Aux Fuel Tank Installation Woes

[grantorinosport]

I am in the process of installing an auxillary fuel tank into my 71 F-250 camper special. It originally came with a factory aux fuel tank (the midship tank with the filler on the side of the bed). The tank was removed many years ago (and two owners I believe), but all that remained was the filler neck assembly and the fuel lines. All other components were removed.

LMC thankfully had most of the parts I needed to put a new tank in. They had the tank, sender, and the fuel filler hoses (the large main and the vent hose). I ordered all parts and obtained some straps from a you-pull-it yard.

As I have been test fitting everything and preparing for the installation, I found the fuel hose is about 2" too short. I tried rotating the tank in place (what little that helped), and some other nudging here and there. But it is still just too short.

I am not sure what to do.

I could see if a machine shop would take the filler neck assembly and cut the end off, weld a piece of extension tube in and reattach the rolled end?

There appears (according to LMC's catalog) to be a different part number for the filler hose for a 73-up pickup. I could get that and see if it is longer?

Or I could find a suitable radiator hose or large fuel hose (if radiator hoses are not rated for fuel), and try and "match one", but I am not sure where I would start with that.

Has anyone run into this? Does anyone have any suggestions that might be helpful?

Thanks!

Scott

[Dragon]

In the straight section of pipe where the rubber hose is round and not flat cut the tube and go to a plumber and get a 4 inch piece of copper tubbing the same inside diameter. Slip it into the hose and clamp it.

[fordman]

i think www.greensalescompany.com has the right lenght hose.

[Ranchero50]

Large diameter fuel hose is available from NAPA. They had to order it here and it was around $7 a foot for 2", probably the same stuff LMC sold you.

Good luck.
Jamie

[Dragon]

Sorry, we don't stock this item at this time Is what was on Green Sales company. NAPA sells the right diameter but not with the bend in it.

[fordman]

what was the part number you searched for? they only list them by patrt number on the site. if you call them they can look it up.

[Dragon]

I clicked your link.

[fordman]

that is just a link to the company. no part numbers are hidden in the link. it is how i remember to get to thier web site.

[Dragon]

ahh

[heviarti]

NAPA here once told me they have no flexible filler neck hose. I called Gates direct, they have a flexible hose that is used for boat exhaust that will stand up to fuel. I know, I had to replace a filler neck on a homemade rear tank setup. Still haven't determined what the tank and sender are from.

[Dragon]

The mid tank does not need a flex it has a special flattened mid section and bend.

[heviarti]

what, a flexible hose won't flatten or bend? I had to flatten mine between the bed and frame. The stuff looks like rubber, and acts like it, just much more impressive.

[fordman]

with a form made hose it is more likely to keep its shape rather than mashing a regular hose.

[Dragon]

If you mash a flex hose through a 90 it will close off and it will take hours to get the tank filled. That is why mine is not hooked up.

[grantorinosport]

Got a straight piece of 2 1/4 inch fuel hose (about 8 inches) and a repair section of exhaust. Interestingly, the filler neck end of the LMC hose is larger (2 1/2 inch ID) than the fuel tank end (2 1/4 inch ID), the tank and filler neck are both 2 1/4 inch OD. So with the exhaust piece, one end is larger and that will fit the one end of the LMC hose, and the other end of the exhaust section will fit the NAPA fuel line which will go to the filler neck. If it does not leak, it should work fine.