willysmjeeps.com

Hi all,
Been awhile but I'm finally in a position where I can work on my M38 after 8+ years of it languishing in various storage units and then a flat tow from MD to TX. A thorough examination now reveals the scumbag shop who did a "restoration" swapped out pretty much every single new part that I'd installed and their stellar "gas tank repair" consisted of welding a sheet of thin metal over the completely rusted out bottom panel of the old tank, then dumping what looks to be that POR15 crap inside. When filled with fuel it leaked immediately through countless pinholes from bad weld joints and that 15 crap peeled off the metal and was floating around in the tank.
I discovered the double panel after I went to clean out the tank and it sounded like sand shifting around inside so I cut the bottom out with a cutting wheel.
Is there a way to make a temporary gas tank connected to the fuel line so I can try to get the engine running? I'm not sure if I need to plug the tanks vent in case leaving the line open would create a vacuum issue for the fuel pump?
Thanks much. (It says I'm in DC but I actually moved to Austin, TX)

You can take a gas can and set it safely on the ground and run a rubber hose from it to the fuel line... That should work on a temp basis. I would take any safety precautions needed.

Or if you have an old can you can put a fitting on it to connect to the fuel line with a temp hose. I say this meaning make all your connections leakproof as not to have a possibility of fire hazard...

SAFETY FIRST!!!!

Thanks for the reply. I will give that a shot. What about the fuel tank vent line? Leave it open or plug it?

You can leave that open, it is the way the tank gets air when and if the fuel tank cap is sealed. Otherwise you end up with vapor lock...

I would suggest you connect the spare gas can fuel line directly to the pump's inlet port eliminating the gas tank completely from the situation. You are aware you also have a fuel supply line shut off valve next to the steering gear box you can shut off to stop all feeds from the tank?



Shut off valve is "B" and fuel supply line to pump is "A".

Hi Wes,
I know there is a fuel supply shutoff valve that SHOULD have been there, but now there is only a double fitting in its place. I'll try to fire it up once the new spark plugs arrive to replace the rusted, carbon caked, junk plugs that my engine appears to have magically acquired.

Geez, where did you have the work done?