Classic/Antique Car Repair: fuel tank, empty tank, filler neck

Question
Hi;
  i need help big time,i own a '71 lemans which is the same as the chevelle,my fuel gague hasn't worked for quite few years,so all i do is jog the mileage and how much gallons of fuel i put in, than i top off the tank. last night i took my car out of the garage the first time in 3 weeks,not knowing how much fuel i had i topped it off,it took only 5 gallons.driving for  90 miles i again topped it off taking in 5 gallons. I drove on that another 50 to 60 miles and low and behold i ran out of gas.I put in a gallon from a container and proceded to the nearest gas station where i couldnt put more 3 gallons before the gasoline spilled out all over me and the car.On an empty tank it only took a total of 4 gallons. with a flashlight i observed fuel in the filler neck elbow , what is wrong this tank should be taking at least 16 to 19 gallons.Help
                                Thank you
                                  tom S  

Answer
Tom:

I think that the best thing that you can do is start from 0, i mean that you have to take off the fuel tank (in any car repair center they can help you), empty it, and then insert a hose and fill up the tank with high pressure water.

With this you can check if there is a filtration or a missing in the tank.

After that, when you take out the water, you can measure how much water goes out, filling up measured containers, with the water that you take out. With this, you will know the capacity of the tank.

After this, you have to dry very well the tank, leaving it top down and in the sun, and after that, put it in the original place.

If the tank is ok, now you will knot it capacity, and maybe the problem is the fuel line that connect the tank with the engine.

My recomendation is to put newspapers all over the floor of the garage where you park the car, fill up the tank and leave the car over the newspaper all night long.

In the morning maybe you´ll see the newspaper wet with fuel, and you will know wich part of the line is broken and fix it. If it´s dry, you can turn on the car and accelerate it in neutral over the newspaper in order to see some filtrations.

aldo i do recommend you to change all the hoses that you see "not so good" and all the brackets of the system line.

Tell me how it works.


Greetings

Daniel