66 Coronet 500 Driver, Light Resto

[Nxcoupe]

So while I was at Carlisle, I picked up a fuel tank, pick up with sending unit, filler neck hose kit and filler neck grommet for the tank. As soon as the racks are installed in my shop, I'll be swapping in the new tank.
Today, I was unpacking totes and putting stuff up on shelves when I came across my Oring kit and my ac oil. So I can start repairing the ac since I have a replacement for the leaking part. Someday soon I'll repair the original, I just have to find my welding tips for the torch.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Today I decided it was time to fix the ac on this thing. I got the part from a member here and although not identical, it did work. I pulled it apart and replaced the Orings on the replacement part with green 134 ones. I got it all back together and put my gauges and vacuum pump on it. I pulled a vacuum for a while, the shut the gauges off and the pump, too. I walked away and came back 20 min later and had moved one hashmark, so I turned on the pump and pulled it down for a while again, then I shut it off and walked away. I came back and it was still in the same spot. I charged it with refrigerant and man does she blow cold!! Perfect, couldn't be happier.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Ok, so Mission: Mopar Nats is in full effect!
I want to drive this thing up the 2 hour drive to National Trails and the Mopar Nats. First thing on the list is to replace the fuel tank with the one I bought at Carlisle. I have a new tank, pick up, filler neck grommet, and filler neck hoses. Since I can't get my lifts installed and working in time, I'm going to be fixing this and the exhaust on my back on stands. Yay. And there was much rejoicing, yay.
I got everything out of the box to inspect it. Everything looked good. I had an old lock ring out of the belvedere tank that I thought was just another repop, but it turned out it was a heavy gauge like the originals. I cleaned it up and I'm using it.

 

[qkcuda]

FYI the hoses I bought were all slightly too long. The vent hose is a PITA to install, and if you don't trim it you can't position the tank correctly. I would suggest putting one end on the vent line and test fitting it first. It has to go in and be clamped before you can insert the fill pipe. It was fun on the hoist. It will be more fun on jack stands.

 

[RemCharger]

It's much easier to do a gas tank on the floor, for a guy that has never had a hoist. -Plato

Take a look inside at the vent tube. I've seen new tanks with issues filling, because of the shape of the tube

 

[Nxcoupe]

FYI the hoses I bought were all slightly too long. The vent hose is a PITA to install, and if you don't trim it you can't position the tank correctly. I would suggest putting one end on the vent line and test fitting it first. It has to go in and be clamped before you can insert the fill pipe. It was fun on the hoist. It will be more fun on jack stands.

I did the one on my Belvedere II last summer so I know of which you speak. I did that one in the driveway. I just hope my J hook comes apart in one piece. I have a new one somewhere, but I'd rather not have to find it and use it. Thanks.

 

[Nxcoupe]

It's much easier to do a gas tank on the floor, for a guy that has never had a hoist. -Plato

Take a look inside at the vent tube. I've seen new tanks with issues filling, because of the shape of the tube

Last one was in driveway, asphalt gravel on my back and arms. This time, nice painted garage floor, so upgrade! Lol.

 

[Nxcoupe]

I went out and got started. It's in the mid 80s but 100% humidity or thereabouts, so it sucks being outside. I lubed up the gasket supplied with the tank with WD40 and then I installed the sending unit. Made sure to line the 2 teeth with their grooves in the

tank I brushed anti seize on the sending unit top surface and on both sides of the old ring. After a while of screwing with trying to get it started, I finally gave up. The ears on the tank aren't angled up enough on their edges to allow the thicker ring to get started, so I had to use the supplied one. I lubed it up and got it started and then it wouldn't let the bump on this ring that locks the ring into position, under the ear. So now I am going to order the special wrench to see if I can make this work. The Holley tank I used last year gave me zero issues. I thought I'd try this one, and am regretting that now.

 

[Nxcoupe]

I ordered the sending unit lock ring tool, fuel hose kit, stainless ground strap for the sending unit, and a new negative battery cable for the Coronet all from Classic on Monday. On Wednesday, I still hadn't received a tracking number, so I called. I really wanted this tool by the weekend. They answered pretty quickly and the guy was polite, but told me it can take up to a week to process the order and I asked their location and he said California. I thought, ****, now I'm going to have to wait til next week or the week after. I hung up and thought about it for a while as I did other things. I decided to call Megaparts. Guy answered the phone, and said they carried those tools but he wanted to make sure they had them. He came back to the phone and said they did have some. I said can you ship it today? He answered sure thing. I got it today, went out to the garage and after trying it a few different ways, I tapped it and it snapped the lock under the ears on the tank. It was really that easy. I finally found a lift guy who will anchor, level and adjust my racks for a reasonable price,so that is a load off my mind.

 

[Nxcoupe]

The fuel tank swap has begun, and boy did it need it! Just look at the inside of the tank, no wonder the pick up kept getting plugged up! Check it out.

 

[Nxcoupe]

So to start at the beginning, I got the car up in the air, God how I love saying that!, and sprayed penetrating oil on the J bolt. BTW, is it installed correctly? I thought it went up through the frame and hooked to that hole from the inside out. I read the service info, ignored it and pushed ahead. Lol. I supported the tank, removed the nut holding the tank strap and lowered it down. That's when I realized the damn thing was nearly full.

 

[Nxcoupe]

I bought a siphon pump from the parts store, then saw it today for 10 bucks less at HF, and used it to siphon the fuel out if the tank. I got most of it, there may be a gallon left in the tank, but I got 2 full gas cans out of it, so about 10 gallons. I had to wrestle all the hoses off from filler neck and vent tube. All the hoses were in awful shape, lots of dry rot and cracks. I was able to remove the filler neck elbow and then access the clamps on the tank's vent tube. Once I got those loose, the tank lowered down a bit. I then removed the fuel hose and unplugged the gauge wire, which the entire insulator and stud broke off, rather, fell off. I guess that explains why the gauge never read anything. I then removed a single screw from inside the trunk that releases the filler neck out of the chimney like tube it's in. This part was all very different from my Belvedere. There was no rubber seal on the filler neck anywhere. I'm not sure if there is one on this model. Tank came out and I removed all the tubes and cleaned up the rust on the sealing surfaces.

 

[Nxcoupe]

More pics. I was able to pull the rusted off piece of the sending unit out of the harness plug with my side cutters. I laid the old hoses on the new ones so I could cut them to length before install. I used a roloc disk to clean the rust off and this is where the heat finally got to me and I had to call it quits. More later.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Got her all together. I blew out the fuel line and nothing really came out. I started the engine and let it run until it emptied the line and filters before I blew it out. Surprising how long it ran for with no tank.
I got the hoses trimmed, cut some too short and some too long but it works and looks decent. I put the vent elbow on the tank and then lifted the tank up into place. Then, I couldn't get that stupid hose to go on the steel vent line. I used WD and did every trick I knew. Finally, I dropped the tank and pulled the hose off and slid the steel line in and worked it around until it just slid in without much force. I put it back up and realized I cut it a bit too long so I trimmed it back some, maybe too much, but it worked and went in. Then I put the vent elbow on the filler neck and left the clamp loose. I slid the neck up into position and then positioned the elbow where it lined up with the tube. I pulled it back out and tightened the clamp on the vent. While I had it out, I ran it onto the steel tube and relaxed it a bit. I got it all together and everything tight, but it beat me to death. Hooked up fuel line, tried both steel and stainless ground straps and both are garbage. Ended up using pliers to really grip the teeth onto the tube. I poured gas in it and it fired up. I had to put the last sheetmetal screw back into the filler neck thru the trunk. I think it looks great.

 

[qkcuda]

Sounds a lot like my experience. Glad you got it done. Looks great.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Sounds a lot like my experience. Glad you got it done. Looks great.

Thanks man. Yeah probably similar. Getting that screw in for the filler neck from the trunk was a huge pita as well.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Then..... this happened.

Tried getting the manifold off and of course the long nut was welded onto the stud and broke right off. And, of course, the broken stud I was trying to fix is broke off down inside the threads. This is going to be a bitch and pretty much not going to happen in the car, so I moved forward. I was a flat rate dealer tech for a while, so that is apparent in how it came apart.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Have no clue why the pics are out of order, but oh well. Engine looks pretty gummy but not the worst I've seen. The worst was tipping the head up on it's side and a bunch of old nasty gas poured out of the intake ports. I guess that afb is dumping fuel somehow, never really looked into it. I ordered new gaskets and wheel bearings and seals as I'm going to machine the drums and rough up the pads. I won't be able to do much as I won't be able to walk across the concrete to get in the door until next week sometime. I may be able to sneak out there tomorrow and get some of the stuff cleaned up. I'll update as I make progress.

 

[qkcuda]

That looks familiar also. I only had to drill out one exhaust stud.

 

[Nxcoupe]

That looks familiar also. I only had to drill out one exhaust stud.

View attachment 1326886

What process/tools did you use? I usually take them to my friend that has a machine shop, but he's covered up busy and I want to get this back together asap. thanks