Replacement steel fuel tank problem

Just a heads up for those who may need it about replacement steel fuel tanks. My 67 CJ5 with the V6 has a return fuel line. It is plumbed to the top of the tank. My replacement tank, which is an Omix-ADA did not have the provision for the return line. I found a weldable pipe bung at McMaster Carr and spotted it in. I don't know if there was another tank but if not, the situation can be overcome.

Other than that, the tank is a nice piece.

 

IIRC there were two styles of tanks for these Jeeps. The earlier ones have 6 screws around the sending unit with a flat gasket, and the later ones use a lock ring with an o-ring or big rubber washer to seal. The later style incorporates a return line nipple in the sending unit.

So I expect the Omix tank is the earlier style, even if it's sold as applying to all years. If you buy an MTS plastic tank, you have your choice of screws or lock ring. And they also sell the sending unit with the nipple for a return line.

 

Yeah, the stock tank (I assume anyway) in my '70 uses the locking ring style sending unit/pickup, and has the return line provision.

 

Cool solution though - very resourceful!

 

Nice looking weld , did you tig it ?

 

If you were to cut into an old V6 tank (with all precautions) you would find what is pictured here. I cut and ground to a round, so that the tube w/ fitting would insert in a drilled hole in the new tank and brazed it in place (with fitting removed).

 

Well I really feel stupid now. I was so fixated on the lack of a return line fitting that I overlooked that the main fuel line fitting is not correct either. It's some odd size between two SAE flare fittings and smaller than OE. I'm going to have to cut that out too and replace it. Darn, darn, darn!!!

It's not hard, just dXmn aggravating. Thanks for watching. Yes TIG, it's mighty thin to join the sheet metal and cast piece.

 

So, I drilled out the fuel supply fitting to upgrade it too. Just like the original, it has a tube that goes up and curves back down to the floor of the tank for a pickup. That tube has a very small diameter hole in it that is much smaller than the 5/16" fuel line it supports. I therefore would not recommend anyone use the steel tanks on the V6 model without modifications similar to the ones I have done. I'll post some pictures of the difference in the two later.

 

I bought a metal tank and had a friend that runs a sheet metal shop cut the locking ring out and weld it in the new tank

 

Yep, that's the other catch in turning what I assume is a F-134 steel tank into a V6 tank. Here's a picture of the curved tube at the supply in my old tank. I didn't put this in my new tank. My new supply line is plumbed out of the threaded "nipple" where the drain plug belongs--but that's another story--of my modified Frankenjeep.

 

I HAVE A 67 CJ5 WITH V-6 MY FUEL LINE COMES OUT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. IT ALSO HAS A DRAIN PLUG IN THE BOTTOM. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL TANK UNTIL THIS PAST YEAR WHEN I FINALLY HAD TO REPLACE IT. I REPLACED WITH A METAL TANK WITH NO PROBLEMS ALSO MY FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT IS THE SIX SCREW TYPE. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE.

 

Did you find a new replacement steel tank with the top of the tank factory-readied to accept the fitting for the return line?