Should I drop the tank?

[pkschul]

My car has been sitting in the garage since 2003. I pumped out about 5 gallons of old gas through the fuel rail a few days ago. I have had some suggestions to 1. Replace the tank 2. Drop the tank and clean it out fully 3. Replace the Fuel pump. 4. Just put in fresh gas and go.

What is the consensus here on what I should do?

 

[LelandLs6]

I let mine sit for less time then you and the rubber hose for the fuel pump got eaten away...

I recommend dropping the tank cleaning it as best you can and replacing that hose... It can be bought for less than a 1$ But worth more peace of mind.

You could also at that time check the pump filter and the in line fuel filter.. In line filter is another cheap part and easy to replace.

 

[turbo6mike]

I would drop the tank ,clean it, put new xp pump/fuel sock and change fuel filter in the frame rail. Check over everything make sure hoses and hard lines are solid and not rusty or dry rotting. Make sure when you drop the tank you put wd40 or something on the hardware holding the tank straps up before breaking it free. look under the rubber around the tank sometimes they rust under there. Hopefully its been sitting inside.

 

[earlbrown]

I recommend dropping the tank cleaning it as best you can and replacing that hose... It can be bought for less than a 1$ But worth more peace of mind.

.

You bought the wrong hose. The FI hose you need is 30R10. It's hi-pressure hose that's rated for submersion and well over $1 a foot.

You most likely have 30R9 FI hose that will swell up and fail when submerged in fuel.


Personally, if the 5 gallons you pumped out is clean, I'd push fresh gas in the tank and run it. That's as long as your fuel system was sealed why it sat.
Change the fuel filter on GP, and make sure you have a 1:1 rise in pressure .vs boost. If the top of your tank has a rust film on it, it's not like you can clean that anyways.

 

[pkschul]

While waiting for you guys to respond I dropped the tank and pulled the pump...

The gas in the bottom is a little murky yellow.

Does this look like a stock pump? If so what should I get to replace it for a mostly stock car (assuming upgrades over time)?

Thanks everyone. You have all been an enormous shoulder for moral support at the very least. I hope you don't get bored with my questions as my project moves forward!

 

[87GNSteve]

That is NOT a stock pump. They factory used the pulsation damper to connect the pump to the outlet line and no butt connectors either. If it was 2003 I would venture to guess its a Walbro 307. Id replace any pump that old just on principal.
As for a replacement I went with the "DW" (DeatschWerks) a few vendors here sell them.

 

[earlbrown]

It looks like you might have dropped the tank and pulled the pump for no reason.

That's not a stock pump as said above due to the solid hose connecting the pump to the hangar. Plus you've got a non stock fuel gauge sender unit so that's some sort of aftermarket stuff as well. not to mention the red butt connectors on the power wires too. that wasn't even the normal thing to do in '03

 

[87GNSteve]

That's a factory fuel sender for digital dash. 120 ohm.

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[pkschul]

So should I just put this pump back in or buy a new one? I don't have a digital dash so I'm not sure why I'd have a sender for one.

 

[87GNSteve]

Back in the day before the aftermarket senders were around the GM replacements were digital style for all. Since the 120 ohm sender would work on both cars and the 90 ohm would not work on digital cars.
I had a car with that sender in there, it is characteristic for the car stay "full" longer and then once it hits between 1/2 and 3/4 it starts dropping quicker.
If you have all this stuff down and ready to put a pump in . Why put a 11 year old (or older) pump back in? But that is your call......

 

[pkschul]

OK thanks.
While we're at it can I get a confirmation that this wire off the positive batter cable is a hotwire kit? This will work with a new plug and play pump?

 

[aminga]

Looks like a stereo install to me

 

[87GNSteve]

Hotwire usually gets its power off the alternator lug.

 

[pkschul]

Odd. The car has a junk stereo in it. It is a factory radio delete car with a credit of +$56 on the window sticker. LOL.

I guess since I have the tank out now would be as good of a time as ever to pop the rear end cover.

 

[aminga]

Hotwire usually gets its power off the alternator lug.

And it's rarely the multistranded monster cable.

 

[pkschul]

You guys were right. I just found a bunch of wires tucked behind the rear seatback. There must have been a heavy duty speaker system back there at one point.

 

[87GNSteve]

That could have caused a fire if it was hooked up.

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[pkschul]

I have a lot of other stuff to buy for the car so I think I'm going to save some money and re-use the old pump for now since it's already an upgrade. Where can I get new filter socks?

 

[TexasT]

. Where can I get new filter socks?

Any part house should have one.

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[McGuyver]

I would say it was worth it to drop the tank, now you know for sure what condition it is in and I agree it is your our call on replacing the pump, If you do keep the pump be sure and keep an eye on your fuel pressure until you are comfortable. Oh your tank looked great after sitting for 11 years, evidently somewhere between 11 and 23 years bad things start to happen … this is what mine looked like.