Happy Father's Day all. My Father's Day gift was the collector's edition of The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly and getting to work on my truck Since I can't get my new plug wires today, I was going to drain the tank and get a couple of fuel filters hooked up to get the 2-year old gas/sediment out of the old girl. I unhooked the fuel line right where it leaves the cab, and no fuel came out. The previous owner said it still had about 1/4 tank when he parked it. Aside from removing the whole tank, how can I drain the sucker? Thanks.

Kevin


Ain't nothin like the old Fords

 

I'd bet sediment has plugged the outlet. I'd poke around with copper wire - not steel just in case of sparks - or use an air hose and blow the crud back into the tank.

Although, first - Do you have a shutoff valve and is it open? If you do, and it is open I'd unscrew it from the tank so you have a straight shot for the wire.

 

the best way to get your tank clean is to remove it and clean it. even if u used the fuel pump to drain it still would have sediment. the pick-up tube in the tank won't extend to the very bottom of the tank for the very purpose for sediment to settle and not be continuosly pump through fuel system. back blowing compressed air in most cases won't work due to most fuel feed lines have a check to keep fuel pressure constant. first thing go buy 5 gal. of gas and put in it so that you know for sure that there is gas in there to be pumped!!!!!!!!! if this is fuel-injection system test fuel pressure at the fuel filter or hook-up on injector manifold. with injected systems the fuel pump only runs for a 3to4 second prime each time the ignition is truned from key off to key on. change fuel filter no matter what. low pressure or carberated systems depending on location if fuel filter. if you can't get fuel out of the pump check all lines for cracks where sucktion might be lost. then test the pump. the best way to drain the tank without removing it and get the best results possible is the old fashion way!!!(6 foot piece of rubber hose)

 

I connected an electric fuel pump to the end of the tank with a hose. Connected the pump to the battery and it drained about 98% of the tank. Then I removed it and drained the rest of the tank manually. Piece of cake. (I'm assuming your Ford has the tank behind the seat in the interior). Most tanks on the rear have a drain plug, making it pretty nice.

 

Kevin,

I know you don't want to hear this, but you NEED to pull that tank out of there and have it cleaned and sealed. Draining the tank is just a band aid approach to a problem that will plague you to no end later. Bite the bullet and pull the tank out. There's no way to get 45 years of rust and sediment out of the tank by just draining it anyway. I had mine professionally cleaned and sealed by a radiator shop. You can save a few bucks by doing it yourself, but to me having it done was money well spent...and I'm so tight I sqeek when I walk...

Vern

 

You better pull the tank or it can go from the Good to the bad and then the ugly.

 

Pull it, drain it, boil it out, coat & seal it.

Cheers
Flashy
Red '58 Mercury M-100 w/223 & Merc-O-Matic

 

The fuel line under that cab that comes from the tank actually runs in through the top of the tank. You can't drain it because it's not a gravity drain. You need to create a siphon to get it to start flowing. The tank does have a drain plug in the middle of the tank that is accesible from under the cab. There's an access hole to get to it.

Let me second the remove the tank and clean it routine. After months of replacing filters and getting stuck because the fuel line plugged. I finally removed the tank and use the POR15 gas tank sealer kit. It comes in three parts. Part 1 is a cleaner to remove the sludge. Could be citrius based. Second part is a phosphoric acid to convert the rust and corrosion. Third is a sealer. Follow the directions and you won't have any trouble going forward.

 

as i remember the tank comes out rather easy. just pull it out like everyone is telling you. you will save alot of time and agrivation in the long run

 

Thanks to all for the replies. I reckon I'll be pulling the tank out within a few days. I'm military stationed in Alaska and was hoping to be able to wait till I get back to the lower 48 next year to do it and just limp along this summer since everything's so much more expensive up here.

Kevin

Ain't nothin like the old Fords

 

Look on the positive side Kevin. With you being in Alaska, it'll be nice and cool to remove the tank. Beats working in 100 degree temperatures! LOL.... Good luck.. This post motivated me to pull mine out and clean it out/ seal it. Thanks everyone.

 

Hate to say it, but lately, it's been upper 80's here for the last week and a half (hit 90 one day). With us being close to the sun and 20 hours of daylight, it feels pretty dang hot. Thankfully, my driveway's in the shade in the evenings.