Fuel tank vent advice

[fiddy6]

Hi Guys,

I've repaired the rear inner and outer drivers quarter of my 56 fairlane.

For one reason or another (mostly stupidity) I forgot to make holes for the fuel tank breather tube that goes from under the car, through the rear inner quarter and through the trunk inside above the tail pan... it exits near the gas cap.

I'm fitting a new fuel tank as well an I wondered if I could just simply plug the vent line on the tank and use a vented gas cap.

once you finish giggling at my mistake, your wisdom and advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Geoff

[miker98038]

I can’t speak for your car, but my 55 bird didn’t have a separate vent, just the filler and a vented cap. The filler is thru a door in the trunk lid, and not far above the tank itself. I’ve got to be a little careful filing it with the new fangled nozzles to let it vent. Seems to me most pickup trucks before emissions controls were the same.

If that the worst thing you’ve missed, you’re way ahead of me.

[fiddy6]

thanks. seems to me I can get a vented gas cap and plug the vent hole. from what i read i think the vented caps are 1-way. I think they are supposed to release vacuum from the tank as the fuel is used. They look like a check valve.

side effects might be less gas smell in the garage and potentially less fuel loss.

I'm not finished putting it all back together yet so there is bound to be some more fish hooks.

[grumppyoldman]

My 55 Fairlane has the vent tube coming out through the body just to the left side of the gas cap, hope this helps. Al

[paul2748]

Just drill a 1/16 hole in the gas cap.

[KULTULZ]

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I would do what has to be done to restore the original vent. It is designed that way for a purpose.

If you drill or replace the cap, you will most likely see fuel leakage at the filler pipe/cap, especially on hard acceleration/hard turns.

The BIRD has a different filler design.

[fiddy6]

That's the best course of action. I'm also looking at rerouting the vent line to an "easier to install" location up through the trunk floor.

I'm going to try a check valve cap first and then reroute the vent if I get no joy.

[justold]

If you plug the vent have fun trying to fuel up . Put the vent back , it cant be that difficult !You repaired the panel you can't drill a couple holes!

[Ford blue blood]

The vent line is routed up into the quarter and back down to the fill neck area to prevent gas from leaking out in the event of the car ending up on it's top. Not saying that will happen, but that was the original thought. The gas cap is sealed in this case and most of the new caps are sealed as well even though they are listed for an "open" system.

[fiddy6]

Originally Posted by justold

If you plug the vent have fun trying to fuel up . Put the vent back , it cant be that difficult !You repaired the panel you can't drill a couple holes!

The problem is access to where I need to drill the holes. I can't get the drill up into the space between inner quarter and the frame rail.

As with any body work on a car... the sheet metal work is the easy bit... access is the issue.