and the spare tire carrier. It is undoubtly a tight fit and probably requires a pretty thorough familiarity with the connections.
The alternative is to drain and drop the tank . . .which according to several other threads is another fairly demanding undertaking. Good luck - - perhaps you can document and post your success?

Thanks

 

[cool80]

I am also looking at replacing the hoses from the tank to the steel lines. I have decided to drop the tank and replace/clean the strainer (inside the tank), seal/boot, gasket, anti-squeak pads, overflow hose, check out the overall condition of the tank and clean the sending unit. I figure the hoses are 25 years old and should be checked. If they are not pre-bent, I will use marine grade gas hoses which are good for any environment. Just my 2 cents


cool80

 

[ed_in_pa]

Thanks all for the helpful info.

 

[ed_in_pa]

Cool80,
I decided to drop the tank as well. I now have the tank out and I've found all the replacement parts you mentioned such as strainer, anti-squeak pads etc... The only one I can't seem to find on the web is the gasket for the sending unit. Did you find one anywhere or is it just the permatex type gasket in a tube?

Thanks

 

[cool80]

Yes, I was able to find the gasket. A friend of mine owns a body shop and has a good relationship with a GM dealer parts man. He found the gasket (GM) however it cost $9.35. You may want to check with a local GM dealer. If you cannot get one let me know and we will work something out between us. I figure this will never be done again so I am going back with as much new as possible. Have you run into any problems that were unexpected? What condition was your hoses? What condition was the tank? Are you going to paint the tank? What kind of paint?


cool80

 

[ed_in_pa]

Tank Removal/Fuel Line

No problems removing the tank. I just have to figure out where the leak is coming from. The hoses look pretty good. I guess I'll need to plug up the fuel line and run some air through it from the pump and see where the leak is, unless someone knows of another way to check. The tank was in pretty good shape, I wire brushed it and then sprayed it with Rust-Oleum Cold Galvanizing Compound. It says it is a Zinc-Rich Coating for recoating Galvanized Steel, Sheet Metal and Fences. I've attached a picture of the tank after painting, also I have a picture of the build sheet I found above the tank shield. Unfortunately, you can't make out 1 word. Oh Well. Next I plan to wire brush and paint the gas tank shield then what ever parts of the frame are available in a never ending series of 'while I'm at it' etc....

 

[cool80]

Thanks, great shots. I plan on cleaning/painting everything in site when I remove the tank. I have been using Rust Olem semi gloss black exterior paint which seems to work well on unprimed metal. Thanks for the info.

cool80

 

[ed_in_pa]

Just an FYI: The reason I wasn't able to find the gasket for my 76 is because there isn't one on the sending unit. I spoke to a guy from Zip Products and he said from 75-77 there is no gasket. What appears to be the gasket under the sending unit is actually the bladder edges from inside the tank.

 

[ed_in_pa]

Just a heads up. I noticed there were 2 different strainers you can buy for a 76. One was for cars with k74 emissions (whatever that is). These have a side mounted connection, the other has the connection on the end. I opened my tank and saw that I had the side mounted. On a side note the bladder was in very good condition and the inside was very clean. When I get the strainer and install it I'll probably use a little RTV around the edges to help reseal the sending unit.

 

[JohnZ]

Don't use RTV for that application - gasoline will attack it; use a sealer that isn't affected by gasoline exposure.

 

[ed_in_pa]

Thanks for the heads up John, does anyone have a suggestion what to use for this application?

 

[Sam Colalillo]

The fuel lines going from the tank to the front of the car travel on top of the frame rail, parallel to the rear tires. The fuel supply and fuel return line run along the right hand rail, and the vapor vent line travel along the left hand (drivers side) fuel rail. I am posting a picture of the chassis I am completing so everyone can see the fuel lines and get an idea on how difficult they would be to replace with the body still on he chassis.

I am eliminating the mechanical pump on the engine, and have installed a electric fuel pump back by the tank on this car.

Hope this helps someone