Ran outta gas today...

...with my 5yr. old on board. We had just topped a hill & the '38 quit. We managed to coast a half mile, downhill, to a gas station. Ya gotta love the hills of East TN. Now I know where "empty" really is on the fuel gauge and I know that my tank holds 15 gallons. You learn something new every day.

Tomorrow it gets a new speedometer cable so I can figure the mileage on this tankfull.

I just realized that since last Thursday evening I haven't even started my daily driver PU. Me & this '38 are having a blast.

JH

 

Sounds like you were in a good spot to run out. I ran my truck out of gas a couple of days after I got it. It wasn't registered and I was running a plate from my daily. The state patrol pulled up as I was filling it and just wanted to make sure I was OK, luckilly she didn't run the plate. Glad you're enjoying the '38, I love that car.

Mootz

 

The usual place to run out is at the bottom of the hill....

 

I ran out of gas twice in a row in my P/U with my 4 year old boy coasted into the station both times..I got to get that gauge fix one of these days.

 

My car runs out at a 1/4 tank. I found that out when I went to gas up. I thought I had 1/4 tank left, it took 12 1/4 gallons in a 12 gallon tank.

 

ive never run outta gas. really. i think its my only claim to fame.

 

The day i bought my truck in arizona i ran out of gas. I was coming from tucson to san diego 3 in the morning and in the middle of the desert i came to a rolling stop on the side of the highway. Glad my cell phone had service otherwise i would be out of luck, ended up waiting for highway patrol car to come resuce me a couple of hours later. Now i check the tank on a daily bases.

 

Now you know the REAL (3) readings on the gas guage: 1. Empty...2. Suckin' Fumes...and 3. Bone-ass Dry...

 

I've been known for running outta gas a time or two.
After about three years of it I finally decided it was easier to fix the gas gauge and finally did so this past Sept.

Funny story, Dad's fuel gauge went south shortly before we left for CA so Big Olds was the "offical" gas gauge of the trip. Things were going fine till one morning when I knew we were getting low on fuel but only had a couple more miles till we arrived at the location we were meeting C9 for breakfast. Well Dad ran outt a gas on the highway! How could that be, we always traveled the same amount of miles during the whole trip. Well on the way to the gas station, leaving mom "steaming" on the side of the highway in the '56, Dad and I remembered I had hopped in the '56 with them to go to dinner the nite before. His Olds had driven about 10 miles further then me the nite before. Needless to say Mom insisted Dad fix the gauge as soon as they got home.

 

Glad you're up and running.

What was the verdict on your previous fuel system problem. It's obvious this latest fuel problem is an easier fix. Put fuel in it .

 

After rebuilding the carb, rebuilding the fuel pump, removing the rebuilt fuel pump & replacing it with an electric pump, and running new gas lines front to back I found that my gas tank was full of shit.

On day one I knew I should look into the tank but just didn't want to believe that was the problem. Serves me right for being lazy.

I dropped it, cleaned it, sealed it (twice) and hit the road. All has been well since.

JH

 

Yea running outta gas sucks..now i carry my skateboard and gas can.

 

Good to know, 'cause I'm probably going to have to do the same.

What sealer did ya' use, and did the tank come down without a struggle?

 

The sealer was from Specialized. It came in a quart can with an almost homemade-looking label on it. The label has a Model T on it. I don't think it is too hard to find. Eastwood may carry it. I got mine from Paul Ellis Ford Parts. It will seal small crud (though I try to get the tank clean as possible first) and will even fill a small pinhole. I used this stuff on my RPU tank, a '60 VW tank, and now the '38. I've had no problems with any of them.

The tank was a booger to get out. I unbolted it, shoved it all the way to the driver's side and then had to make a small notch in the bottom lip of the fenderwell on the driver's side to get it over far enough for the lip on the passenger side to clear the framerail. I then did a little pulling & prying & got it out. Once it was out I trimmed two square corners off the passenger side lip of the tank rounding them off some. This allowed it to go back in with no trouble.

Word to the wise - soak the captured nuts on the top lip of the tank in penetrating oil before removing the bolts holding it in. You twist one of those loose & you'll be cutting an access hole in the fenderwell so you can get to it from the top side. Don't ask how I know.

JH

 

Thanks for the info.

I won't ask about the caged nuts, 'cause I think I already have it figured out .

 

I think you need to drive that thing down here.....

 

I agree