Fuel Tank: 20 Gallon?????

[Gary R]

Folks,
This is my poly tank that came in my -8. Does it appear to be a 20-gallon? Here's my dilemma (as also posted over in my rebuild thread):

I got my new 350 small block to start, but it will NOT pull fuel from the tank. I only put 5-gallons of fuel in the tank.

Since the fuel pump pulls fuel from a gas can but not from the tank, something fishy is going on. So I got to thinking: with only 5-gallons in the tank, IF I accidentally ordered a fuel sending unit for a 15-gallon tank, it would obviously be a LOT shorter than the sender for a 20-gallon tank. If this is the case, I'd imagine that would be the reason the sending unit won't pick-up fuel, since it's so short it's probably not reaching down to the bottom.

I've got Quadratec researching all of my past orders now, to tell me which sending unit I bought. But in the meantime, can anyone verify if my tank is a 20? It fits the factory tray that holds the tank fully, meaning it doesn't have any slop from left to right, or from top to bottom. ***UPDATE: Quadratec tells me I DID order a sending unit for a 20-gallon tank, so if this tank (below) is a 20, I can't figure out why I'm not pulling fuel !? If the tank below is a 15, the 20-gallon sending unit should definetely be deep enough to pull fuel !!??***

Maybe I need to plug the two barbs on the left (to eliminate vacuum) that used to go to the charcoal canister? Many thanks!

 

[CBRogers]

That is not a factory 20 gallon tank and the 15's were steel.

Not sure what you really have but it is not from AMC.

Looks like some sort of replacement to fit into a 15gallon skid plate. Maybe MTS, They made plastic replacement tanks.

I would think, jut pull the sender and make a measurement. Should be able to tell if you need to lengthen the pick up tube or change the angle.



Carl

 

[mysunnshine]

Take the sender out and take a pic or two of it and post it up. Are you sure that the fuel pick-up tube goes to the bottom of the tank? Are you sure that you're hooked up to the pick-up and not the return?

 

[Gary R]

That is not a factory 20 gallon tank and the 15's were steel.

Not sure what you really have but it is not from AMC.

Looks like some sort of replacement to fit into a 15gallon skid plate. Maybe MTS, They made plastic replacement tanks.

I would think, jut pull the sender and make a measurement. Should be able to tell if you need to lengthen the pick up tube or change the angle.



Carl

Looks like that's what I'm going to need to do tonight. It's just a bear to pull the tank, but it's gotta be done. Thanks!

 

[Gary R]

Take the sender out and take a pic or two of it and post it up. Are you sure that the fuel pick-up tube goes to the bottom of the tank? Are you sure that you're hooked up to the pick-up and not the return?

That's the problem, in that, I need to drop the entire tank to remove the sender. But I suppose it's gotta happen. I know I'm on the pick-up line, and not the return. The pick-up line is larger / longer tube, and the return is that little tube that's capped off on the sending unit.

I'll pull it tonight and post up pics of the sending unit. Thanks.

 

[Robert Slone]

I had a problem with my new sending unit being too short in my 21.2 gal. tank. Turns out it was supposed to have a filter/sleeve on the end of it. It was sold as a separate piece which kinda pi$$ed me off because I had to remove the tank 3times :banghead

 

[Gary R]

I had a problem with my new sending unit being too short in my 21.2 gal. tank. Turns out it was supposed to have a filter/sleeve on the end of it. It was sold as a separate piece which kinda pi$$ed me off because I had to remove the tank 3times :banghead

Mine has nothing on the end of the pickup tube, which still has me curious as to how much fuel my tank holds. I'd hate to fill it up right now just to test however many gallons, then have to drop it full of fuel (ie: real heavy). I've got 5-gallons in the tank now, and I'd almost have to assume ANY sending unit would pick up some of that, but no joy so far!

 

[AK-RWC]

That's an aftermarket 20 gallon tank. If you compare it to a factory 15 gallon tank, they are the same width and length, but yours is deeper. The factory 20 gallon sending unit isn't designed for that tank, as the factory 20 gallon tank is shaped completely differently.

I believe (but don't quote me) that you are supposed to use a 15 gallon sending unit with an extension, or buy the aftermarket sending unit designed specifically for that tank (which I believe Quadratec and 4WDH both sell).

 

[Gary R]

That's an aftermarket 20 gallon tank. If you compare it to a factory 15 gallon tank, they are the same width and length, but yours is deeper. The factory 20 gallon sending unit isn't designed for that tank, as the factory 20 gallon tank is shaped completely differently.

I believe (but don't quote me) that you are supposed to use a 15 gallon sending unit with an extension, or buy the aftermarket sending unit designed specifically for that tank (which I believe Quadratec and 4WDH both sell).

Thanks for the verification. I'll be modifying this one tonight, to work! I'll siphon out the fuel then make some sort of a jig to measure depth. This will allow me to somehow extend the float mechanism so it rests near the bottom when empty and the pickup tube (which I may be able to just bend this one to a deeper length).

I'll search for the correct sending unit at a later date if this doesn't work. It's tough ordering a sending unit for a 20-gallon aftermarket, when I don't know who made the darn tank.

 

[Robert Slone]

I didn't mention that I broke the tube off the sending unit that came with the tank. The short one was a replacement. Seems like the sleeve/filter was about 4" long. I ran out of gas with the gauge showing 1/4 tank. No more problem after installing the sleeve.

5 gallons of gas is indeed heavy especially when you're on your back on a gravel driveway. I had to jack up the rear for clearance each time. I also came up with some new combinations of profanities around the 3rd time I dropped the tank.