Projects Just picked up a family project

I've not heard of that, I'll look into it though. Will do. Based on how bad it was I'm thinking I might have to to it a few times over a couple days. I would to have it ready by Sunday because I think I'll have the rest of the fuel system back together by then.

 

Your idea of putting nuts and bolts in the tank is a good one. I would put a couple shovels full of sharp edged stone in it and set in the back of your pickup and drive around with it for a while.

 

I have thrown a chain inside a tank before and shook it around to break up mud dobber nests. Just another idea... And, I feel your pain on the hard to get or unavailable gas tank deal. No one made one for my son’s Edsel that we recently had to replace. Had to do a little research on other tanks that would work and ended up with one that took very little modification to work. Folks here were a huge help and led me toward a couple alternatives.

 

That's kind of what time looking at. It looks like the 54 and 55 stuff is close but maybe the filler neck isn't offset. I'm still researching. Appreciate the glimmer of hope. At this point I might as well make one

 

I'm not sure if there is a rule against YouTube links on here but here the video I threw together of us getting it home and running.

 

Don`t think you will have any problem with that link here on HAMB.
Good video!

 

Take your gas tank to your local radiator shop and have them hot vat it overnight, that will remove any crap from the tank and then they can pressure test it for leaks and repair any if necessary. HRP

 

Every radiator repair shop I knew of around here is long gone. Same with auto electrical repair shops. I'm like 1.5 hours from Chicago though so I could look up there. I have my own vessel pressure testing rig though. I've made several oil and fuel tanks, I would just set it to a much lower pressure for this thin steel.

 

If you tank is shot you can always buy a replacement 52-54 gas tank and never worry about it again, not cheap but very well made and will last a lifetime.

I purchased a tank from these guys after patching my original gas tanks several times. HRP

Auto City Classics

 

So the place and tank Danny suggested is $399. If it was $250 you would probably jump at it? So in my eyes, with that nice of a car, what is another $150? If your cleaning doesn't do what ya want, go for the tank. Yes, I understand the money part as I am limited on my funds quite a bit but sometimes it is just worth it to bite the bullet. I never miss the $$ after the fact.

Dave

 

I thought the trick was to modify the filler neck on a 55-56 tank since those tanks are cheaper? I swear that's what people were doing, although I don't know if I've seen a tech writeup on it or anything.

If I can modify something slightly to save $150, damn right I'd do it.

 

I agree, it's just since I'm trying to have this running fairly soon I'm going to exhaust my other options to buy me time to replace it. If.incant make it through this summer I'd have no problem just getting a new one. It's just I'm dumping a bunch of money into it quickly and that tank money isn't exactly in the budget.

 

Based on my visual inspection that's what it looks like would be the easiest. I think it's just the filler neck is centered instead of offset.

 

A cheaper way to replace the gas tank is to go with a '55 tank. $230 vs $400.
https://bobdrake.com/products/1955-car-gas-tank?_pos=2&_sid=c3ea701b5&_ss=r

The '55 tank is slightly larger, 1/4" longer, 3/8" wider, 1-1/2" deeper plus it holds 19-1/2 gals vs. 17 gals for the '52-'54 tank. The '55 tank comes with an electric fuel pump provision but it also comes with the block off plate. Mounting is fairly routine. The mounting straps need to be extended. Just shove the tank up in there, use your original mounting straps plus the straps that come with the tank and weld the two together. Also, the filler neck will extend just a tad too far out and needs to be shortened for the license plate door to close. I did this on my '54. Easy, peasy!

 

THIS was the info I was looking for! Well worth the extra effort to save the money and even gain a bit of capacity.

 

I understand guys trying to save money, in my case I was and have driven thousands of miles from home and didn't want to have any fluid issues while out on the road, fuel or water, that's the main reason for a new copper/brass radiator & a new gas tank. HRP

 

I'm totally all.in.for.peace of mind trust me. That's what I'm redoing the entire fuel system from the start. I'm just exhausting the options I have at my disposal first.

 

You are a lifesaver! Shortening the filler neck will be easy work for me. I appreciate the help.

 

Cool great you kept it in the family, good luck !

 

I've spent the whole week working on the fuel tank. We have some major progress and it's good enough to get us through the year for sure.
Here is the anode after the last cycle


Also, borax is sub par compared to washing soda. I got significantly less out when I used borax. Switching to washing soda made a huge difference.


This is after 3 cycles. 1 more to go


I'm currently running the carb parts through a ultra sonic cleaner and I've got rebuild kit to re assemble.


Before the last reverse electrolysis I decided it would be best to fill it up with nuts and bolts and some washing soda mixture and work it. That wore me out but it was worth it. I had about 4" of sludge in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket. One last cycle to give it a final clean.
I've got new steel fuel line to run from the pump to the front and new earls low pressure non return fuel reg to keep the pressure off the carb. I plan on making a block off plate for the mechanical fuel pump and to dort of hide the regulator and not have to drill into the firewall with some ugly regulator I and going to make a bracket built into the block off plate.

Lastly I was able to get a lead in a local junkyard full of old cars. They are only open twice a month but I'm going to take the kid huntin for parts. We're going to look for a 55 Ford grill, 55 Plymouth grill, Ford truck teeth, and some hub caps.
I really really like the 55 Plymouth grill so that's where my hopes are set.

 

Welcome , looks like a nice car you bought enjoy fixing it up!

 

Late night tonight cleaning carb parts and planning out the fittings for the fuel system.
Found some odd things. It's been working this way so I'm putting it back together this way but figured you'd all have some insight possibly.
First is the accel pump has different parts from one barrel to the next.



And next I have exhausted all that I can searching online to try to figure out what the hell this is. In the picture you see the horn thing and in the foreground you see where the hose goes to the base if the carb. The horn has a pull cord connected to the side of the car that opens the horn. My un educated guess is that since he was running an electric pump without a regulator he was having flooding issues and this horn valve thing was a carb bypass to unflood the engine or something like that. I want to take it off but I don't want to find out the hard way I should have left it
And don't say it's flux capacitor because I'll try to drive this thing right back to 1953 haha.

 

Very cool car, congrats on the purchase.

I once had a '53 Mainline sedan (white over maroon) that went through the same process as yours. Brakes needed a complete going through (the left rear was the only one working when I got it - the mile-long drive home was white-knuckle terror) and the fuel pump died one day at work, necessitating a six-volt electric pump. From a tractor. Once I got that in, the car was a blast to drive (I really like flatheads) but the only strike against was....it was a Fordomatic. Pumped ATF up the dipstick tube and down onto the exhaust pipes - I had a smoke screen following me wherever I went. I finally put a C4 (kit from Speedway) and then sold it to buy a Corvette. Should have kept it.

Good luck with the process, it sounds like you know what you're doing.

 

Looks like the remains of a wolf whistle

 

That's totally it. I've never heard of such a thing.i wasn't looking for a whistle eat all, which makes sense why I couldn't find it lol. That's a huge help.

 

I think you said something earlier about using an electric fuel pump. If I was you, I would install the stock fuel pump if for nothing else just for simplicity. Think of it this way, when the motor is running the pump will be pumping and when the motor is not running the pump will not be pumping, all with no extra wires, switch, electric pump mounting etc... Is there a reason the stock pump can not work? maybe I missed something.
Also, you said something about it has an electric fan than makes noise or something, I would use the same reasoning here, the simple trouble free solution would be to use the stock fan set up. Not much to go wrong with a set up like that.
Please don't get me wrong, build the car the way you want, it will be a cool car either way. Sometimes it pays not to reengineer something that worked. (boy, that did not sound like a hot rodder, did it?)

Have fun with your great car!!

 

I had full intention of running the factory mechanical pump. If it wasn't for the electric fuel pump already being installed and all the fuel lines needing to be replaced that's the way I would have gone. The electric fan is additional to the mechanical fan so I'm assuming there was cooling issues at some point. I don't intend on leaving the electric fan in. Place unless I find there is some use for it right away. Even then if there is a cooling issue I plan to sort it out eventually and ditch the electric fan. It really looks bad behind the grill.
Back to the electric pump, if for some reason I need to go back I bought a rebuild kit and a push rod and bushing so I have the parts need be other than the regulator the electric pump is much less obvious in my aponion. Thanks for the comments

 

Late night so not many pictures, probably tommorrow.
Fuel tank is in and new fuel lines from the tank to the carb. All 3/8 steel. Fuel pressure regulator in and set to about .5 psi while running. Had some stuck in the needle on the first fire and flooded the engine pretty good. Solved that and still can't get my cheapo Mr gasket fuel filter to stop leaking. Figured for 12 bucks what the heck right?
I decided not to place the regulator on the block off because of the way plum info would have worked out. It just would have been neat looking. I need to get another filter on the way and I'm in the hunt for an old school fuel pressure gauge to replace the one I have. Also the choke cable all bent and not adjusting easy so that needs to be delt with. A little bit of carb tuning will be in order but for now she's starting and idling on her own will power so that's progress.
Yes the zip ties are temporary, I ran out of the nice hose clamps.

 

Oh yeah, the wife contributed her craftsmanship and made a in leaded glass playboy bunny mirror hanger.

 

Cool car Dude! Keep up the good work. FYI, I like the poverty cap look for the wheels, without the trim rings.