Gas Tank: Carb vs FI (will a carb tank work on a FI car)

[ThomasJ]

After 6 months of working on my 80 IF finally passed inspection, licensed & insured it and it dies on the maiden test drive due to a rusty dirty tank. Dying to get it going I hastely purchased a tank from a guy about an hour away, got it home only to realize that it is not the same as my current tank; identical except that it does not have the gas out and return tubes at the back right hand side of the tank (I know how could I miss that). The jerk that I bought it from refused to take it back even though he told me it was a FI tank so I'm out a $100 bucks. My question is can the carb tank I am stuck with be modifed to work with my FI car, I was contemplating taking the two tanks to shop and having them build one good one (great more $$$). Besides being out $100 I am pissed not being able to have it road for the last long weekend of the summer. Thanks in advance for your help.

[lanciahf]

You can but you need to use a swirl/surge tank, might be cheaper to find a FI tank.



http://www.sdsefi.com/techsurge.htm
http://www.fatbaldbloke.co.uk/westfield ... sttbs.html

[spider2081]

I would think the rust is being stopped by the original fuel filter before the injectors. If the injectors are getting dirt in them I think it must be coming from the lines after the original fuel filter.

Have you tried cleaning your tank? Being you have it out of the car you could try cleaning it your self. Take of the fuel sender turn tank bottom up. Then take a piece of wood like 6" square lay the wood flat on the bottom of the tank and tap on it with a hammer. Any loose rust should brake free and you can vacuum and blow the dust out.

If you have a shop that can modify fuel tanks they might be able flush and seal your original FI tank.

I install fuel filter in line between tank and FI pump Wix # 33248 or NAPA#3248. I emailed Wix and they suggested this filter. It offers minimum restriction to the fuel pump.


If all else fails, I would try and sell the carb tank on-line and purchase a FI tank from any of the Fiat Vendors that support FLU.

[BEEK]

fuel injected gas tanks have a built in return and output lines, the output line is aprox 1/2" as opposed to 5/16" (8mm). the fuel injected tank has an internal screen on the output line. the carburated tank all the fuel comes and goes through the gas tank sending unit. which has only 8mm output and 6mm return lines. will it work yes, but it might cause fuel starvation. now having said that. i have used carburated tanks on efi cars with no problems. especially on lancias where the pickup screens become clogged. but if you can clean your tank i would just do that.

[ThomasJ]

Thanks for all the great information. As it turns out I went to see my 78 year old Italian mechanic who is always working fiats, he took it off my hands to use on a 75 he is working on (he was going to give me the $100 but told him just to put it against my next bill). Going to try to restore the tank, washed it out with water (before reading some of the suggestions in this thread) and it will spend a couple of days in the sun drying out. I have read about the POR-15 restoration but my only concern is the possibility of the sealant clogging the screen that covers the line going to the pump; I'll do some more reading and decide on a direction.

Thanks again,
Thomas

[spider2081]

I have used an electronic bore scope to inspect the inside of 2 FI tanks. Neither had a screen on the pick-up tube. Don't know if they had rusted off or if there ever was any. For sure it was not loose in the tank. Maybe you know someone who has and bore scope you can borrow. The one I used is sold by Snap-on.