[Slipangle]

In my '56 Mercury that I don't seem to have enough time for these days, I've found that I'm not getting any gas from my half-full gas tank. It's the original gas tank, I have a Holley electric fuel pump, and when I run it, no gas comes out. (The pump runs, as the motor can clearly be heard when power is switched on to it)

I know perfectly well what the right way to fix it is, but I don't have time or money to do things right for now. More than anything else, I just need to be able to move this car under its own power because the FE block engine I have in the front end puts the wheel weight over the limit for my wheel dollys, and I just can't seem to budge it. (No problem with any of the other '55 Mercs)

I wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions that wouldn't involve buying things like a Jaz fuel tank or dropping the tank and taking it to be cleaned and coated. I'd be open to trying to clean out the electric pump, but I'd like to know how likely that is to work out since it would be difficult for me to get enough time for that.

[rj57]

Your no gas problem could very well be inside the tank if Ford used the gas strainer (some call these parts : Socks) at the end of the pickup tube like Chevy did in 1955/56/57 and I'm sure beyond.

A cheap fix if you really feel it's the gas line, but some length of steel line and run it from the tank to the engine compartment. Any parts store sells stell line just for these situations.

There's also the gas hose like Summit & Jeg's sell that you could run along the frame and replace your existing gas line.

[Slipangle]

FWIW, the quick fix I've attempted so far because I actually had an hour I could spare by sleeping less was to take an air hose with nozzle and try to blow pressurized air into the fuel line (at the carb attachment) and into the fuel filler, neither of which made a difference.

I really need to take some time to disconnect the hose at the fuel pump to see if fuel comes out so I know if the blockage is downstream of the fuel pump or otherwise.

[DrChop]

and blow a little compressed air in thru the line to backflush any crud off the sock. You should hear air bubbling up from the filler neck. Use a steel inline filter to put the line back together, to prevent any debris from getting to the pump. You should have gas coming out of the pump by now when it's switched on. If not then either the pump is bad or it's not drawing a prime, maybe a leaky rubber hose atop the tank. Take it back apart at the new filter and drop a short piece of rubber line from that filter into a small gas can and see if the pump will now draw fuel. If so replace the lines to the tank as there is a leak, if not the pump is bad.

The Kustomsledd did this to me once, the tank sock was plugged up. Shooting some air back thru it blew it off the end of the steel line in the tank, where it remained until I pulled the tank and cut out the trunk floor for a new 25 gallon Doc-fabbed tank.

[sonicweb]

I had the same problem with my original flat head 6 that was in my truck before it was pulled, All of a sudden, no fuel. Electric pump was pounding away, but nothing comming out. I took my air hose and blew air back into the tank, got the crud out of it. It worked for a little while. Then the pump failed. I pulled the motor and that's the way its been for a while. I agree, if you can free the clog, then run a filter before the pump to capture any debris. Great idea guys!