Well tomorrow I hope to drop the fuel tank on my 85 e150 and have a few questions or need some suggestions..
here is what the tank looks like
https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/mor...nid=520&jpid=3

here is what the sending unit looks like
https://www.rockauto.com/catalog/mor...nid=521&jpid=0

First the gas... The tank is full. half of the gas is is almost a year old and the other half is 3 months old. i would think the gas is bad. What do you do with 20 gallons of gas?
What is the best way to get the gas out of the tank? Can you get a siphon hose down in an 85 tank?
I think the sending unit pickup tube has rusted into or has a hole in it because I changed the mechanical pump and it is still not picking up fuel..

The first thing i plan to do is remove the hose off of the sending unit and put a new long piece of hose on it and blow air back into the tank to verify the problem in in the pick up tube. If the pickup tube is bad then I shouldn't hear any air bubbles I would think?

2nd,, get the gas out of the tank..

3rd,, If you look at the tank, the sending unit is facing at a 45 degree angle and there is allot of room around the sending unit.. Do you think it would be possible to remove the sending unit without removing the tank? There is plenty of room to get the retaining ring off..

4th,, i have a new spectra tank. If the old tank is clean and no rust inside, would you replace it or keep the stock tank? I would think the original tank might be a thicker gauge..
I was thinking perhaps if I could get the sending unit out without removing the tank, that I could use a mirror and light to look in the tank..

Thanks.. Any thoughts or hints are very welcome!!


I have new tank, filler hose, roll over valve, and ford sending unit..

Oh and the new fuel pump was ran for 3 or 4 miles without gas running through it.... Did I ruin the pump? Also the pump was a spare that was in the van when I bought it Napa brand..

 

I dropped both tanks on my '89. Four 5 gallon gas cans. I burned it in my lawn mower, rototiller, power washer.

Yes, I put a 3/8 fuel line hose down the filler neck, push and twist until it gets to the bottom of the tank. Start a pot of coffee then start the siphon, switch gas cans, refill coffee cup as needed.

Spray and loosen the straps, remove the fill and vent line hoses. If you can reach the gas line/sender unit connections, remove them. Put a piece of plywood between the tank and a floor jack. Finish removing the straps and drop the tank.

Dropping the tank isn't that big a deal once the gas is out. And having the tank out for inspection and cleaning is worth the trouble and certainly worth saving the price of a new tank if it is not needed. Mine was 27 years old and in great shape, I cleaned it and put it back.
jim

 

Something I'd suggest is looking into new dealer or aftermarket tank straps---those things seem to rust themselves together shortly after the vans are delivered new.

I was/am thinking of replacing my 2000's fuel sending unit, new straps are a mere $40 each OEM last time I checked. Any aggravation trying to remove or save older parts like that isn't worth the money.

Just an idea...............

 

good thing i am not doing this for money because so far in 3 days I have the rear up on stands and just siphoned the gas out today.

That's why I am posting, the gas.. Prior to the van quitting, I had filled it up and only driven it about 10 miles after that. All I could siphon out of the tank today was around 12 gallons. ( did you know gas tastes different then it did 25 years ago?) I was using a 6' piece of fuel line that had only a slight curl to it. I moved the hose in several different positions and even lowered one of the jack stands to tilt the van to one side and still no air bubble sounds when I blew in the hose. I tapped on the bottom and side of the tank and it sounds empty... It is a 22 gallon tank...
Once before right after I got the van it acted like it ran out of gas and all I could put back in it was 12 gallons. I even drove the van around a little and went back to the pump and tried to add more gas,, no go..
Now I am wondering if there is something wrong that could cause the tank to not fill up more then 12 gallons?
The gauge has never come up more then 1/2 tank,, when it works...

This time when It quit I know it had gas in it!

I was going to try to take the filler neck and hose off but it looks like the tank has to come loose first in order to get the hoses off. The metal filler neck mounts from under the van so there is no way to pull it out first..

I havent seen a write up on removing a tank from a e150 so I will try to remember to take some pics and try to do a write up as I am doing this..

There are a few spots that have a little surface rust. Maybe while i have the tank out I should clean up the area and paint it? Any suggestions on that? Just a wire brush by hand?

 

Yes there is----the venting system or tube running along side the filler neck hose could be plugged causing your tank to seem full at only 12 gallons.

This topic has been discussed here before a few years ago---its not uncommon. Also not sure how to find those older posts, whether they were titled as "tank filling problems" or something similar.


If the tank is out its a good time to rehab it. Were it me and I wanted to keep that tank--assuming its in great condition---wire brush the hell out of it and coat it with POR-15 if the budget allows. If that's too expensive properly using Rust-O-Luem primer and top coat should work well too.

Remember to include your van year and model Annaleigh---for things like this that's very helpful.

HTH

 

Thanks JWA, I need to learn how to add my 1985 E150, 302, AOD, conversion, to my page...
Once I get the tank out I will be replacing all the rubber hoses, sending unit, rollover valve, and rubber o-ring that holds it in. That should solve any venting problems unless the problem might be in the evap canister..I was reading that on some cars that the evap canister can get clogged with fuel and cause a tank not to fill correctly.. I wouldn't think that would be the problem here though..

As to the rust,, I should have clarified a bit better.. The tank itself looks pretty good with no surface rust on it, the rust is on various parts of the framing.. I was thinking while I have the tank out, that maybe I should clean and coat all the surrounding areas while I have access to them...

These are not the best pics but here is an example..

I guess this is called upper cross member? and the rust is not all the way across it.. as with the main frame, just a couple of spots here and there.. notice the fuel and brake lines appear to be in great shape..
<a href="http://s472.photobucket.com/user/Annaleigh_123/media/b67a272c-9fc8-472e-a446-d9703ba264c4.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88/Annaleigh_123/b67a272c-9fc8-472e-a446-d9703ba264c4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo b67a272c-9fc8-472e-a446-d9703ba264c4.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s472.photobucket.com/user/Annaleigh_123/media/WP_20141103_16_49_51_Pro.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88/Annaleigh_123/WP_20141103_16_49_51_Pro.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo WP_20141103_16_49_51_Pro.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s472.photobucket.com/user/Annaleigh_123/media/WP_20141030_17_28_14_Pro.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr88/Annaleigh_123/WP_20141030_17_28_14_Pro.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo WP_20141030_17_28_14_Pro.jpg"/></a>

 

For your year van the frame looks grrrrrrrreat---I wouldn't be too concerned with chasing that small bit of surface rust. Once you begin the question becomes where do I stop?

If you do anything to that rust I'd simply use a hand held wire brush to remove any larger scaly bits then coat with POR-15--silver color is best because its very, very high in solids content. Following their system and directions its pretty amazing stuff.

Rust-O-Leum works too, using their primer first highly recommended.

 

So,,, I have been spraying the body mount bolts in prep for lifting it off to access the frame better!!!!!! Should the engine come out too or you think I can work around it????

I have been a little busy with other things and haven't had time to do much more with the tank yet.

I was looking at your post on EVTM manuals.. And i found this one
1985 Ford Econoline Evtm Electrical Shop Service Manual | eBay

I am thinking though since I did the DSII conversion, that I might need two different manuals, 84 and 85.. The EEC IV TFI seems to have been engineered somewhat like an add-on to the 84 wiring as all I had to do was unplug the TFI harness and install the DSII harness. I am sure there are some differences under the dash and that the vacuum lines are different..

BUT then again I am thinking that all 85's with a 351 and larger came with a DSII ignition that year.. Some of the 351's had 2bbl carbs like my 302 has, just different (not the right word) jets... Ah,, venturi size.. So maybe a 85 manual would be fine??

The one in the above link doesn't seem to be engine specific

 

I don't know I'd pull the engine too if the body is off---should be plenty of access then. With all the oil and grease that leaks from the engine I've seen very few front frame sections needing any sort of rust attention. I'd be more concerned with the front inner structure where it bolts to the frame (near the core support) and/or the front coil spring perches---both have been known to have rust issues here in Ohio.

Tough to know about the EVTM and whether its specific to the different types of stock Ford ignition systems available that year. My WAG is both would be covered or shown separately on different pages. That's kinda a crap shoot because I'm not familiar with anything older than 1997.

 

i was just joking about lifting the body!!! Talking about rust you said "Once you begin the question becomes where do I stop?"

There is no oil around mine except a little on the engine itself. There is some surface rust on the I beams and a slight bit on the coil springs. The van was in Florida for a while, perhaps thats why the light dusting of rust spots on some areas?

Was thinking about the EVTM more and since I know what I have removed, maybe I should just make a couple of diagrams myself showing what I did the the wiring and vacuum lines.. I haven't finished the vacuum lines yet. I am going to try using my moms 78 e100 system for a pattern as she has an EVAP canister, 2bl carb, and I believe an EGR.. Not sure on the EGR..