QuestionI want to remove fuel tank on 1965 T-Bird to flush out. I has been sitting for QUITE SOME TIME!. Can you help with some sort of instruction?
Thanks!
AnswerI apologize for being slow to answer - the allexperts system is having some kind of a problem - I got no questions for a few days, now there are a bunch of them stacked up in my in-box!
I am not familiar with this job on this particular car, but in general, one has to disconnect the fuel line from the front of the tank, and the wire from the fuel gauge sender on top of the tank. There may also be a vapor return hose coming back from the engine, but generally those weren't used until about 1967.
Next undo the two nuts that hold the straps that run under the tank - the nuts are at the rear of the tank, just in front of the bumper. These will be quite rusty, so soak them with a good penetrating oil (I use PB-Blaster, but there are others -check with your auto parts supply house) after you wire brush the threads to get all the loose rust off.
On some cars, you have to remove a vent hose that runs over the bodywork to the fill pipe, but I do not think the T-bird has this.
If the tank has more than a few gallons in it, it will be quite heavy - so try to drain it before you drop it. You can hook up a temporary fuel hose to the outlet fitting and then using a vacuum cleaner on the blow-out setting, put a small amount of pressure in the tank - using a rag to seal around the nozzle. Don't use much pressure - the tank isn't meant to take more than a few PSI. If the fuel pick-up in the tank is blocked with crud, this isn't going to work, probably, but you can try squirting some carburetor spray cleaner into the outlet fitting and then reaming the line with a fine wire - you may be able to clear enough of a passage to let the tank drain.
My advice is to leave the drain plug alone - once disturbed after 43 years, they often leak if disturbed.
Good luck - this is a stinky, hard job, but one that we all have to go through in bringing an abandoned car back to life.
Dick
