My SIII keeps dying of thirst.

**subasurf** · 19th September 2009, 08:41 PM

Hey guys, just taken delivery of an old 1972 SIII LWB with a Holden 186 conversion. When I purchased it, the guy had told me that it had a fuel issue were the car kept conking out. The engine hadn't been kicked over in a year when I bought it. I got her running by running a fuel hose from the fuel pump (which is apparently new) straight into my jerry can. As far as I'm concerned this eliminates the engine of being the issue because it seams to run quite well straight from the jerry can. That's how I drove her home

I should probably mention that this Landy has two fuel tanks and it uses a hand activated valve to turn one fuel hose on and one off, depending on which tank you want to use. So, I have the valve set to the primary tank which is full of fresh unleaded fuel (the 186 has had the valves replaced with ones that handle unleaded fuel). I replaced the fuel line that runs from the valve to a generic filter (also new) and from the filter to the fuel pump. Seamed to run quite well after a lot of cranking to get the fuel through the new lines.

The engine ran perfectly for a while but now it's conking out again and struggling to start...usually needs a shot of 'startyabastard' down the carby to kick it over.
So, what should I be looking at next? I know next to **** all about how the fuel tanks work and what is inside them. Is it just a box with a hose stuck in it? Tomorrow I'm going to disconnect the duel-tank selector valve and clean it out to see if it's getting clogged, but if that doesn't work, would should I be looking at doing?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

**jx2mad** · 19th September 2009, 09:11 PM

Did you clean the tank before filling? Years ago I had a car that kept cutting out from fuel starvation. On removing the sender unit and pumping out thew tank with a hand pump I got a large collection of floating slime which apparently would get sucked up against the pick up hose. and then drift away after stalling the car. Removing this fixed the problem. Jim

**subasurf** · 19th September 2009, 09:35 PM

You're a legend. I was thinking something along those lines. How do you go about cleaning out a fuel tank? Apart from pumping out the old decrepit fuel?

**Blknight.aus** · 19th September 2009, 10:09 PM

drop the tank out, take the sender unit out

fill it with about a shovel full of 5mm blumetal and some diesel.

strap it down in a very rough riding vehicle and take it for some hotlap action.

get all the bluemetal and diesel out flush with a couple of liters of petrol and bobs you aunty.

**subasurf** · 19th September 2009, 10:19 PM

Oh God, I think you're really serous

haha sounds like a good plan. Any alternatives though, that don't involve uhm.....doing that?

**Blknight.aus** · 19th September 2009, 11:16 PM

what wrong with that?

you could try taking the sender out and sticking a fire hose down there?

**subasurf** · 19th September 2009, 11:23 PM

I think I'll give your idea a go. I'll just hang the tank on some rope and shake it around

Never removed a fuel tank before. Is it tricky?

**JDNSW** · 20th September 2009, 05:59 AM

Originally Posted by subasurf

I think I'll give your idea a go. I'll just hang the tank on some rope and shake it around

Never removed a fuel tank before. Is it tricky?

That depends on how rusty the bolts are!

Before removing the tank, though, remove the sender and have a look inside with a torch to see how bad it is. Most Series tanks have a drain plug, and this enables you to flush the loose stuff out. Also, remove the pickup pipe, and examine it for the pickup screen on the bottom being blocked, but most importantly for pinhole rust holes or cracks which could suck air.

John

**subasurf** · 20th September 2009, 09:57 AM

Just about to go start now. Thanks for the advice guys. Appreciate it.

**subasurf** · 20th September 2009, 03:34 PM

Well, it's running now and not conking out. I removed the sender unit and had a look inside. Looked pretty good actually. Looked fairly clean with very minimal surface spots of rust on the inside. Ended up bypassing the duel tank valve and ran the fuel line direct from the tank pickup pipe (after removing it and giving it a clean) to the fuel pump (with the generic fuel filter spliced in the middle). After doing that she's been running fine and not suffering from any fuel starvation issues what so ever. Guess the duel fuel valve setup is acting up. I think some re-plumbing is in order.

First things first...the engine sounds like it could do with a tune up. Best find an oldschool mechanic who can still tune stromberg fed 202s (owner told me it was a 186, but after working in the engine bay I spotted the big bold 202 on the engine block).

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