RE: Screen in Plymouth Gas Tank

[B. Hondle]

Hi!

Is anyone able to apprise me as to whether there is a screen in the bottom of a 1940 Plymouth P-9 gas tank (or a 1946 Dodge gas tank)? I won't bore you with the entire sordic story, but I had given a 1946 Dodge gas tank to a radiator shop to boil out the rust and then line. They did, but I was told by a second radiator shop (where I took it for a second opinion) that it wasn't a good job, and they explained why. One of the reasons is because the "screen" in the bottom of the tank was not removed prior to installing the new lining in the tank and, therefore, no fuel would be able to be sucked out of the tank even if I installed it. Took the tank back to the first shop and they admitted the job was not good and are not doing "warranty" work on the tank by removing the new lining and starting over. However, they tell me that there is no screen in the tank, to their knowledge. Does anyone know whether there is, in fact, a screen in the bottom of 1946 Dodge gas tank (as well as the 1940 Plymouth tank, which I had removed from my vehicle).

Thanks to all in advance!

B.Hondle

[Harold]

Not sure about the '40, but the postwar cars had a sintered metal filter (Chrysler called it Oilite, I believe) on the end of the pickup tube in the tank. If the tank interior was coated with the filter in place, it would definitely get plugged-up and restrict the flow of gasoline.

I've heard it can be pushed off the tube with a blast of compressed air.

[Guest erp52]

I replied in another thread to this, but here it is again. On my 47 plymouth, I cleaned the tank out myself using the POR15 kit. (www.por15.com).

I knew there was the Oilite filter in it, but still took the chance. Well, after 6 months of driving, I've had no problems with the gas getting thru. Hope this helps. Ed Parauka

[B. Hondle]

Thank you for the post. I apologize for not responding earlier than this, but I neglected to see your courteous reply until now. The reason I asked the original question is because I had purchased a 1946 Dodge Gas tank in order to have it boiled out and then fitted to install into my 1940 Plymouth P-9 Roadking. However, due to some dealings with the fella (the owner of a radiator shop) after I delivered the tank for processing, I immediately took my tank to another radiator shop for inspection after the fella (at the first radiator shop) had cleaned the tank, and then had subsequently lined it. I was informed that the rust had not been completely boiled out of the tank before it was lined, and the application of the lining was inferior since there were spots that were missed, and the lining was thin in other spots as well. I was also told that if the fella lined the tank without first removing the screen in the tank, then he lined the screen and it would be totally plugged and the tank would not in any way dispense any fuel as a result. So when I took the tank back to the original fella, he inspected it and admitted that the lining was defective and would do the lining again (he has since then gone out of business and I have not, unfortunately, been able to reclaim the tanks), but the fella informed me that he was not aware of any screen in the tank. So I truly appreciate your information in this regard.

[B. Hondle]

I truly appreciate your post in this regard. I was going to reply to you separately, but I can see that a reply is embedded in the thread. In case you receive this reply separately from the Antique Automobile bulletin board, I waned to tell you that the reason I asked the original question is because I had purchased a 1946 Dodge Gas tank in order to have it boiled out and then fitted to install into my 1940 Plymouth P-9 Roadking. However, due to some dealings with the fella (the owner of a radiator shop) after I delivered the tank for processing, I immediately took my tank to another radiator shop for inspection after the fella (at the first radiator shop) had cleaned the tank, and then had subsequently lined it. I was informed that the rust had not been completely boiled out of the tank before it was lined, and the application of the lining was inferior since there were spots that were missed, and the lining was thin in other spots as well. I was also told that if the fella lined the tank without first removing the screen in the tank, then he lined the screen and it would be totally plugged and the tank would not in any way dispense any fuel as a result. So when I took the tank back to the original fella, he inspected it and admitted that the lining was defective and would do the lining again (he has since then gone out of business and I have not, unfortunately, been able to reclaim the tanks), but the fella informed me that he was not aware of any screen in the tank. So I truly appreciate your information in this regard.

[B. Hondle]

Say, would you kindly apprise me as to what an Oilite filter is? Is "Oilite" the brand name, or is it a "type" of filter?

Thanks in advance!

Bruce

[dep5]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: B. Hondle</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Say, would you kindly apprise me as to what an Oilite filter is? Is "Oilite" the brand name, or is it a "type" of filter?

Thanks in advance!

Bruce </div></div>

I think he referring to a fuel filter made of sintered bronze which is a porous metal manufactured by a powdered metal process. The modern approach is to install a gas filter screen sock/tube.

From Allpar . . http://www.allpar.com/history/amplex.html

<span style="font-weight: bold">Oilite bearings and the Chrysler Amplex Division</span>

The Amplex division grew out of Chrysler’s internal research on a way to produce a heavy-duty self-lubricating bearing. Leading companies said it could not be done; but Carl Breer assigned an engineer to the problem, and, using sintered metal (metal powder forced together under high pressure and heat), was able to produce such parts. Indeed, Amplex Division used the sintering process to save hundreds of thousands of hours of machinists’ time during the war, producing high-precision, quality products without waste or machining. The division made money during the Depression and would help Chrysler products for many years. Oil impregnated bronze was developed by the company, a large pore metal material used in leaf springs and joints, able to absorb an immense of oil, releasing lubrication under pressure and reabsorbing it when at rest.