If they used a sealer, sometimes called a "slushing compound" and they let the tank sit upright to dry, it could have puddled at the pickup and blocked it. If the tank has a screen at the pickup, the sealer could have plugged up the screen itself. <-- I did that once.

I know, I know, this would have kept the truck from running at all. Ever. But it might have ALMOST plugged it, so even the slightest amount of crud allows it to plug up. A good blast of air back toward the tank should tell the story, or even break it loose. (remember not to blast air back THROUGH the fuel pump)

Just thinking with my keyboard here.

 

need some quick help if possible. I'm out at the truck. Took the fuel pump of for cleaning as recommended. There is a rubber gasket with a flat screen on it that seals the glass fuel bowl. Is this what i need to eliminate. Do i also do anything with the little ball bearing that keeps fuel going into the glass bowl first? thanks! btw....i have an inline filter. There was a lot of gunk in bottom of glass bowl but the line and filter from pump to carb was clear.

 

No don't remove that. Just clean it all really good and put it back.

 

aww crap....what was numberdummy referring to on page one then? that's the only thing there other than the glass bowl. can ya clarify please? thanks doc

 

I THINK he was referring to some sort of dealer-installed accessory filter, which you probably don't have. You need to definitely clean the glass bowl, screen, and gasket attached to the fuel pump itself. You cannot do away with that setup. Otherwise, your fuel pump will pump fuel right out into the engine bay itself.

 

yeah. ..lol....I'm keeping the bowl. just thought i could do without that screen. Pumps back together. I'm about to pull the tank and see if ole boy was lying to me about that too. Thanks for the quick help.

 

No, don't throw anything away in the fuel pump. A ceramic element mentioned by ND is in a separate glass bowled fuel filter in line between the fuel pump and the carb. It sounds like you don't have one, you have an inline filter instead. You need those check ***** for the pump to work correctly. If there was a lot of gunk in the fuel pump bowl it is likely the problem is with the line from the tank to the pump or the tank itself, or the pump isn't working. First put the pump back together as you found it (minus the gunk) and reinstall, but don't connect the line to the carb. Or better yet connect the line to the carb, but disconnect it at the fuel filter. Put a length of rubber hose on the line from the pump and put the other end in an empty bottle or can. Crank the engine over a couple times, gas should shoot out the hose into the catch can with pressure. (If the engine should start, shut it off immediately so gas doesn't fill the can and start spraying around.) If gas does shoot out, the pump is working and the line to it is clear. If no gas comes out you have a bad pump or a plugged line from the tank. If it works, replace the inline filter if it is sealed with a new one or use a piece of rubber fuel line and a couple hose clamps to bypass it temporarily. Or if it can be dissassembled, take the filter element out and try starting the motor. If it starts and runs replace the filter or the element.
These tanks didn't have a pickup, the gas simply ran out a fitting in the bottom of the tank. If there was gas in the tank and it didn't run out when you disconnected the line to the fuel pump, it's likely the line is plugged. Blow the line back to the tank with compressed air and gas should start to run out. Be prepared to catch what's in the tank and/or plug the line until you can hook it back to the fuel pump.

 

When you get it all put back together (and hopefully you haven't murdered the PO), take note of how long it takes for the fuel pump to refill that bowl. If it's just a matter of a few seconds, your pump is probably good. If you crank and crank and crank and it never fills itself, that might be your problem. Keep telling yourself over and over--"This is a 63 year old vintage vehicle that might need a little help from time to time." Look at it as a learning experience.

 

An electric fuel pump will also help to push the gas to the carb.

 

the radiator shop that boiled my tank out said to fill in with gas right away or it would rust up again. worked for me and i did not put in the sloshing compound because after the tank was boiled out it was really clean.

 

There was originally a filter element in the glass bowl at the fuel pump. I've never even seen one, but sure enough it's in the parts CD.

 

update....lines from pump to carb were clear. There was a good bit of gunk in the glass bowl so i cleaned it and i put a new inline filter in. Took the top half of the carb off. There was gunk all in the bowl so i cleaned that out. I put the fuel pump back together after cleaning the little flat glass bowl screen. Then i took the sender out if the tank and checked out the inside. Best i can tell there's not really any sediment in there. I grabbed a tank inspection kit (flashlight and long stick) and stirred around on the bottom of the tank. Nothing moved. Put everything back together and gave the engine a spin over. No fuel in glass bowl. Only thing left that i haven't checked is the line from tank to pump.

 

Light a match so you can get a good look in there!

 

B7S-9365-B (replaced B7S-9365-A & 1BA-9365-A) .. Cartridge Fuel Filter-Use with fuel pump with glass bowl / Obsolete

1949/53 all I-6 & V8 Trucks / 1955 Trucks with 279/317 V8's // 1949/51 Ford 226 I-6 Passenger Cars / 1949/53 Ford V8 Passenger Cars / 1955/60 Thunderbird.

B7S-9365-B =

GRIESEL MOTOR CO. in Okarche OK has ONE = 405-263-7242.

KINSEL L/M in Beaumont TX has ONE = 800-816-2894.

JST AUTOMOTIVE in Liberty KY has TWO = 615-443-3086.

KLIMESH MOTOR SALES in Calmar IA has TWO = 563-562-3241.
-------------------------------------------------------------
B7S-9365-A =

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has ONE = 800-543-4959.

NOS PARTS SOURCE in Olathe KS has ONE = 913-220-5746.
---------------------------------------------------------
1BA-9365-A =

CARPENTER NOS OBSOLETE PARTS in Concord NC has ONE = 800-476-9653.

 

Well considering only eight are still available in the whole country, and most of us have never seen one, I'd venture to say it wasn't a successful thing?

Wayne, if your main fuel line is clear, you've got a dead fuel pump. How long did you crank the engine?