1937 Tudor slant back gas tank capacity?

[Mark's 37]

Tried the archives, The 1937 Ford Book, original shop manual, etc. No luck. My gas gauge doesn't work correctly so need to know how many gallons this tank holds. Thanks.

[Mark's 37]

I found a post in the archives that rated 37-38 fuel tanks at 14 gallons. Lucky me, I put 12 gallons in it tonight. Glad I didn't go much further.

[TonyM]

14 gallons.

[morrisgauge]

Are you using the original King Seeley gauge and sending unit?

[Mark's 37]

I don't know what sending unit is in the tank but the gauge is original to the car. I have read the recent posts about the KS sending unit. I think I read somewhere that the tank doesn't need to be removed to get at the sending unit, is that true? I also need to look at the speedometer/odometer as it doesn't work either so I need to pull the cable and have a look. AMP, oil pressure, temp all work fine.

[TonyM]

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On 1937 Ford you can remove the Fuel Gauge Sender with the tank in place. Open the trunk, look in the area under the shelf and you will find a small door that is screwed secure. Remove the screw and remove the door. The fuel gauge sender can be accessed through this opening in the trunk.

[morrisgauge]

The original fuel sending unit top looks like a "flying saucer" with a 6 screw mount flange. Double check the continuity of the wire to the gauge while you have access. As for the speedometer, check the cable, but also check that the magnet shaft of the speedometer is free. Often, the speedometer magnet shaft seizes and breaks the cable core.

[Mark's 37]

Morrisgauge,

The wire from the sender to the gauge has continuity. The sending unit reads 18 ohms and the gauge reads 1/4 tank. The tank is filled. Looks to me to be the original sender given the crud around it. Is there an ohms range from empty to half tank to full that I can use to test the gauge?

[petehoovie]

Mark - Last year the gauge in my '37 stated to read low when the tank was full. I pulled the sending unit from the tank and found that its float was made of cork. I found that this cork float was saturated with gasoline. Originally, these cork floats were coated with shellac so that they would not absorb gasoline and they actually floated atop the fuel. This new, magical gasoline, here in California, eats through this shellac coating on the cork causing it to absorb gasoline. Replacing the cork float resolve the inaccurate reading on the gauge....

[Mark's 37]

Pete, now that's the kind of info I like to get. I need to drive a few gallons or drain some and get the sender out to see. Thanks. This California gas has a strong foul odor and I noticed it a few times in the garage. I have an early style tank with the threaded collar filler neck. It looks to be seeping around the threaded portion. No enough to drip but enough to smell the fumes. It looks to me the tank must come out and the threads need to be resealed on filler neck. Does the tank come out with the filler neck attached or what? It looks like it could be a struggle.

[petehoovie]

No need to pull the tank to stop the leak from the filler pipe. You can take the filler pipe apart with a correct size spanner wrench to fit the collar. The two piece filler pipe is sealed with lead washers inside the lower pipe. I had to add two of these lead washers to stop the filler pipe in my '37 from leaking. The washers are readily available from most parts houses like Mac's.

As for removing the sending unit, there is no need to drain the tank. Just remove the screws and pull it out. Be sure to clean the area around the sending unit first - you've got a lot of crud there. Once the sending unit is removed, you'll be able to look into and inspect the inside of the tank to determine its condition. Ideally, hopefully, you will not have to remove the tank....

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by Mark's 37

Does the tank come out with the filler neck attached or what? It looks like it could be a struggle.

The filler neck must be removed from the fuel tank in order to remove the fuel tank from the frame. Removing the fuel tank from the frame is not very difficult. Removing the fuel filler neck from the tank can be.

[petehoovie]

TonyM - Does the tank you show have the two piece filler pipe - threaded collar and threaded lower pipe? I can't tell looking at the picture you posted. There were two versions offered for the 1937 Model year....

[TonyM]

Yes, this is the early style tank with two piece filler neck. The threaded collar was rusted to the filler neck--had to be cut off. Only the packing nut/threaded collar is threaded; the filler neck is not threaded.

[Mark's 37]

I'm not sure I understand. I have the two piece filler neck. The filler neck from the fender goes inside the tank pipe that goes in the tank. Which of the two are threaded and how do they thread out? Does the tank have threads to accept the tank side pipe or does it use a grommet or seal? I checked Mac's website looking for lead washers but didn't find them or at Drakes?

[TonyM]

Using your photo: The thicker part of the tube (the piece with the holes) is the threaded part. The fuel filler tube and washer are placed on the tank opening and the thicker part of the tube (packing nut) then threads into the fuel tank, holding the filler tube against the lead washer and the tank opening, sealing the tank. Here is a photo of the spanner that I used to twist the threaded tube/packing nut.

[petehoovie]

Mark - Here's the lead washer in Mac's catalog > http://www.macsautoparts.com/ford_me...passenger.html

And, here's the same washer in Drakes catalog > https://www.bobdrake.com/SearchForm....ndex=0&size=20

[Mark's 37]

Thanks Tony, I get it now. The leakage appears to be at the threaded end going into the tank. I found that C and G lists the lead washers. Need to chase down the right size spanner, give the neck a heavy dose of penetrating oil, and get lucky. The previous owner apparently replaced the filler neck grommet at the fender so he must have been able to separate them.

[Mark's 37]

Pete, not having a lot of luck with Mac's or Drake's online catalogs lately. I searched 37 Gas Tank stuff and it didn't show it. Thanks. I see now it is listed in the catalog for year 34 so I skipped over it not seeing the note about fitting 37's.

[petehoovie]

Mark - Click on the links I posted above....