Gas leak near steering column
 

I just acquired a 1928 A and drove it 40 or so miles and at the end of the drive noticed dripping from the end of the formed channel by the firewall where all the wires, cables, etc run behind the gas gauge. It was clear that the gas gauge was old and had been leaking for some time, BUT this was the easy part I think.....

The car sat for 2 weeks and I noticed new stains by the brake Pedal on the floor mat in line with the steering column. Upon further inspection I also noticed some stains in the paint under the dash by the steering column bracket. I have attached a pic.

I rebuilt and replaced the gas gauge last night, but I am wondering if this leakage by the steering column could be caused by the gauge? It is not close by and some of the stains are high towards where the column attaches. It is too salty and nasty out here in the northeast to go for another drive and splash some fuel around and see if it keeps leaking.

When I removed the gas gauge I looked inside the tank, and it looks like new, beautiful grey with no evidence of rust, almost too new.

Is there any way to inspect the bottom exterior of the fuel tank above the steering column without huge dis-assembly? Is the steering column riveted directly tot he tank?

How is this repair done without dis assembly?

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

this has been discussed many times here:
the repairs varied form using jb weld, or assorted epoxys to soldering the tank and reinforcing the rivets or removing the tank and cutting it open to fix it right.
regardless its not a pretty sight
thats one of the top 10 items i check when looking for a car..

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

I didn't realize how common an issue this is. Thanks found the links

Does the cowl have to be completely disassembled and removed and repainted on a 28 Phaeton to remove the tank??

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

I did mine by removing the tank. A pretty significant task. On the Cabriolet the tank is under the cowl not a part of it like many other body styles. Once the tank was out, I had the rivets welded in place and replaced the column mount with the later '31 style. And I had interior of the tank coated with a sealer by a local radiator shop. Since most of the firewall had to come out to allow removal of the tank, and much of the ignition wiring was disconnected, I took the opportunity to replace all the ignition wiring.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

On a 28 you can remove the tank relatively easily (vs a 30-31) and must do this to do a proper repair. You might be able to make some sort of patch with the tank in place, but if you want to make it pretty it will have to come out.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Wow, that is good to know that the tank is not the cowl!

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Remove the steering wheel bracket by cutting it off close to
The tank. Buy a new bracket available aftermarket that
Attaches under the dash just under the windshield frame.
It will look pretty well stock.now try and seal area from outside tank.

I did this modification with out leaking tank just in case !

Others here may recommend a good type of sealer.

Fredski

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

You don't have to cut the bracket off the tank. Just remove the lower half, then install the dash hanger. People leveraging themselves in with the tank bracket in place is one of the causes of the leak. The dash hanger eliminates that stress.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

RHD brackets that go under the dash rail are not available so I made my own. They are just long enough to lower the column a few millimetres so that there is no pressure on the original bracket. The bottom half of the original bracket is used to clamp the column to the new one. In some cases, that has been enough to stop the leak, others I have sealed from outside with an epoxy putty. It doesn't look original so it won't please everybody but works well and provides an excellent place to mount those extra instruments discussed in a recent thread.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

They are available order a3520 snyders. 1931 model a fords used
this revised bracket and not attached to tank.

On search ther is inf on this bracket.

Fredski

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Fredski, this is LHD. RHD is not available. Please re read my post.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Did not realize car was lhd. Still wonder why it would not work the same,but what do I know.

Fredski

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Because of the curve of the dash, the angle at the top is reversed. I bought a LHD one and cut it up to use as a pattern to have some cast in aluminium. Worked a treat. I have even sent some to the US.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Hopefully a warning to those of you who get in and out of your A's putting leverage on the steering wheel.......like stated.....a very common practice but not healthy for that area of the gas tank.
I was also guilty of this but after hearing about this problem stopped using the steering wheel to help me in and out of the car.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

This was done on mine before i bought it.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

If I was looking to buy a car, I would give the price quite a deduction if the bracket was cut off. My 29 Tudor has solder around the bracket, and the dash rail bracket added. They simply left the rubber off the old bracket, and all is fine. I also make sure I don't grab the steering wheel for leverage getting in and out.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

I can only say that for my Cabriolet. I know that is not true for many other body styles, but do not know which ones may have the "under cowl" design.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

I think we have discussed here previously that it was apparently a common practice in that era to enter parked cars from the passenger side, at least with closed cars....at least that is how the old movies consistently depict it. I believe technically many cities have traffic laws forbidding entering from the street side of a parked car, though they don't enforce those laws.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Way back in July '14 when I was shopping for my first A, the guy I eventually bought my '30 Town Sedan from pointed out some trouble areas to inspect while shopping. This was one of them.

Altho I don't have this problem (yet) this thread has prompted me to install the dash hanger on my '30 TS as "preventative maintenance". I had my Bratton's "wish list" made out and after reading the above post I realized I didn't need to buy the lower half, saving me ~ $11. Thanks.

Yes... In my thread about the water temperature gauge I was wondering where to mount it. Another good idea. Thanks.

Partz on order...

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Another thing you should never do is turn the steering wheel when the car isn't moving. This puts undue stress on everything from scrubbing the tires to the gas tank bracket, and every part inbetween. Even slow movement, like parallel parking removes much of this stress. I see people cranking the wheel from side to side while parking, with the car NOT moving, and I cringe. Even on a modern car with power steering, all those parts feel the stress, even though the power steering removes that feeling from the driver.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

http://fordbarn.com/forum/images/icons/icon5.gif To answer your question directly, it isn't. You will have to remove your gas tank, have it boiled or steamed out by a knowledgeable radiator shop, silver-solder the bracket/leaking area, pressure test the tank and reinstall the gas tank. Do not allow anyone to weld the tank, the hardened sheet metal of the tank will spider-crack if you do.

Part of the joy of owning these sometimes frustrating old vehicles is doing the maintenance and upkeep on them. Part of the joy of doing the maintenance and upkeep on them is doing the job, however difficult, that you know needs to be done in order to keep them running properly and safely. Happy Motoring!http://fordbarn.com/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Update on my post in this thread; I received the parts I ordered from Bratton's to install the later model '31 steering column support.

I must say I am very disappointed (and a little pi$$ed off:mad:) in the finish and fit of the parts . The finish of the support bracket is extremely rough and the threaded holes in the bottom are rusty and not threaded far enough in to tighten the clamp (see pictures). More crap Hecho en Chine. Buyers beware...

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8676/...72e1a85154.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7552/...abded3c5bf.jpg

You can't see in the pictures but I also had to grind down the clamp screw heads as they are to big to fit in the holes in the clamp. The lock washers? No way will they work.:mad::mad:

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Call Bratton's and complain. They'll make it right by you.

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Call Bert's or look on Epay and get an original.

Bob

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

I sent them an e-mail as I wanted to send them pictures, no response yet, but it's early.

THAT'S what I should have done in the first place...

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

i would just call...

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

Gee Tom your reply reminded me of my late Father... He drilled that in to my head about not turning the wheels without rolling motion... Thanks for jaring a great memory ;)

Re: Gas leak near steering column
 

OK all is good with Bratton's. My bracket must have been made on a Monday Morning... Wouldn't you know it I get the bad apple out of the basket