Gas Tank Caved In @ Lifter Adj. Question

[Mark A.]

After Rebuilding The Engine On My 71 Lt-1, I Was Running In The Cam. After About A 1/2 Hour, I Ran Out Of Fuel. I Looked At My Gas Tank ( Body Is Not On The Car ) And Noticed It Was Caved In Top And Bottom. Obviously I Have A Sticking Fuel Separator. I Didn't Realize A Fuel Pump Had That Much Suction! Can I Drill A 1/8 Hole In The Back Of The Separator To Fix The Problem? Will This Cause Any Issues With The Rest Of The Fuel Vapor System?
Also I Adjusted The Solid Lifters As I Have Always Done, Putting The Balancer Straight Up On #1 And Adjusting Ex. 1,3,4,8 And In. 1,2,5,7. Then Turning Balancer 1 Turn And Adjusting The Rest. I Noticed The Chevy Chassis Service Manual Has A Different Procedure For Adjusting Solid Lifters. I'm Not Sure Why This Would Be. Are My Valves Adjusted Properly The Way I Did It, Or Do I Have To Redo Them According To The Manual? I Appreciate Any Help On This. Thanks, Mark

[James G.]

Re: Gas Tank Caved In @ Lifter Adj. Question

Mark, check the archives. D. Williams answered my post about about lifter adjustment for my LT-1 this past summer, his procedure worked great.

[Tim S.]

Re: Gas Tank Caved In @ Lifter Adj. Question

x2. Great information

[Joe L.]

Re: Gas Tank Caved In @ Lifter Adj. Question

After Rebuilding The Engine On My 71 Lt-1, I Was Running In The Cam. After About A 1/2 Hour, I Ran Out Of Fuel. I Looked At My Gas Tank ( Body Is Not On The Car ) And Noticed It Was Caved In Top And Bottom. Obviously I Have A Sticking Fuel Separator. I Didn't Realize A Fuel Pump Had That Much Suction! Can I Drill A 1/8 Hole In The Back Of The Separator To Fix The Problem? Will This Cause Any Issues With The Rest Of The Fuel Vapor System?
Also I Adjusted The Solid Lifters As I Have Always Done, Putting The Balancer Straight Up On #1 And Adjusting Ex. 1,3,4,8 And In. 1,2,5,7. Then Turning Balancer 1 Turn And Adjusting The Rest. I Noticed The Chevy Chassis Service Manual Has A Different Procedure For Adjusting Solid Lifters. I'm Not Sure Why This Would Be. Are My Valves Adjusted Properly The Way I Did It, Or Do I Have To Redo Them According To The Manual? I Appreciate Any Help On This. Thanks, Mark

Mark-----

I don't think the fuel separator is your problem. I think the integral pressure/vacuum valve in your tank failed. This cannot be repaired and you must replace the tank. Of course, it probably needs to be replaced now, anyway.

By the way, the fuel pump could not have run for very long after the tank ran out of fuel.

[Duke W.]

Re: Gas Tank Caved In @ Lifter Adj. Question

Your valve clearance is not properly adjusted.

Download the following pdf with the latest procedure:

http://65corvette.nonethewiser.net/technical/SBvlvadj.pdf

Beware, the Web if full of earlier, obsolete verisions of this paper.

Duke