M38 fuel tank pickup questions

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:37 am

As purchased my takeoff had the sender as well as sump assemblies, albeit crusty, inoperative and coated in gunk. The sump was missing the filter, but had the clamp.

First question is should there be anything else on the pickup tube besides just the screw in fitting at the top and the tube itself? That is all I have. It appears
some of the new stainless replacement elements have a cap on top and maybe on bottom or maybe that is part of the filter. I can't tell. The OEM filters I see for sale (the brown ones) do not have anything closing off the top and I can't see the bottom.

Second question. I had the screw ring resoldered for the pickup as it was loose. Now that I have it home I've been cleaning the two openings and did a trial fit with the pickup to make sure everything works. It appears the pickup assembly now sits on the bottom of the tank with about 3/16" to 1/4" or more gap between the bottom of the mounting plate and the top of the tank ring. I can't imagine a gasket that thick and am concerned about the filter holder assembly sitting on the tank and wearing a hole in it over time.

Any help would be appreciated.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:04 pm

I wouldn't bother comparing stock to repop filters. Just confuses things. The parts list illustration shows what you should have.

It should not rest on the bottom of the tank. Have you checked the bottom and top skins of the tank with a straight edge to make sure they are not oil canned inward?

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:46 pm

It looks like there ilia a typo. Two items are described as plate.
I am missing everything below the plate A except the tube and fitting.

Yes, Wes, it appears the top is depressed where the gentleman
Resoldered the screw ring to the tank top. Hard to believe it would
be enough to make that kind of difference but I will look against
in the daylight.

Suggestions to correct would be appreciated.

Many thanks.
Brian

Post by **wesk** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:06 pm

No typo. They are all 3 titled as "Plate". There's the top mounting plate and then there's the tube/plate assy for the element to slide on then there's the bottom plate thaqt holds up the element against the top plate.

The original installation leaves only a very small distance from the bottom of the tank. Remember they wanted all the range they could get on a tank of gas. You can carefully CAREFULLY pressurize the tank with no more than 1 to 2 psid. This should pop her back up.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:28 pm

Ok that makes sense.

I have the fitting that goes over the tube and flare and attaches
to the top plate. And that tube. Everything else is gone.

Ok. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm still trying to get that
3/8" of almost solid varnish out. Got it as far as I can reach
but the side with the filler tube has no access. The local rad guy
stopped doing hydrocarbons so he would not need a permit.

Scared to death to caustic the thing. I might end up with
a shot hole bottom.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:10 pm

Glass bead blast it thru the two top holes and the filler pipe.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 7:43 am

They would need a wand, right? Also, will bead blasting cut that
parrafin? You can peel it up with a putty knife where you can
get to it and in bigger pieces is bendable, but mineral spirits
doesn't do a thing.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:31 am

Anything done manually through those three openings will be a half arse attempt at cleaning the tank. There are several outfits you can mail the tank to for chemical cleaning. You can flush the tank with water , cut the bottom out and clean it manually completely and weld the bottom back in.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:34 am

The radiator guy mentioned caustic.

Will that eat the steel?

Thanks Wes.

Post by **wesk** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:14 am

Depends on how long it soaks. The pros know how to use it. That is the easiest method. You may try looking at neighboring communities for a fuel service radiator shop that hasn't downgraded their service to plastic radiators only!

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:21 am

4x4M38 wrote:

I have the fitting that goes over the tube and flare and attaches
to the top plate. And that tube. Everything else is gone.

Brian, here's a foto of a complete pick-up assy. Rick

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:38 pm

Thanks Rick.
I have the fitting and tube that screws into the top plate.
Missing everything else. Probably impossible to find just the pieces.

WillysMotors · Post by **WillysMotors** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 12:53 pm

try emailing xstuff@juno.com thats where I got mine.