67 fuel tank need advice

[John S.]

Setup... At Tucson regional last week (car top flighted) chassis guys noticed a faint smell of gas near the back of the car. Crawled under there with them and I could smell it also. We searched and could not find any drips or wetness anywhere. Thought maybe there was a pin hole near the top of the original tank. I figured at the time I returned home I would tackle tank removal and replace. Ordered Quanta tank and it is due here Monday. I have a photocopied picture of the tank sticker on the tank when it was restored in the early 90's and I figured I would get to see it live now. Dropped tank yesterday only to find the obvious leak is at the filler neck gasket. you can clearly see fuel stains going forward and back from the filler. The tank sticker also has received some staining from the leaking fuel. On a side note I drove the car 500 miles to Tucson and mad sure it was very full at each refill. I am sure this was what we smelled during judging. Well, to keep a long story long... I am torn between replacing the filler neck gasket and putting the tank back in the car with the tank sticker on it. Covering the tank sticker as it was done 20 years ago. Theory here is tank sticker will still remain with the car and not get lost down the road. What do you guys think?

I am attaching a picture here. You will note that this is a well known "no option car" with black paint and teal interior. Kind of rare!
Actually I would love to upload a picture and can not seem to do this in the new system. I am clicking on add file in the attachment manager and choosing the file, then hitting upload and nothing is happening. I see all my previous pics I have attached but not the new one. What gives? HELP!

[John S.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

Got it! Had to go to basic uploader!

[Pete B.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

Hi John,
Great to see you and the car at our regional!
You've probably heard it a dozen times "its only original once"
If there is no evidence of rust inside or on the outside I would just replace the gasket.


Pete

[Timothy B.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

I'm with Pete, replace the gaskety if the tank looks good. Also, replace the rubber seal at the sender while the tank is empty.

[John S.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

Another question. Is it normal to have to remove the filler neck to drop the tank? Mine would not com out without removing it.

[Michael J.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

That is probably the shortest list on a tank sticker I have ever seen, amazing, thanks for that photo. I had my tank sticker removed during restoration and I keep it in a very safe place, which I thought the top of the tank was not. But I can see you viewpoint too, I guess I would agree that if the tank is solid, not full of crud and rust, replace the gasket but be very vigilant about that sticker, you only get one.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

Setup... At Tucson regional last week (car top flighted) chassis guys noticed a faint smell of gas near the back of the car. Crawled under there with them and I could smell it also. We searched and could not find any drips or wetness anywhere. Thought maybe there was a pin hole near the top of the original tank. I figured at the time I returned home I would tackle tank removal and replace. Ordered Quanta tank and it is due here Monday. I have a photocopied picture of the tank sticker on the tank when it was restored in the early 90's and I figured I would get to see it live now. Dropped tank yesterday only to find the obvious leak is at the filler neck gasket. you can clearly see fuel stains going forward and back from the filler. The tank sticker also has received some staining from the leaking fuel. On a side note I drove the car 500 miles to Tucson and mad sure it was very full at each refill. I am sure this was what we smelled during judging. Well, to keep a long story long... I am torn between replacing the filler neck gasket and putting the tank back in the car with the tank sticker on it. Covering the tank sticker as it was done 20 years ago. Theory here is tank sticker will still remain with the car and not get lost down the road. What do you guys think?

I am attaching a picture here. You will note that this is a well known "no option car" with black paint and teal interior. Kind of rare!
Actually I would love to upload a picture and can not seem to do this in the new system. I am clicking on add file in the attachment manager and choosing the file, then hitting upload and nothing is happening. I see all my previous pics I have attached but not the new one. What gives? HELP!

John-----


The filler neck gasket is a common culprit with a fuel leak. It's the first thing one should always check. The gasket is cork and, over time, dries out and fails. Replace it using new screws which have an integral seal.

I fabricated a gasket from a sheet of buna-n rubber material. This material is highly fuel-resistant and is pretty much "forever" in this application. No one will ever know it's there. However, a stock-type cork gasket will probably last for as long as you're ever going to need it.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

I had that problem with mine when I filled the tank to the neck. For a while I could smell a faint gas oder in the garage. I dont top the tank off anymore & it took care of the smell. It sounds like you have one of the rare BAIT & SWITCH 67'S. A guy sold me a 68 conv. with no options also. It was probably the rarest Corvette I ever owned. I rember the Chevy dealer from Fory Wane In. always ran a add in the Sunday paper offering the lowest price new Corvette in town.
KEN

[Philip C.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

Hi John to answer your question, yes you have to remove the fill neck to get the tank out. I would send the fuel sender out (if its the orig one) for a rebuild while your at it. I would keep the orig. tank if possibile. I had a base motor 3 speed car, radio, heater, black with red coupe born 12-20-1966. I miss that car. Phil 8063

[John S.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

Came up with what I thinks is a good compromise from a suggestion from my friend Jim Gessner. (Just about everyone knows Jim!) Removed the tank sticker and put in a safe place as I saw it was even more damaged then when pics were taken of it in the 90's. Made a nice copy and put it in a see thru sleeve along with a folded not stating when I removed it with my name and info. Intend to keep the original with the car if and when I ever sell it. Made some extra copies to keep in the glove box to show off also. Going to install the original tank back in the car as it is still in nice shape and that is where it belongs! Thanks to everyone for their input. See picture.

[Steve B.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

I noticed a fuel smell while looking underneath my car at the rear. There appears to be no leak at the sender, carbs, fuel pump. I did notice the smell was stronger when I opened the fuel door. Could the filler neck gasket be the cause even though there is maybe 5 gallons in the tank?

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

I noticed a fuel smell while looking underneath my car at the rear. There appears to be no leak at the sender, carbs, fuel pump. I did notice the smell was stronger when I opened the fuel door. Could the filler neck gasket be the cause even though there is maybe 5 gallons in the tank?

Steve----


Most assuredly.

[Steve B.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

The fuel tank is a brand new one from Quanta so I am a little surprised that this would be happening. A least I now know what the cause is. Thanks for your reply.

[Larry M.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

The fuel tank is a brand new one from Quanta so I am a little surprised that this would be happening. A least I now know what the cause is. Thanks for your reply.

Steve:

Also keep in mind, that on a 67 car, the gas tank cap is also vented to the air.....and gas vapors are heavier than air......so any gas vapors from the cap or gasket will migrate down the drain hose to the bumper area. On a hot day here in south Louisiana, I can get under my car and have a faint gas smell near the drain hose. Whether it comes from the cap or the gasket is difficult to tell, but I suspect the cap on my car.

Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 fuel tank need advice

The fuel tank is a brand new one from Quanta so I am a little surprised that this would be happening. A least I now know what the cause is. Thanks for your reply.

Steve-----


Your original post simply asked if the filler neck gasket could be the source of fuel vapors noted when the filler door was opened. The answer to that is and remains yes. However, if you have a new gas tank, I would presume that a new gasket was used to install the original or replacement filler neck to the tank. If so, I do not know why it would be leaking so soon after installation. Were new screws with integral rubber seal used when the filler neck was installed?