Projects Building My First Roadster in San Francisco

Don’t use brass fittings on that fuel block if you can avoid it!

 

Yeah I think they are probably pipe thread I’d just take it to the store and try til something fits. Great updates I like that you got the steering/ gas cap/ hinge in line


I laughed reading about your neighbor friendly bursts of grinder use. My last garage was under my kids bed rooms. I became real familiar with a sharp hack saw and files lol

 

No one has mentioned the tank hold down you came up with, but it looks like it will stress the hell out of the tank seam causing a leak over a period of time and use. I only bring this up since that thin sheet metal it is made from does not look structural, it is just to cap off the ends of the tank. I could have sworn that style tank uses straps to keep it planted. If I'm incorrect, then you can disregard my paranoia. We have seen so many gas fires on this forum and I would like to not see that with your dream car.

 

Pocket Nick brought up a good point there Joey. A pair of straps would be a better option for mounting the gas tank. Some rubber between the tank and straps would also be something to consider.

 

Think of brass AND aluminum as soft, malleable metals that form fit.
Think peanut butter and jelly and trying to separate them after they are smooshed together.
I'd go with a steel fitting.

 

NPT fittings are available in stainless steel, if your so inclined...

 

Cool that the cotters found their way home back to the Bay!

 

Don’t use stainless in aluminum.

 

I think the worry over brass fittings in aluminum is over rated. Ford used brass fuel inlet fittings on its aluminum body carbs for decades and I didn't see any problems.

 

Every old aluminum fuel block I have has brass fittings in it. Use teflon paste thread sealant and move on.

I do agree on the fuel tank straps. Easy enough to make, or they sell universal straps with draw bolts on each end that are fairly reasonable.

https://www.zoro.com/spectra-premium-fuel-tank-strap-st13-st13/i/G800632996/

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...IwTmrQShun-PX-MZvkGgjOm6ktM0HZTsaAirsEALw_wcB

 

I agree adding straps to your existing tank mount. In my head I’m seeing a sorta cylinder shape, sloshing gas and San Francisco hills. That’s a lot of rocking. Straps would be peace of mind at minimum

 

I've used brass fittings in aluminum stuff for 60 + years with no problems with the ones I put together. I have had trouble getting old assemblies apart. Head gaskets with copper seals on aluminum head has caused problems. Just look at the water passages on old heads.

 

I have installed that exact tank, with that exact mounting methodology, going as far back as 12-years-ago.

None have had any issues.

 

Go to a thrift store and buy a couple of leather belts to go under the metal straps. This set up is 24 years old.

 

Looking at the picture it seems it should be ok since that is how it is advertised to work and you also have a real world testimony using your method. There are a pair of raised sections, one by the filler and the other pair right after the sending unit, that is where the tank straps could go. Seems like they gave you a few options to secure it. My only experience with tanks Inc is with an off topic El Camino. Carry on.

 

I get your point, However I've used stainless in aluminum with antiseize to mitigate dissimilar metal corrosion. I've also used brass in aluminum with teflon paste and zero issues...
Either method is fine.

 

Like Neal said. All the old ones ive taken apart had brass fittings.

I've never seen an old stainless one.

Since joey is building a period correct car, it makes sense that he should use brass fittings. End of discussion.

 

I bet it is not the end of the discussion.

 

People can talk all they want, but I bet it gets brass fittings.

 

I think he’s gonna get a bag of bugles and stick a few in there having confused brass with trumpets and trumpets with bugles.

no word on if Teflon tape will be involved.

 

Did someone say Bugles? I used to put them on my fingers like claws. Unfortunately, I out grew them years ago.

They need to make Bugles in adult sizes.

 

Lol

 

I’m a bit of a problem solver myself. Here ya go Matt. They went with giant sized because sausage finger size tested poorly with marketing focus groups

 

They need to make them big enough to fit our heads.

 

I watched a couple videos touring Johnson's. They seem to be good folks putting out a quality product for the varied desires of car builders. Yeah, it's not cheap but they are one of those places that are doing things right. I hope the purchase experience mirrors that.

That 5/8 inch and fixing it is what makes the difference between a car and a real rod. But you knew that.

 

One of those things that you would have hated and bitched about the whole time you had the car together, but once it’s together on the road it’s so much harder to take it back apart and fix it right.

it sucks paying new radiator $$$$ but if it’s the right one you’ll get it in there and never again think about the money it cost.

looks great. And good illustration of how litterally nothing bolts in unless you make both half’s and some times the bolt.