<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> </head> <body><div class="auto-created-dir-div" dir="auto" style="unicode-bidi: embed;"><style>p{margin:0}</style>Karl,<div><p>This is a fine mesh original filter on the inside end of the fuel tank exit pipe. It can get clogged with dirt or sufficiently clogged so as to restrict the fuel flow. It is part of the fuel tank and is not designed to be accessed by the user and/or the garage service mechanic. However, modern technology (cameras on the end of wiggly sticks) let you see it. </p><p>Cleaning the gunge collected over decades is normally a reverse blow through the fuel pipe but using a 150psi air line can destroy the filter so start off low! You can never tell if you have cleaned it properly or what type of gunge was blocking it so deliberately destroying it was not unknown, especially after trying a couple of times to clear a blocked system. Pushing a stiff length of wire through the filter was a common way of destroying it. I've not known anyone replace an in-tank filter but have known those who destroy it put an in-line fuel filter in the system, usually close to the engine to make it accessible. </p><p><br></p><p>Stay well,</p><p><br></p><p>Guy R Day</p><br><blockquote style="margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 2em; border-left:2px solid #00ADE5; white-space: pre-wrap "><br><br>------ Original Message ------<br>From: "Karl Vacek via Spridgets" <spridgets@autox.team.net><br>To: "'Rich Hill'" <ra_hill@icloud.com><br>Cc: "'Spridgets'" <Spridgets@autox.team.net><br>Sent: Friday, 23 Jun, 23 At 23:55<br>Subject: Re: [Spridgets] 78 Midget fuel system<br><br><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);">Sure did. It’s a hose between two steel tubes on this car. I’ve suspected for years that there was a little leak in one of the (5? 6?) little hoses in the fuel line, so I once again changed them all.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);">I put a camera into the tank through the filler hole on the top of the tank. The inlet tube is part of the fuel sending unit on this car, and there’s what looks for all the world like a white nylon mesh filter with a plastic cage around the inlet tube, as part of the fuel sending unit. Nothing like that in any parts books, not even the BMIHT CD parts book.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);">This is a California-emissions 1978 car. Not the first thing that’s different from the parts books, Moss, etc. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);">But it’s all okay and air blew through beautifully after I had the tank open to look. And now there’s fuel flow to the pump. I don’t know – I didn’t change anything, just looked in there and put the same air hose onto the fuel line as I’d done a couple of times before.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);">FM Principle</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);">Thanks for the info !!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);">Karl</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;font-family: Calibri , sans-serif;color: rgb(31,73,125);"> </span></p><div><div style="border: none;border-top: solid rgb(181,196,223) 1.0pt;padding: 3.0pt 0.0in 0.0in 0.0in;"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family: Tahoma , sans-serif;">From:</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;font-family: Tahoma , sans-serif;"> Rich Hill [mailto:ra_hill@icloud.com] <br><b>Sent:</b> Friday, June 23, 2023 4:15 PM<br><b>To:</b> Karl Vacek<br><b>Cc:</b> Spridgets<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Spridgets] 78 Midget fuel system</span></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><div><div><p class="MsoNormal">There’s a section of plastic tubing on the side of the transmission. Make sure that’s OK. Although if you’ve replaced all the hoses, you’ve probably done that one. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Rich</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">‘79 Midget</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">‘58 Sprite</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">On Jun 22, 2023, at 7:52 PM, Karl Vacek <<a href="mailto:kvacek@ameritech.net"><span class="wt_Email">kvacek@ameritech.net</span><span></span></a>> wrote:</p></div><blockquote style="margin-top: 5.0pt;margin-bottom: 5.0pt;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Tahoma , sans-serif;"></span> </p><div><p class="MsoNormal">We've had this car since 2006 -almost second owners. About 17,000 miles, very original. Jill stopped driving it a couple years ago so I'm renewing everything in preparation for selling it.</p><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">It's a 1500 (Spitfire) engine and all the emissions stuff. Which is all there and everything I've checked is working.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">We bought it from a kid who owned it for about as month, just putting in the cheapest fuel pump he could find and jamming the wrong size battery between the heater and the firewall. It's always seemed to lose fuel pump prime and needed lots of cranking for the first start after sitting a day or two. I only just now finally replaced each and every hose in the system (not the evap circuits, but for now I've unhooked the evap tank line.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Running with fuel directly to the carb I only got a little spit from the pump, and off the car it seemed dead. Soooo - I bought a good new fuel pump, the one with the infinitely clockable top, which also actually has a filter unlike the POS the kid put on the car. Pump seems to suck but it's still not pulling fuel though the line from the tank even after getting some fuel in the lines and running the engine a few minutes on direct fuel to the carb.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I want to check the rest of the fuel supply system but I cannot remove the feed line from the tank - it's a non-existent size for flare wrenches, Kroil hasn't worked it's usual magic, and my Knipex pliers wrench can't turn the fitting either. Not to the cave man stage yet - this is a very original, rust free car, so I'm not using a pipe wrench or etc. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I want to directly blow through the fuel line to make sure it's clear - blowing from the front with the gas cap off is inconclusive. I'm working alone and I'm just not sure it's passing as much air as it should.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Aside from cutting the line off (really original car that we want to sell as soon as I'm done renewing everything) I'm stuck. I can't really drop the tank (to fill it with water and have at the fitting with serious heat) without destroying the original fuel line. </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">What is the pickup like in the tank, presumably leading down from the bulkhead fitting to the bottom. No in-tank filter that I see in the parts books.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">My last hope is to remove the huge filler hose in the trunk and put a camera in there tomorrow.</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Any other suggestions ? </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> </p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks!</p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Karl</p></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div><hr>------------------------<br>
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