Gas tank problems... Here is one for the old timers... I own a 1969 Buick Skylark Custom Conv. with the gas tank located under the trunk floor, and fed through the drop / fold down lisc. plate. When I restored this car, I found 2 hoses coming off the metal gas tank, just looped up and cut off just behind the rear axle. I figured they were some kind of vent for the tank, so, after I replaced each hose with like kind, I just stuffed a tiny bit of cloth in each so no dirt would get down them, but figured they would still breathe.. Well, after the restoration, every time I would park on a hill, with the back of the car / gas tank low, it would drip gas out of the locking vented gas cap. I figured I could stop that easily with a NON vented, locking gas cap, knowing those vent hoses would provide venting, so I went and bought one and put it on. After a few long drives with the top down in the beautiful summer, it was time to fill the tank up, and I was shocked, it would only take like 5 gallons,, even though it showed near empty on the gas gage. I looked under the car, and the darn engine / fuel pump had sucked the metal gas tank into collapsing into itself!! It even pushed up the trunk floor as the gas tank crumpled UP! I guess that tiny bit of cloth I put into those "vent" hoses were not allowing enough air through, POOF, I now have a 5 gallon gas tank instead of a 20 gallon gas tank! At the time, I also had a welded on trailer hitch, X-ing the tank. I had to find a wrecking yard similar replacement gas tank, have the trailer hitch torched off, (right next to the collapsed gas tank), and put the new / old salvaged tank back in. Amazing how just putting a non vented gas cap on, and a couple tiny wads of cloth, could cause such a mess! That Buick 350 motor can sure SUCK!!!
Beachnut