Good evening.
Since putting a 59 TR3A back on the road after it had sat in a barn for
about 7 years, I have noticed a significant accumulation of what I
assume to be rust in the fuel pump glass bowl. And during a tune up
today, the carbs required dismantling to remove an additional
accumulation of rust in the float bowls. And that with a new fuel
filter prior to the first start up (fuel filter between pump and
carbs.) I removed about 1/8 cup of this brown particulate matter after
only about 125 miles since first start up.
When I got the car, the tank was pretty much empty. This evening I
removed the fuel tank from the car, first draining the gas from the tank
in a plastic bucket. I then poured the gas from the tank through 3
coffee filters into another tank, expecting to load up the filters with
rust. But there was only a very faint trace of any debris in the
filters. Examining the tank through the filler spout, there is very
little evidence of rust on the interior of the tank. Need to take the
fuel gauge sending unit off tomorrow and see if that provides a better
view, but the inside of the tank and the lack of debris in the gas I
took out suggest the source of the rust may not be the tank, at least
not exclusively.
Question to the list. Is it likely the fuel lines could be the source
of the rusting? I have not examined closely (got dark) but the lines
appear to be steel, not copper.
Any ideas appreciated.
Separate issue. The parts manual shows a banjo fitting at the top of
the fuel tank, presumably to provide venting to the tank. On the tank I
removed there appears to be a bolt fitted in the top, o banjo, no vent
line. So the only way the tank could vent would be through the filler
cap, and the filler cap seals should prevent this. While not related to
the rust question, could this lead to fuel starvation and could it in
some way lead to a lean condition, regardless of the carb settings. The
reason I ask is that I have something of an overheating condition when
the car is run hard, but it cools fine when not run aggressively.
But then again, I don't consider myself a mechanically minded
individually.
Collective wisdom of the list would be greatly appreciated.
M. W. Jordan, Jr.
Marietta, Ga.
(Where it has been in the mid 90's for the duration of the overheating
period)
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