Replacement fuel tank..... WTF!
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Elder User
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From: South Jersey
Replacement fuel tank..... WTF!
So my front tank was leaking. I took it out and ordered a new one from Advance. My truck is a shortbed so it was the harder to find, smaller, 16 gallon tank. Anyway, it came quickly in the mail and I looked it over and everything looked to match the stock one. I bought some rubberized spray and sprayed it down so it will last. I also got a new sending unit from advance. Well, today I did a dry fit to see if everything matches up and of course ran into an issue. The old and new sending unit fits in the old tank no problem so I know they're ok. Neither the old or new unit fit in the new tank. I thought.... hmmm, odd everything looks the same. Well, I think I see the problem.
Check out the pics:
Look at the groves cut out in the old tank in the sending unit hole. They are at 9 o'clock and 2 o'clock. In the new tank they are cut at 8 o'clock and 3 o'clock. Under the sending unit cap is 2 groves cut out that fit inside these holes to lock the sending unit in place. I've already painted the tank up. Now what do I do????
Check out the pics:
Look at the groves cut out in the old tank in the sending unit hole. They are at 9 o'clock and 2 o'clock. In the new tank they are cut at 8 o'clock and 3 o'clock. Under the sending unit cap is 2 groves cut out that fit inside these holes to lock the sending unit in place. I've already painted the tank up. Now what do I do????
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From: Denver Metro Area, CO
I also noticed the new tank has a smaller hole.
It looks like the new notches are 180* offset from the originals. Assuming you can get
either sending unit to fit into the new tank IN ANY ORIENTATION, can you in fact lock &
seal it into place with the lock ring? If you can, then I'd just cut new notches if you need
the sending unit to fit in the factory orientation. But that hole size difference concerns me....
EDIT: I should clarify my comments about any orientation... All I'm wondering there is if
the new sending unit is capable of being sealed and locked to the tank; if it can be, THEN
worry about orientating the thing so the float mechanism works correctly and there aren't any
obstructions to the pickup tube's filter.
It looks like the new notches are 180* offset from the originals. Assuming you can get
either sending unit to fit into the new tank IN ANY ORIENTATION, can you in fact lock &
seal it into place with the lock ring? If you can, then I'd just cut new notches if you need
the sending unit to fit in the factory orientation. But that hole size difference concerns me....
EDIT: I should clarify my comments about any orientation... All I'm wondering there is if
the new sending unit is capable of being sealed and locked to the tank; if it can be, THEN
worry about orientating the thing so the float mechanism works correctly and there aren't any
obstructions to the pickup tube's filter.
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Elder User
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From: South Jersey
the hole sizes are the same. it's an optical illusion from the camera and the way the tank was painted. both openings at the tank are 3 1/2" wide. The opening for the lock ring is 4 3/4" inches wide. Both the old stock tank and the new tank are the same at both measuring points. I think my only option is to cut new notches. because of the ability not to seat the new sending unit i'm not positive it will work but i see no reason it won't with new notches cut out. the new sending unit looks identical in dimensions.
for teh record the tank is the Spectra Premium Fuel Tank Part No. F14B. The sending unit I bought also from advance is an Airtex E2149S.
Unless someone has a better idea I think my only option is to cut new notches. Archion, if you could confirm that all the tanks you guys sell are notched like this I'd appreciate it. Otherwise maybe I should consider a replacement.
for teh record the tank is the Spectra Premium Fuel Tank Part No. F14B. The sending unit I bought also from advance is an Airtex E2149S.
Unless someone has a better idea I think my only option is to cut new notches. Archion, if you could confirm that all the tanks you guys sell are notched like this I'd appreciate it. Otherwise maybe I should consider a replacement.
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From: Loganville, WI
When I put a new tank in my truck it didn't quite line up correct either so I just replaced the quick dissconnect lines with longer rubber fuel line and it works fine, except they kept giving me bad sending units and fuel pumps.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Martinsburg, WV
Ok, the F14B is the correct tank by application, as is the E2149S, here is a picture of the tank, you will notice the notches are on the downward side of the hole.
F14B
Here is a picture of the F14C for the 90-96 followed by the F14D for 87-89, the notches are on the upward side of the hole. Can you tell me if the filler neck has a small pipe in it on the tank you took out? Maybe the tank had been replaced with a junkyard unit before?
F14C:
F14D:
Matt
F14B
Here is a picture of the F14C for the 90-96 followed by the F14D for 87-89, the notches are on the upward side of the hole. Can you tell me if the filler neck has a small pipe in it on the tank you took out? Maybe the tank had been replaced with a junkyard unit before?
F14C:
F14D:
Matt
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Elder User
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From: South Jersey
matt, I guess it's possible it's not the original tank but I think it's highly unlikely. I saw no evidence of the tank being replaced before. The filler neck is rubber and had a smaller plastic tube in it as well to connect the 'burp' hole.
even if the tank isn't original you are saying I ordered the correct sending unit and gas tank combo so it shouldn't matter if the original isn't original, right?
what are your thoughts on cutting new notches?
even if the tank isn't original you are saying I ordered the correct sending unit and gas tank combo so it shouldn't matter if the original isn't original, right?
what are your thoughts on cutting new notches?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Martinsburg, WV
I have also seen Ford phase in the next years parts early if they run out of or see a need to update the current design. It could be you have the 87 fuel system if you have a very late production date. As far as cutting notches, I personally cant reccomend it, I don't see the issue as long as the oring maintains a good seal. The real problem you may run into is the float for the sender nor the pickup sock may no longer be in the correct orientation to work properly. They are usally aligned to the center line of the tank vs the lock collar. On the tank side of the filler in the stub, is the small pipe in there as well?
Could you also snap pics of the two pump assy's side by side?
Could you also snap pics of the two pump assy's side by side?
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Elder User
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From: South Jersey
if ford used 87 parts on my system is irrelevant. As you stated in a previous post I ordered the correct 86 tank and the correct 86 sending unit and thus they should match up. Whatever used to be in there previously has no bearing since all those parts (the tank & sending unit were replaced).
so if I have a tank and sending unit that match the correct years... Why don't they fit together??
so if I have a tank and sending unit that match the correct years... Why don't they fit together??
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Martinsburg, WV
The sender may match up, just with the pipes pointing in a different direction, can you get a pic of the old and new one together? Looking at the two pumps in the Airtex book, this looks to be the case. Or the pump could be misboxed, it has happened before.
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Elder User
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From: South Jersey
I suppose that's possible but I would think unlikely. If the new sending unit fits the old tank, and it does, this would leave me to believe the new tank is wrong. Wouldn't you agree that it's more probable to have the wrong new tank if the old tank, old sending unit, and new sending unit all fit an '87' style assuming they are indeed 87 style? Otherwise I have 3 wrong parts and only 1 right part (the new tank) for my 86. Seems unlikely. I'll take pics of the sending unit in about 3 hrs when I get home. Unfortunately the hoses on the old sending unit rusted off @ the base when I tried removing the fuel hoses. I still have them though and will try to tape them up so we can get an idea how they face.
since you work for spectra can you tell me if there are any differences between the tank I have and th 87+ other than the groove placements in the tank? If there isn't, cutting new notches could be the solution.
since you work for spectra can you tell me if there are any differences between the tank I have and th 87+ other than the groove placements in the tank? If there isn't, cutting new notches could be the solution.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Martinsburg, WV
Disclaimer: I dont work for Spectra, those would be French-Canadians, I work for the middle man...lol There are no internal differences that I can discern. Like I said, according to all the info I have for an 85-86 truck, you have the correct tank. I dont have one in stock right now to verify the ring physically, only the eary and later model tanks. It could very well be an issue with the positioning, but from what I show and can tell from the pictures, the ring is in the proper position, again I could be wrong. If there is no obstruction or alignment issue with the sender, as I said before, I can not PERSONALLY recommend cutting the notches as I am loosly related to Spectra, being a distributor. But if it works for you, go for it. I believe Advance still has a no-hassle return policy as far I know, they also get a defect/scrap allowance on the tanks, it goes back to their warehouse where they scrap it.
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Elder User
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From: South Jersey
i'm not going to hold you liable for the tank not fitting if i cut notches in it. i'm just hoping to gather information about the dimensions of the tank being the exact same which is what really matters for things to work correctly.
I took a look at the old and new sending unit. The fitting tubes on the new one are in the exact same position (angles) as the original.
Here's my thought process. Since I painted the tank I can't return it to them where they could reuse it anyway. I would think due to this cutting new notches in wouldn't ruin my chances to exchange the tank because it's already at this point and I ordered everything correctly off their website. So unless you know otherwise, or if you recommend I stop in Advance and show them the issue and ask for their blessing before I cut new notches I'm going to try that route.
Thanks for your help with this.
I took a look at the old and new sending unit. The fitting tubes on the new one are in the exact same position (angles) as the original.
Here's my thought process. Since I painted the tank I can't return it to them where they could reuse it anyway. I would think due to this cutting new notches in wouldn't ruin my chances to exchange the tank because it's already at this point and I ordered everything correctly off their website. So unless you know otherwise, or if you recommend I stop in Advance and show them the issue and ask for their blessing before I cut new notches I'm going to try that route.
Thanks for your help with this.