Fuel Line Questions

[cameroncole]

Hi,

Just another question regarding this "ran when parked" 1974 914 2.0L. I have replaced all fuel lines and vacuum hoses in the engine compartment (except the small hose on each injector).

I have siphoned the gas tank and will be pulling it this week. I plan to replace those hoses up front.

I have a few questions:

Q1: Is the fuel filter up front? I cannot find it.

Q2: The plastic fuel lines in the rear. Do the go all the way through the tunnel? Or is there a rubber connnector between the engine compartment and the tunnel. (I have not climbed underneath yet).

Q3: The fuel tank looks fairly clean. The gas had varnished. Should I just use hot soap and water to rinse it out? Or should I POR15 it?

Thanks!

Frank

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally posted by cameroncole
I have replaced all fuel lines and vacuum hoses in the engine compartment (except the small hose on each injector).

Replace those, too! You may have to cut the crimped-on hose clamp--if that's what it takes, cut away! Replace with a fuel-injection style hose clamp, like the original kind. The conventional worm-gear clamps that we are used to actually cut into the hose, which makes them leak-prone. The FI type clamps have rolled edges and do not have slots in the body of the clamp.

Q1: Is the fuel filter up front? I cannot find it.

It should be by the fuel pump, wherever that is. A stock 74 would have the pump in the right-front corner of the engine bay, only visible from under the car. Many 70-74 cars have had the pump moved up to the front of the car, and if that has been done look for the filter up front by the pump. Trace the fuel lines if you can't find the pump at all.

Q2: The plastic fuel lines in the rear. Do the go all the way through the tunnel? Or is there a rubber connnector between the engine compartment and the tunnel. (I have not climbed underneath yet).

The plastic lines hook up to metal inside the center tunnel--they are permanently bonded at that connection, so those lines are really just one piece which is metal in front and plastic in back.

The tank has metal fittings on the bottom, and plain rubber hoses go from those fittings to the metal parts of the center tunnel lines. You can access those through the ~6" hole from the steering rack compartment into the fuel tank compartment. You'll have to remove the "gravel pan" (four bolts) from the bottom front of the car to see the steering rack and the hole you would work through. Another option is to lift the tank out and reach around it to work on the hoses.

Q3: The fuel tank looks fairly clean. The gas had varnished. Should I just use hot soap and water to rinse it out? Or should I POR15 it?

I think it may take more than soap and water to clean it up. But I will defer to those who have actually done such a job...

BTW, the POR-15 treatment is their specific fuel tank treatment stuff, not just their regular paint.

--DD

[Tobra]

You are going to want to remove the tank to clean it properly, radiator shop should be able to do this for you. I got hose clamps from this guy

http://www.ultimategarage.com/abaprice.html

SS mini clamps, very nice, rolled edge, you want #14 for most of the fuel lines, goes from 12.3 to 14 mm in diameter, though there are different sized clamps in different areas. If it is rubber, and fuel touches it, replace it, including the injector seals, big and small ends.