DSMTalk Forums: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

Gas tank advice?

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
D

DarkLord

· Registered
Joined
·
55 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Got a 1991 1.8 first gen Laser that I'm trying to restore. Car has been sitting for 7-8 years.

Dropped the gas tank (gonna have to replace gas lines/brake lines from the first connector forward of the tank, all rotted) and took it out. Used PB Blaster and was pleasantly surprised that the strap nuts/bolts did not break off.

Pulled the fuel pump and receiving unit (PB Blaster to the rescue again, got all but 2 screws out, they broke off but was able to EZ drill them out)- again, everything corroded. Got new or nearly new parts to replace this stuff. Problem is the tank itself.

How far gone would a gas tank have to be before its recommended that you just chuck it and get another one?

Bottom on this one looks pretty good. Top is pretty rusted. Metal lines going into it are "iffy". Feel like if you moved them a bit they'd crumble. When I scrubbed the top, with plans on Marhyding it, found 2 holes. Not overly large, I think I can use that repair putty to fix them. Inside, the tank was nasty. I took it to a local car wash and power rinsed it a couple of times. Lots of stuff came out.

Point is, with all this in mind, would I be better off trying to get a new one (can new ones even still be found???) or a used one in good shape from someone like Steve at MillerImports.

Really would like to get this car going again - just something about it. :)

Thanks gang!
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Okay, Steve didn't have any in stock when I talked to him, so I've been working on the one I dropped. Got the holes plugged, sanded it down, used Marhyde 1step on it, Rubber coated the exterior, and used the Aqua Klean/Gold 3 step sealer kit on the inside.

Need to replace the lines to the tank. Guy at Advance said 5/16's and gave me that, but when I put the original up next to it, the new line looks a tad bit small.

Anyone know what the actual size of the gas lines are?

Thanks.

PS I've got a Chiltons book but couldn't find it in there, not Google either.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Okay, I cut out the section of the gas line that had to be replaced and took it to Advance Auto Parts with me. Looks like it is 5/16" line, but they had given me 1/4" originally. So good to go there now.

Another question. The shields on the bottom outside of the tank are pretty rusted. (I'm assuming they are some kind of heat shield?) They actually have several holes in them. Is this something I need to worry about repairing or can that just be ignored?

Thanks gang.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
Okay Jeff/DSM Rook,and Wrencher, thanks for the advice/offer. I kinda doubt being near Chicago any time soon, but I appreciate the offer. :)

Just a quick follow up, when I got to the 3rd step on the AquaKlean/Gold standard process, I couldn't quite get the sealer to go everywhere I wanted to inside the tank (and I did roll it all over the place, trying to distribute it evenly) so I bought an additional pint of the sealer and used a approx 2 foot long brush from the arts and crafts section at Walmart to touch up every place I could see inside that the first coat didn't get.

As soon as I finish running the new brake/gas lines, I should be able to put the tank back in and we'll see how it goes. Have to wait 4 days for the sealer to cure so I'm hoping to get that done in that time, weather and work permitting.

I tell ya, by the time I get done with this tank, it should be a freakin' work of art. :)

Thanks!
 
#8 ·
You're welcome. Glad its coming along. Hopefully it'll hold up for you and your needs. Or long enough to find something in better condition. I still remember filling my tank up on my way into work and getting back to my car to see a large black stain under my car. My filler neck I guess was not doing to well and let go. I drove home, and was able to get a new one. Needless to say, I didn't park in that area anymore. The stain was there for months.
 
#9 ·
Im in a similar situation with my 91s gas tank. Outside looked new, inside was horrible. I dumped out a pile of rust chunks, then took a chain and put it in there to beat some more out. After that I let it soak for a couple days in vinegar and baking soda. That actually got a good bit out. After all that Im still debating on getting another tank. Even though it was cleaner than before, I dont think its clean enough.
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Well, I've run into another (seeming) bottleneck. When I first pulled the old sending unit and fuel pump assembly out of the tank, they were pretty well shot. The filter was rotted out, the sending unit was locked up, the metal line on the fuel pump assembly itself just broke off (corroded).

So I got in touch with Stever at MillerImports and he sent me a sending unit and fuel pump assembly and they both look in really good shape.

Problem is, I can't figure out how to mount the fuel pump he sent. The old pump had a bolt in the bottom that went through a hole in the bottom of the gas tank. The one Steve sent doesn't have any place on it to put a bolt in. I looked at trying to take part from both units and make one working one but its not gonna work. The old pump motor is much bigger around, heavier, has 2 bolts for the positive and negative connections, etc,. The one Steve sent has a wire clip, like for a harness.

Am I missing something obvious? I'll try to post a pic of the one Steve sent.

Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
Okay, now I'm even more confused. :)

Just had a couple of people tell me that only the 2.0's had the gas tanks with the hole in the bottom for mounting the fuel pump.

I swear, its a 1.8 motor in this Laser. It doesn't have the bulge in the hood so I don't think motor's were swapped.

I've got a trashed Laser RS as well, wrecked. It has the 2.0 motor in it and they most definitely do not look anything alike. :)

Reckon someone changed the tank out before I acquired the car, for whatever reason?

Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Here are some better pics of the fuel pumps. In the first picture, the top pump is the one Steve sent. The bottom pump is the one that came out of my Laser.

In this second picture, you can clearly see the bolt hole in the pump that came from my Laser. Steve's doesn't have it...

And finally, you can see where the line has completely corroded off in the pump that came out of my car.

Thanks.
 
Discussion starter · #16 ·
Yes, the 2nd picture in my post shows the bolt hole in the bottom of the pump. That's a hard rubber seal around the bolt hole. I'm assuming they did this to hold the pump more securely in place?

Anyway, I got in contact with Steve last night, he's offered to just swap out the model he sent me for the correct model pump that fits my car. Steve@ Miller Imports is pretty cool. :)
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Hey guys, about the light blue colored gas filter (I'm assuming its a filter) that lies on the side of the gas tank...it looks like its attached to a return line that goes back into the top of the gas tank.

I was looking at mine, doing the time honored "can you blow through it" test and its very hard to blow through it.

Is that normal? Does it need to be replaced, and if so, are they easy to find or can I just leave it out altogether.

Thanks!
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
Okay, never mind. Did some searching on the rest of the site, found the info I reckon.

It's a vent line, and that's some kind of check-valve/cannister, maybe full of charcoal?

So I guess I need to keep it around and replace the rubber line(s) if they look like they need it.

Another quick question: the first time you start the car, after all the fuel system things I've done to it, and considering the poor shape it was in, would you disconnect the gas line at the main (black) fuel filter next/below the battery and let it pump for a few seconds (just to clear anything out and make sure flow is getting there)?

Thanks!
 
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
About this Discussion
29 Replies
5 Participants
Last post:
DarkLord
DSMTalk Forums: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon Forum
posts
2.3M
members
104K
Since
2000
A forum community dedicated to Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser and Eagle Talon owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, turbos, builds, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General DSM Tech and Tuning Help! Tech Newbie Questions Forum Body Tech and Appearance Electronics Tech