Not getting any fuel

[71HemiCuriousCuda]

Trying to get my cuda clone started after being mothballed for 2 years. Just added  new battery and it cranks and can get car to turnover with fuel directly into card. My Carter elec pump has given up so its all mechanical. Had the tank emptied. Added a fresh 5 gals but having trouble getting it through the system and into the carb. What are the secrets i should be trying? Thinking the simple solution was to siphon (a transfer pump) where fuel line enter mech pump. What  else? Thx Smitty

[jimynick]

It's not clear whether that dead electric pump is still in the system and it may be the reason the mechanical pump can't draw fuel. If there's 5 gallons of gas in the tank and the lines are all clear, there's no reason the engine driven pump shouldn't be able to draw gas to the carb. Just my 

[71HemiCuriousCuda]

Previously I have run the car without the elec pump so I think I am good here.  A friend mentioned could be the ethanol gas making a problem over time. I do also have a Fram filter out back and wondering if the the filter element may be the problem. Going to take apart the system from the filter forward first. Then if its worse drop the tank. Another thought was the "sock" on the tank pickup.

[70chall440]

Could be any number of things which I think you understand, I would remove the fuel line up front and blow some compressed air through the line. You should hear it gurgling in the tank. Don't go whole hog and hit with 125 psi, just need probably 20 psi or so to clear it. That said I would definitely clean out the system either way.

[Oldschool]

Could be any number of things which I think you understand, I would remove the fuel line up front and blow some compressed air through the line. You should hear it gurgling in the tank. Don't go whole hog and hit with 125 psi, just need probably 20 psi or so to clear it. That said I would definitely clean out the system either way.

Excellent starting point. If all clear and the issue persists, install a fuel pressure gauge in the line just before the carb/carbs.

[71HemiCuriousCuda]

So took the fuel system down (Elec pump is dead, and replaced Fram HPG1 filter). Also cleared the line coming out of the pickup.  Going to bypass the fuel pump for now so while putting it all back together I notice a small leak and assume its residual from the lines. Nope, looks its a very small hole started to ruin my weekend. So now I'll buy a tank! Does anyone know if a 1970 unit without the 4 valve pipes will fit my 71? Its a resto car and I am only going to plug those, so figure if a 1970 piece (early ones did not have the valve from what I read) will bolt up I will go for that. Any information on this and tank replacement (where to buy/what to look for) would be appreciated. Thx all.

[jimynick]

I don't have any used pieces and my Challenger is a 74, but Spectra Premium tanks work well and I bought mine via the internet. Good luck. 

[70chall440]

Any year Challenger tank will fit and work unless you are going for a perfect resto. Tanks are not hard to come by, if you were in western WA I have one sitting here I took out of my 70 when I converted to EFI. That said, if you are not in western WA then it will be easier for you to just order one online, look at parts.com, Rockauto, summit, jegs, etc. Do yourself a favor and replace the inlet rubber gasket at the same time.

[71HemiCuriousCuda]

So after searching the web, the early 1970 tank has 1 EEV valve coming out of the left side of tank (pass. side). The 1971s are 4. After seeing this I got under my car and there are NO vents, none, not cap, none! This tank was new about 25 yrs ago. Is it possible that the vendor (probably Year one sold from another producer) made a tank with no vents, knowing on a modifies rebuild, it would not be installed? Just wondering. Now that i need to buy a vented tank what is everyone using to plug the vents with?
Thx

[70chall440]

Yes it is not only possible but probable, I have a tank I took out of my 70 Challenger which was a replacement I had originally put in probably 15 years ago that does not have any vent or EEV nipples. Much more likely to get a replacement tank without any nipples than with.

[71HemiCuriousCuda]

I thought so too, but just the opposite. EVERY place selling tanks are single or quad EEV tanks, no one sells it without venting. Auto City Classics out of MN says no venting in their description, but it looks to be a single vent.
Does anyone have any experience with tank sealer? Classic Industries sells a clean and seal kit. https://www.classicindustries.com/product/all-years/plymouth/barracuda/parts/kb53000.html
I have no problem buying the tank but should I consider this route as well?
Pulling tank now, will post some pics when done. Thx all for the input!

[70chall440]

My how times have changed.. LOL

Reference the tank sealer, NO you should not consider this route given that new tanks are available. I have sealed more than my share of tanks over the years and while it can/does work any mechanic worth 2 craps would opt for a new tank over a sealed tank any day of the week. Sealing a tank should be a last ditch/only option type affair mainly because there are a lot of variables at play and if you don't get it right you will have nothing but problems going forward. You have to clean the inside of the tank first (boiling, acid, etc.) and this MUST be done and done well or everything after it is a waste of time. Then you have to etch the inside (acid again) which has to be swished around to get into every crevice or again everything after it is a waste of time. At this point and after neutralizing the acid and thoroughly drying the tank can you pour the sealant in which then has to be swished around a lot and continuously because if it isn't it will pool in one spot and dry. After this you will need to clean out any ports/nipples which are sure to now be clogged.

Its not that its hard or that it doesn't work, neither of theses are the case per se but it is tedious and not without its hazards which then begs the question of "why" when you can just buy a new tank and be done with it.

[jimynick]

AND, by the time you buy all the chemicals needed to do the job, as described, you may be in over what a replacement tank costs anyways! If the prospect of more nipples bothers you ( I don't suffer from that fear  ) just buy the caps to cap them off.

[70chall440]

Yeah thats a good point, you can buy a tank sealing kit for relatively small expense but what it takes to do it is really not worth it. As an example, you have to rotate the tank for like 30 minutes to coat it. Now you could make some type of jig or something but it sucks to do, trust me.

I am not sure what the issue is to be honest, if you do not want all the nipples, as mentioned they can be capped but if that bothers you they can be welded shut or cut out completely and a new panel welded in if you are wanting it look for original. I just dropped a tank out of a 70 roadrunner yesterday and it has 4 nipples as did the one that was in my Challenger but since I was/am not using the evap system I don't really care one way or another.

[71HemiCuriousCuda]

I posted an update yesterday but apparently it did not post.
Dropped the tank,it has not venting at all. That was the only reason I wanted the same, nothing more. Tank cannot be saved its a mess. So getting a 4 vent tank that is made for 71. The 70 is a gallon more (19) but staying with 71. The fuel sending unit is a mess. Will post pics right behind this post. Sealing tank was an option, but after the read above and then what it looks like its a dumb idea I had. Thanks for all the help.