Gas tank for \'67...

I had quite the surprise last night/this morning on my way home! The old Gal died out on the expressway, leaving me 25 miles from home. A little quick investigation revealed that there was virtually no gas in the carb, and cranking it wouldn't fill it up. At first I thought fuel pump, as I had just got gas about 75 miles ago. For whatever reason I crawled under the car and knocked on the tank... Which sounded rather hollow. So I shook the car and listened, with not a peep of swooshing gas. Closer examination with a flashlight showed the bottom of the tank was a bit wet. Apparently I dumped 20 gallons of gas somewhere on the expressway! So I called up AAA and got a tow home.

Now I need to find a replacement gas tank on the cheap. This is just my beater so I want to keep it as cheap as possible... Not worth spending $250-$300 on a reproduction tank. My local yard has two '67s and 3-4 '68s. Hopefully I can just grab a tank from one of the '67s, but if I can't find them in godo shape what other year tanks will fit?

I have a '68 Galaxie, and the tank on that looks the same from my memory of when I changed the sending unit. The car is tucked away for winter and in need of a new engine (body and mechanicals are in good shape though... no rust) in my grandma's garage, so I can't measure it readily.

I need the car fixed by Tuesday, which may be a problem with ye old hurricane coming this way. I don't particularly feel like going to the junkyard and pulling gas tanks in pouring rain and 75+ MPH winds. Anyway, I've never pulled a tank before, so if anyone could offer any advice as to the procedure (those bolts look mighty rusty) I would appreciate it. I don't particularly like the idea of crawling under a junkyard car propped up with wheels and other misc. parts either, particularly if it's wet. They better let me bring some jack stands in the yard (don't allow jacks) so I can be safe.

Maybe while I'm at it I'll test some fuel sending units and grab one that works. If mine worked I would have noticed my fuel level dropping at an astronomical rate and could have not been stranded in the middle of nowhere for an hour and some change. That and it's a nice convenience feature. [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I Cory,
Call 1aauto.com @ 888-844-3393. I know you can get a NEW unit for a 69 for only $150. Not sure about 67.

I usually just cut the bands of the tank, and replace them and the bolts.
_________________
Steven Fowler
- 67 Galaxie 500 Convertible
- 69 Galaxie 500 XL Convertible
- 69 LTD 2-door Formal Roof

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 69XL on 9/19/03 4:42am ]</font>

I have a 66 galaxie and replaced the tank with a tank from an 89 crown vic they are just about the same.

Well as it turns out I _wasn't_ out of gas... Only about 10 gallons leaked out, leaving me with almost half a tank of gas. My fuel pump went kaput, whihc is why I broke down. So this weekend I replaced the fuel pump ($17), and went to the junkyard to get a new gas tank ($25, including sending unit), and also got a new exhaust manifold ($20), as mine is cracked and exhaust doesn't particularly taste/smell good. Everything seems to be leak free now. Not sure how fair those prices were, but the car should be working well again for a while.

Sadly I think it's about time to sell the old Gal... The mileage isn't practical anymore, and it just need too much work for a college student's budget. I've put a lot of moeny and work into it to keep it running, and at this point I don't imagine there is much more that can break, short of catastrophic failures.

In any case, I want something that will give me good mileage and not need constant attention like my Galaxie does. I'm thinking Geo Metro, or some other $500 econo-box type car. I don't know that I would even fit comfortably in a Metro, waht with being 6'3.5" and wahtnot, but if i do, I want one for the mileage. 3 cylinders + 5 gears = 45/50 MPG. It beats the hell out of 10/14. A year ago I never would have thought I would hear myself thinking that, let alone saying it. Well, less gas burned and cheaper insurance (NJ insurance is FUBAR!) will make it worth it. I've still got my '68, so eventually I'll put a new engine in that and be able to drive it again.