Fuel tank pickup needs cleaned

The fuel tank in my 61 Ford unibody seems to have something in it, most likley rust that keeps getting in the way of fuel coming out of the tank.
Looking for any tips on cleaning the pickup.
Plan to yank the tank out of the truck and let my air compressor have its way with it, then some chain and or bolts and some good shaking.

Thinking also of using some muriatic acid i have on my shelf from cleaning the garage floor.

Can't see a way to get the pickup itself out of the tank.

Any tips or ideas that I'm missing?

 

I had a 70 chevelle ( high millage) once that seamed to be runing out of gas on the road at speed. There was an OEM sock type strainer evidently cloged up with rust on the end of the pick up tube in the tank. So when we got the car back to the garage and on a lift we unhooked the rubber hose at the fuel pump and blew compressed air back to the tank. I think the sock was blwn off the tube or at least cleared of ****. I drove the car for many miles after with no problem.

 

This type far as I know has no "sock" as its not removeable to service it.

 

twist several pieces of tig wire together using a drill, then pull the ends out like its frayed. force the frayed end into the pickup and using the drill give it a spin while pushing and pulling, it will clean all the **** out injust a few seconds.

Don't use a chain in the tank, my buddy did that and the chain tied itself into a knot inside the tank, he had to cut the tank open to get it out. Use rocks or bolts but nothing that can make itself impossible to remove.

 

I had a 66 Nova back in the day that ran out of fuel when under hard acceleration. Pulled pickup ***embly out of tank and found that it was bent nearly closed.
Maybe this is your issue...

 

Its a new issue, so i dont think the bend is the case, but i do like the brush idea. heck I've even got a HF ***ortment of wire brushes i could modifiy and shove down there.
Thanks for the ideas guys!

 

Blowing it out will probably work in the short run, but I think you're going to have to flush the tank.
Tom

 

We just went through this with the kid's E100. Go to Home Depot and buy the BIG box of drywall screws and a magnet. Pull the tank, drain it, throw the screws in with a little water (just enough to help slosh the screws around) and start sloshing them ALL around. Slosh, rinse, repeat until clean. When clean, drain out all the screws and put the magnet at the sender or filler hole and shake some more (to catch the inevitable 1 or 2 screws that don't want to come out).
Don't use acid as it will accelerate the rust.

 

I would probably rethink putting a wire brush in a fuel tank. Unless it's br***, it only takes one spark......

 

yeah, I was thinking of the spark idea allready, I have br*** brushes that I can use too.

 

I hate this kinda work. Just picked gobs of gook out of the fuel tank pick up tube with a bunch of dental tools. Still couldn't blow thru the line. Hooked up the shop vac on pressure and didn't work. Connectected the air compressor hose with about 60 psi and it blew the pick up tube particulate matter all over the garage, like a pea shooter. Then sprayed brake cleaner thru the tube using the long red plastic tube. Did the job!

 

Pulled the tank tonight and got it drained and an intial inspection. Is dirty, but not as bad as I expected. Going to flush it some, put 100lbs of air down the pickup tube and see what happens. Might be lucky enough not to have to get it boiled.

 

Sounds like you guys are on track and making it happen !!!

 

Got it pulled, drained gas, all looked very clean. Tank was super clean inside and no rust, found a dime sized blob of solder floating around, Guessing this was my cluprit. Filled the bottom of the tank with Yamaha carb soak (great stuff from your motorcycle dealer) let it sit, sloshed it around and all the goo from the bottom is gone. I'll be putting it back in tomorrow night. Giving the soak another 24 hours to really do its magic.