OK, the mechanic just called...he FINALLY actually removed the fuel tank (as I have been asking him to do for almost a week...but he thought he knew better...) and tells me the fuel pump is not working and is "welded" to the access plate (where the lines pass through, etc.) on top of the tank.

Anybody have one of these, or a good idea as to how to address the problem?

Since I have never even seen this part of the truck yet, I don;t know if it's as simple as prying something off and sandblasting, or if the plate is easily reproduced, or what.

Ideas? Thoughts? Options?

Maybe I can find a complete tank or plate new?

Thanks

James

 

p.s. The tank is completely lined with rust and he wants to send it to a specialist to have it blasted and coated.

I've learned, from my motorcycle days, that any kind of "coating" is suspect and or eventually becomes a nightmare.

Sources for new tanks?

 

I can't believe that he was *surprised* to find the tank coated with rust...he KNEW it has been on blocks since 1996 and drained the nasty old gas out himself.

I guess anybody with a computer diagnostics machine can call themselves a mechanic these days...real mechanics don't need no stinkin' computers

 

I'm guessing "welded" means "rusted"...I'm gonna go get the truck and have it towed to a more trustworthy (read:in Santa Ana) mechanic who is not scared off by a car without a computer hook up!

i didn't have it taken there the first time because it was outside the AAA "free tow zone"...but the distance between the place where it is now and the right shop is within the zone. We'll see how it goes...

Still might need a tank and/or access plate though.

 

if you were closer to san diego i would have you bring it here..

 

I wish I was closer, too...you've demonstrated exactly the kind of enthusiasm I expect from somebody blessed with a chance to work on this lovely truck!

I went and looked at lunchtime...it's not all that bad. The shop has obviously never worked on anything old enough to have a carburetor. Definitely needs to be cleaned above the line where fuel was sitting all those years, but seems "solid" and should clean up well.

The float sending unit, on the other hand, is sketchy and could use some replacing. Unless its something I can service myself...but I'm not sure about that. Would like to find one that swings freely.

Thanks

 

IM thinkin you shud just go for a fuel cell from summit. Unless your goin for a restoration on the yota.

 

Really? I have been looking for replacement tanks all over the web. Should I have been looking for fuel "cells"?

Oh, I'll bet these are things that sit in the bed of the truck, right? For sure I'd rather have something underneath. I'll check it out, but am interested in information from those "in the know".

Any suggestions from others? Solutions y'all have done?

Thanks

James

 

check this out

Summit Racing

 

Ahhhh...lots of fuel cells, but no real reference to anything that'll "bolt in" or brackets or how to do it. I live in a "workshop free" area, can't do any real fabrication (laying on my back, twisting around, etc.) anymore anyhow due to a lot of titanium parts that were fabricated especially for ME by some fine surgeons.

Also, I haven't been able to find any fuel sending units (on the site you linked or elsewhere) that work with the Toyota fuel gauge. Do people add a secondary universal gauge of some sort, or use a dipping stick, or what?

I'm really not an ignoramus, just a bit ignorant when it comes to retrofitting a toyota mini! If somebody else has done it, and I can learn from them, it's much better than reinventing the wheel!

I ordered the fuel sending unit I found on ebay, but it's coming from Thailand and I have no idea how long it'll take to get here. If I can come up with another workable solution in the interim (tank, sending unit, whatever), I can re-sell the other unit when it shows up from Thailand.

 

James, You needing just the gauge sending unit or the complete deal with fuel pump? Yours the large cover plate, aprox 5-1/2" 6 screws? I may have one, Nook