Classic/Antique Car Repair: gas tank, 1950 chevy fleetline, tank fitting

Question
hi dick,i have a 1950 chevy fleetline 235 stocker.my fuel stopped flowing so i took off the fuel pump.should gas come out from the line  between the tank and fuel pump? it didnt?   there was  what i think  was a bit of rust  in the glass bowl so i thought maybe it was plugged up so i got a new one and it still didnt flow? there is a drain  hole on the bottom of the tank. i am thinking of draining it and try to get whatever i can out of the bottom if any.is there anything special to remove that bolt and replace it back on.   thanks for your time

Answer
No, gas shouldn't run out of the line unless the back end of the car is much higher than the front. Usually, no gas comes out when you disconnect the fuel pump inlet.

To check for blockage in the fuel line from the tank, remove the gas cap from the tank, and blow into the line with low pressure - about 20 PSI from your compressor.  You should hear bubbles in the tank.  Don't do this with the gas cap in place, as you will damage the gas tank with that much pressure.

If you hear the bubbles, there isn't any blockage, so there isn't a pressing need to drain the tank.  Those tank drains usually are a pain in the posterior to stop them from leaking once you disturb them - so leave it alone unless you have to fiddle with it.

The other way to drain the tank is to connect a fuel hose to the tank fitting that normally goes to the front of the car, then lift up the back end of the car, the stick the end of the fuel hose into a receptacle that is large enough to hold however many gallons of gas you have.  Then, to start the gas draining, use your compressor set to very low pressure (5 PSI is plenty), and sealing the gas filler pipe with a rag, pressurize the tank momentarily to get the gas started flowing into the receptacle - it will keep going by itself until the tank is almost empty.  The receptacle has to be at least a foot lower than the bottom of the gas tank.

Your problem could be a failed fuel pump - they cannot tolerate modern fuels unless they have been rebuilt recently with the new alcohol resistant diaphragms and valves - so if you are not sure about the fuel pump, have it rebuilt or replace it.

Dick