Taking off the sock

Longbeach412 · Post by **Longbeach412** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:22 am

Well, my baby is running good enough now for me to start looking for more trouble

....So, couple a weeks ago when I replaced the fuel filter it had lots of rust in it. So off to flushing and cleaning the tank and removing the sock filter. My 1st questions if it still is in someone's memory; that big nut on bottom of tank, since I haven't looked yet, is it a hex? whats the size? would I need an a box wrench for it or a plumber's adjustable wrench?......also, is there a gasket or seal that I'd have to replace?

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:05 am

On my '73 412 it's a mushroom-shaped plug with a hex cavity in the middle for an Allen wrench. The hex is something in the 6-7mm range, but I never found a wrench that fit it. I used a pair of vice grips on the outside of the plug's head.

Longbeach412 · Post by **Longbeach412** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 10:31 am

Thanks MG.
p.s, saw a Hillman in the boneyard the other day. never knew they were imported this side of the pond!

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 11:40 am

What kind of Hillman...Minx, Husky, etc...?

I had a friend in HS with a Hillman Husky, it was what one person called "British Cute", as opposed to my '67 Anglia, "British Strange".

Yes, Rootes Group imported lots of Hillman/Sunbeam cars to the Colonies from the 50's through the 70's. The Plymouth Cricket was a Hillman Avenger, as a matter of fact, since by the late 60's Ma MoPar owned Hillman (and Simca of France). They had bulletproof drivetrains as long as you changed oil every once in a while, but US owners weren't used to having to do routine maintainance on their cars, so many died early deaths (sound familiar?).

Longbeach412 · Post by **Longbeach412** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:28 pm

It was a Minx, fairly well intact.....couldn't believe my eyes. Growing up in Egypt in the 60s they were fairly common along with the morris minors, anglias, austins, consuls.......40yrs forward, here is this thing staring at me.....invoked lots of memories. I knew Simca was part of chrysler group, but didn't know Hillman was too. I do remember the simca and spanish chrysler having a solid drivetrain from mechanics talk back then. Oh well, back to old age

ubercrap · Post by **ubercrap** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 3:18 pm

I believe it is 6mm allen... On a side note, I found a Simca 1000 out in the country by a barn. I tried to find out who owned it, but either I was mistaken, or they aren't interested in selling.

Longbeach412 · Post by **Longbeach412** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 3:32 pm

Ok, 6mm it is. will see if the allen key can budge it after all these years or a vice grip will be called in. Simcas pop up every once in a while on ebay. Its bad enogh finding parts for our cars, I just can't immagine how it is with those things, unless of course you are tuned in internationally and your french is good. An afterthought here, any rust inhibiting chemicals one might use while flushing an in-car tank?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:12 pm

Do a search on this forum, Ray's written his usual excellent tome detailing the steps to gas tank nirvana sometime in the past

DeathBus · Post by **DeathBus** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:19 pm

The drain nut is an Allen, the nut that holds the fuel tubes in is a big bastard I used channel locks to get it off.

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:59 pm

Too bad on the Simca herr Uber

Longbeach412 · Post by **Longbeach412** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:00 pm

DeathBus Posted

The drain nut is an Allen, the nut that holds the fuel tubes in is a big bastard I used channel locks to get it off.

I kinda knew it that it wont be a cake walk. And I already searched and got lots of info, problem is, all steps pertain to a tank out situation where shacking and sloshing are doable. I dunno if I can follow the same steps, not shacke, and expect the same results.
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Longbeach412 · Post by **Longbeach412** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:01 pm

DeathBus Posted

The drain nut is an Allen, the nut that holds the fuel tubes in is a big bastard I used channel locks to get it off.

I kinda knew it that it wont be a cake walk. And I already searched and got lots of info, problem is, all steps pertain to a tank out situation where shacking and sloshing are doable. I dunno if I can follow the same steps, not shacke, and expect the same results.

MGVWfan · Post by **MGVWfan** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:12 pm

Ah, trying to de-rust in-situ, as it were

The idea is to get the solution in contact with all the rusted bits long enough (say 5-10 minutes?) to convert the hematite into magnetite. However you do it, that's the requirement. It'd be kinda tough to get the solution in contact with the top of the tank without pulling it, IMHO.

DeathBus · Post by **DeathBus** » Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:29 pm

just pull the tank, its easy.

Longbeach412 · Post by **Longbeach412** » Sun Apr 17, 2005 8:13 am

It'd be kinda tough to get the solution in contact with the top of the tank without pulling it

Ok, probabalistically then, how much of the rust would you say happens on the bottom and how much on the top? My uneducated guess would be that the majority is on the bottom, but am thinking the spots on the top would probably contribute more to affecting the quality of gas since the rust flakes would fall directly onto the top portion of the gas in the tank, while the bottom rust stays at bay due to the outlet tube protrusion!!? makes any sense?

just pull the tank, its easy.

easy for you to say

, right now I got no working space except a parking spot, and the tought of dropping the whole front end sends shivers down my spine

......I am just trying to make her somewhat drivable and reliable enough to give me the time to plan and prepare for the front end work.......suspension and all, when Ray is done with it. At that time I would be dropping the tank.