Pete Phillips Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Working on my 1958 Ambassador 4-;dr. hardtop station wagon. It has been sitting since the 1980s. I removed the gas tank and cleaned it with a high-pressure wand at the car wash, and it is not bad, but the pickup tube is plugged up. This tube is separate from the sending unit and I don't know how to remove it. I have tried pushing a stiff wire into it but it stops after 15-18 inches when the tube is near the bottom of the tank. I have tried compressed air. I have tried pouring lacquer thinner into the tube and letting it stand up and soak overnight. Nothing seems to help. The wire will go no further and the tube does not seem to be removable from the tank. I need some more ideas, please. Many thanks for any advice. An older man here in town was recently killed when he was welding on his pickup truck's diesel tank, so I am a bit skittish about any use of torches or welding or heat. Pete Phillips Leonard, Texas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Section of speedometer cable core checked into a drill. CAUTION, the drill has sparks, the steel cable's many strands scratching the steel tube makes sparks. Probability of explosion HIGH. I would clean out the gas tank first to remove the fumes, THEN proceed to opening the tube. DO NOT use vacuum cleaner to suck fumes out of tank! Funny looking pink Buick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friartuck Posted November 22, 2017 Share Posted November 22, 2017 Take the tank to a local radiator shop that still does hot tank clean outs and boil the tank and tube out. This is a good long term solution. Finish by coating the inside with a sealer: https://www.por15.com/POR-15-Fuel-Tank-Sealer_p_64.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted November 23, 2017 Share Posted November 23, 2017 Local radiator shop? All the ones around here are closed. Local shop is now 60 miles away. I did use radiator shops for this task years ago. Worked great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spinneyhill Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 I hope the slob that dropped those cigarette butts was there before the fuel tank and there is no smoking in the shed with the tank out like that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Put an air hose in the fill hole with air running and the fumes should be low enough to not cause any problems. Just make sure that the air from the compressor is running all of the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 I didn't read back so if I repeat I apologize. But, when worrying about a gas tank flashing from heat simply fill it with water and let it over flow while you are doing your work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 25 minutes ago, JACK M said: I didn't read back so if I repeat I apologize. But, when worrying about a gas tank flashing from heat simply fill it with water and let it over flow while you are doing your work. That works too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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