39 deluxe fuel tank

[30-9]

Next project on car is to drain and clean fuel tank - what is the capacity? Any tips for draining - like what did you use to catch fuel as you drained it.

[jon laing]

I believe my 39 deluxe 2 door sedan has a 14 gallon tank. Jon L.

[RalphG]

I'd be curious to know just how difficult it is to remove the fuel tank. I had no trouble removing the drain plug on mine and there was very little fuel left in it. Now I can feel a layer of grime on the inside bottom of the tank and I suspect the only way to clean it is to remove the tank.

[Terry,OH]

Try to remove the drain plug but if it doesn't come out forget it. Pump out the tank as much as possible (cheep hand pump at Harbor Freight into a gas can) and remove tank.

[G.M.]

Originally Posted by RalphG

I'd be curious to know just how difficult it is to remove the fuel tank. I had no trouble removing the drain plug on mine and there was very little fuel left in it. Now I can feel a layer of grime on the inside bottom of the tank and I suspect the only way to clean it is to remove the tank.

Remove the filler neck, gauge wire and fuel line. The tail light wires or gauge wires are clipped to the front edge of the tank.Take the exhaust pipe support bolt from the rear of the frame and tie the exhaust pipe over against the shock. Take the safety wires of the 3 tank to frame bolts off and remove the bolts, nuts and springs. Slide the tank as far as you can
to the drivers side. get a couple of LARGE screw divers and work them up
between the top flange of the passenger side of the tank and the top frame
rail and pry the tank towards the passenger side. Some tanks only have to
move less than 1/16" and some an 1/8". Once the frame clears the top rail
the tank flange will drop and clear the bottom rail. Reverse the procedure
putting it back up but take a small piece of wood in the deep part of the frame with 2 pieces of 16 gauge metal against the wood and the top edge of the frame and the tank flange will slide up the 16 gauge and over the top flange. Find a new lead washer for the filler pipe seal. I dip the washer in fuel tank sealer before installing to seal it good. G.M.

[SofaKing]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by 30-9

Next project on car is to drain and clean fuel tank - what is the capacity? Any tips for draining - like what did you use to catch fuel as you drained it.

Somebody wrote in a previous thread that once removed, they put the tank inside a couple of old tires and rolled it around, making sloshing the cleaner easier. I thought it was genius.

[30-9]

Musta been big azz tires but I like the idea 2

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by G.M.

Remove the filler neck, gauge wire and fuel line. The tail light wires or gauge wires are clipped to the front edge of the tank.Take the exhaust pipe support bolt from the rear of the frame and tie the exhaust pipe over against the shock. Take the safety wires of the 3 tank to frame bolts off and remove the bolts, nuts and springs. Slide the tank as far as you can
to the drivers side. get a couple of LARGE screw divers and work them up
between the top flange of the passenger side of the tank and the top frame
rail and pry the tank towards the passenger side. Some tanks only have to
move less than 1/16" and some an 1/8". Once the frame clears the top rail
the tank flange will drop and clear the bottom rail. Reverse the procedure
putting it back up but take a small piece of wood in the deep part of the frame with 2 pieces of 16 gauge metal against the wood and the top edge of the frame and the tank flange will slide up the 16 gauge and over the top flange. Find a new lead washer for the filler pipe seal. I dip the washer in fuel tank sealer before installing to seal it good. G.M.

Thanks for that detailed explanation how to remove the 39 tank. It sounds "do-able". Not as easy as the one I just took off the 52 Merc though.

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by SofaKing

Somebody wrote in a previous thread that once removed, they put the tank inside a couple of old tires and rolled it around, making sloshing the cleaner easier. I thought it was genius.

I did the Ford fuel tank in the tires.

The tires were 14 inch I think. Worked good.

[G.M.]

Originally Posted by RalphG

Thanks for that detailed explanation how to remove the 39 tank. It sounds "do-able". Not as easy as the one I just took off the 52 Merc though.

You should be able to remove it in less than a 1/2 hour. G.M.

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by G.M.

You should be able to remove it in less than a 1/2 hour. G.M.

If I can do the job in half a day I will consider myself fortunate. Although this rusty relic from the Mercury came out in under an hour which simply amazed me. It won't be going back in though. :-(