Anyone here running 1/2" line through the original pickup point in the tank? If so, what did you do to install it? Solder? Brazing? I was going to put a sump on my tank, but I've heard of guys doing it like this for stealth, sleepers. I know someone is making them for late model cars, but I haven't seen nor heard of them for the early Chevelle/El Camino. Any tips or ideas appreciated, pics even better.

Thanks,

I'm doing it! Check your local Rad shop to see if they'll fabricate it up for you. Needs to be silver soldered. Obviously take the original when you go. Tony A. ;)

I'd probably do it myself, then. None of the local radiator shops will do anything out of the ordinary for you over here, like boil out your gas tank for welding. I've asked. It doesn't help that there are only a couple of different shop owners between a handful of shops. Thanks.

The hardest thing is getting the old pieces off of the pickup tube without destroying them. Make sure you put everything back into the same relation that it was when you started.

I saw this done AND stood right next to it while the guy was doing it way back when I was a kid in highschool!!

The local gas station owner torch soldered or brazed an empty leaking gas tank off the car by first putting a hose in it that was hooked to a 3.5hp B&S lawnmower engine's exhaust pipe that was running!!

He just said he had ta get ta fixing the leaky so an so before the owner came back for it! He put the hose in it and let the B&S engine run like 20 to 30 minutes before he lit his torch!!

The old B&S engine was worn out and burned alotta oil so when the leaky gas tank had blue smoke coming out of it really good he started the repair.

He said the smokey exhaust fumes wouldn't allow what gas vapors there were in the tank to burn/explode b/c the exhaust fumes wouldn't allow the gas to support combustion since it didn't have any oxygen in it!!

Worked like a charm..

BUT USE YOUR OWN JUDGEMENT DOING STUFF LIKE THIS B/C YOU CAN GET KILLED IF YOU SCREW UP!!!

pdq67

Cameano,

I just finished making a 1/2" pickup for mine last month. Works great. I used 1/2" aluminum line from Summit. Bent it with a cheap tubing bender to match the old pickup, cut off the old tube, then drilled the existing hole out for the larger line. The sending unit is attached by spot welds, when I put it back on I just used small worm gear hose clamps to attach it to the pickup at the same position on the tube. A friend brazed It together with a torch using a rod made for soldering aluminum that he bought from a swap meet vendor. I can probably get more info. if you need it. We kept a wet rag on the rubber seal where the sending unit wire connects. Need to keep that cool while your soldering. Then we also JB welded around the tube for added strength. Make sure you keep the tube in the same position in relation to the top plate. It only goes on the tank one way and your tube needs to be pointing to the front of the car when the install is complete. I made my pickup about 2" longer that the stock one so that I could easily get at the fitting when the tank is installed. I flared the end and used a tube nut and sleeve so i could connect it to #8 AN braided line. My car was an original 307 car and I would run out of fuel during a run until I added an electric pump near the tank. Since I put in my new pickup and ran 1/2" and 8AN all the way to the carb I have eliminated the electric pump and on test runs it has not ran out of fuel. Haven't had it to track yet. Probably won't until next spring now. Let me know if you have any questions. I also have extra 1/2" line left. If you want I'll give you enough to make a pickup. You can't buy it by the foot from Summit, only in 25'rolls.

FYI, the plastic nut on the outside of the sender stud should unscrew so you can remove it from the pick-up assembly. Makes it much easier to weld to the pick-up.

Peter

Mark, I bought a roll of 1/2" Moroso aluminum line last week locally, I need to order a tube to AN adapter, since I'm running a BG mechanical pump, and it has a -10 fitting on the inlet side. I'll probably plumb the tank with a short -8 hose too. Thanks for the details.

I used 1/2" steel tube and bent it to match the original pickup tube. I drilled a hole next to the original and soldered it in with a large soldering iron. Holds just fine.

I welded a sump to my tank. I purged it with nitrogen, run the purge low to high.