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Technical 1932 Ford Gas Tank Question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by anothercarguy, Feb 18, 2023.

  1. I'm not sure whether I have an issue here or not...as you know it's tough to get access to the top of a '32 gas tank with the body in place. I had noticed that I had 2 visible lines coming forward from the gas tank. The line coming towards the camera on the left (the smaller of the two) is capped....I'm not sure why that would be...any insight on the purpose of that line? I had assumed that it might have been a vent line but not sure? The second line coming towards the camera, on the right in the photo (the larger of the two) is the fuel line.

    It appears there are 2 other lines not connected to anything...would they be the vents? And if so, why 2 of them? I'm presuming they should be run higher on the body to avoid leakage and equipped with rollover vents for safety. Is this a stock set up? Or another of the previous owner's "better ideas" (I've had to correct a bunch of those already so I won't be surprised if there is another).

    Thanks in advance.

    20230218_160826.jpg 20230218_160945.jpg
     
  2. WiredSpider
    Joined: Dec 29, 2012
    Posts: 1,286

    WiredSpider
    Member

    Stock setup. Large one is for gas. Small one is for gas gauge
     
    clem and anothercarguy like this.
  3. That makes sense....thanks for the info. What about the other 2 that appear to be open to the air?
     
  4. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,013

    BJR
    Member

    One vent for tank, other vent for gas gauge.
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  5. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 4,850

    deathrowdave
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from NKy

    Winner winner chicken dinner
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  6. Thanks!!! I presume I can simply cap the vent for the gas gauge. And, add a raised line and rollover valve to the gas tank vent. Which of the 2 open lines is for the tank and which for the fuel gauge, or does it matter?
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2023
  7. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,013

    BJR
    Member

    The big one is for the fuel line the small one is for the gas gauge. If you are putting a V8 other than a flathead in the car the fuel pickup may be too small, and not flow enough fuel at full throttle.
     
  8. Thanks again...I now understand the lines coming towards the camera (and have read other threads wondering whether the size of the factory line was adequate to feed a V8...so thanks for that info as well). Based on your other response, the photo below shows the factory vent lines for the gas gauge and tank labelled #1 and #2. Which is which? My intent is to block one off (presumable I'd want to cap the gas gauge vent line as it's not being used for that purpose), and I plan to add an extended hose to the other for use to vent the tank. Do I use #1 or #2 as the gas tank vent line (and cap the other)...or does it matter? gas gauge.png
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2023
  9. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,013

    BJR
    Member

    It does matter which one you use to vent it. I don't remember which one vents the tank. An easy test would be to cap the small gas gauge line and blow air into the fuel line and see which vent line most of the air comes out of. I have seen these fuel pickups almost rusted off inside the tank, so it might be a good idea to pull it and take a look at it. Then the correct vent will be obvious. The dip tube may have holes in it also.
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  10. Thanks again @BJR ...good suggestion. I guess I'll be cutting (without sparks!) an access panel into the trunk floor as it's too tight and difficult to access otherwise...and I don't have interest in lifting the body. :rolleyes:
     
  11. swifty
    Joined: Dec 25, 2005
    Posts: 2,541

    swifty
    Member

    The Vintique after market pick up only has 3 outlets, does not have the gauge vent i.e your #1 shown. On the Vintique the left is the fuel return, right is the fuel supply and #2 is the tank vent.
    I think there is variation between OG pick ups and Vintique with OG having 6 hold down screws versus 5 on Vintique. Would have to compare my old and new tanks to confirm. Think adapters are available though.
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  12. BJR
    Joined: Mar 11, 2005
    Posts: 11,013

    BJR
    Member

    You do not have to lift the body to remove a 32 Ford gas tank. Just remove the spreader bar, or tire carrier, tail lights, frame covers, the 3 bolts with springs on them that hold the tank to the frame, and slide the gas tank straight back. I have done this on all body styles of the 32 Ford and did not have to lift the body.
     
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  13. Good to know...I've already cut an access panel in the floor. 20230219_153122.jpg
     
  14. swifty
    Joined: Dec 25, 2005
    Posts: 2,541

    swifty
    Member

    Well you saved me digging out my old tank as I can see the 6 bolts holding the pick up in. Vintique after market one has 5 bolts.
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  15. Those are not Ford screw bolts. Go easy on removing those. Should also be a gasquet underneath.
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  16. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,373

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    This is a Original Ford
    As stated previously, tank can be removed with out lifting body.
    D92B53CC-B5FA-4B0C-974C-2AA0CBB24882.jpeg F7FBE70F-A545-4903-9D02-558ED9A1F282.jpeg 31EABC23-59FF-4073-B02A-25D34BA5C5A0.jpeg B7B62685-1A5C-43C5-8A85-221AF6DB3FCE.jpeg
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  17. swifty
    Joined: Dec 25, 2005
    Posts: 2,541

    swifty
    Member

    That's good to see @19Eddy30 As @BURN OUT BOB says the OP only has one correct setscrew with the other 5 being replaced with Allen head style, possibly to get the correct thread style.
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  18. 19Eddy30
    Joined: Mar 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,373

    19Eddy30
    Member
    from VA

    Most Machine screws on 32 are
    (throughout ) are 12-32,
    This Original 32 tank has 10-32 threads
    Pickup / sender
     
    anothercarguy likes this.
  19. @19Eddy30, thank you for posting the photos. Very helpful.
     
  20. The range and quality of fasteners on this car has stopped surprising me. It seems to have been assembled using whatever fasteners were available in the neighbor's diseased grandfathers yard sale find pickle jar of mystery nuts, bolts, nails and washers (including ready rod when the pickle jar was unable to provide a fastener of the right length or diameter!).

    I'm currently thinking about not disturbing the unit in the tank (at least for the time being), will block off the short gas gauge vent tube and run a line on the vent tube that I now know as the gas tank vent (after blow testing and confirmed by the photos @19Eddy30 posted). I'm going to include one of the Mercedes Benz fuel tank "burp" valves in the vent line to reduce the smell of gas around the car (I showed this valve installed in my roadster in the thread below and it works great, though they seem to be harder to come by now).

    https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...or-that-gas-smell-from-gas-tank-vent.1116234/
     

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