fuel tank leak?

[sam81663]

Good Day Everyone,
When I installed my new gas tank, ('69 Camaro), I noticed the fuel pick up easily moved back and forth about four inches as I was putting the straps up. 
My question is where the pick up tube goes through the plate that goes over the rubber seal, does that tube have an O-ring on it that pulls up into that plate?  If the tube moved without that plate moving , does that mean a seal was broken? and what would be a good way to fix ? Solder or epoxy?
thank you all, Ron

[BULLITT65]

Are you saying the tube rotates on the plate?

[sam81663]

Yes. And it felt somewhat easy to move.I noticed it fighting with the tank straps.I didn't dare move it any more than I had to but it still felt loose.  By the way no gas added yet.

[BULLITT65]

If the rod moves around on the plate, you have a problem. In general the sending unit has a tab on it that locates it in the ring on the gas tank. You may have a little play 1/8- 1/4 " of clockwise movement, but thats it. Its basically tank/gasket/sending unit/locking ring.

There should be zero movement once the locking ring is on.

[sam81663]

That is the the question. Was a seal broken? and if so what kind of seal did they use? It is a GM fuel pick up.
I hate to pull the tank. IF i solder it am i going to mess up any kind of seal at that plate?
Thanks.

[BULLITT65]

If you are asking is there a seal from the plate to the rod? The the answer is no, it is only soldered. The only seal is around the connection on the wire pole, and the rubber seal that goes between the sender and the tank.

I would just take the tank out and make sure you do it the right way. To many "what ifs" otherwise, and we are talking about a combustible material, so best to just make sure everything is air tight back there. I don't like reading all these stories on Hagerty's sight about guys classic cars catching fire, for bad/dumb luck.

Just my 2 cents, from my experience being around fuel.

Now if you were working on an 80's Toyota , I would say its good to go, and make sure its fully insured....

[sam81663]

Thanks, Bullitt, good advice and yes that is the question I needed answered, how they sealed that tube.
Seeing as how the tank hasn't had any gas in it yet, I will pull the tank and re-solder. Thanks for your time, Ron

[BULLITT65]

No problem.

(Post some pics of your car for us!)

[sam81663]

I will try posting a picture but I have never had much luck.

Wow, they did turn out big at 200 kb

[BULLITT65]

Wow, awesome pics. Thats a lot of tire..

What did it look like when you got it.? How long have you had it?

[sam81663]

It has been 8 years in the shop.Pulled it Home From a small town just west of Detroit.Former Drag Car. Guy had all the upholstery   in his attic including the fold down back seat. I reused all the chrome that came with the car. I had to send the front bumper to get it straightened and the cracks filled. Ninety percent of the parts were GM so I tried to reuse everything. All of the dash is OER or trim parts.The car really did surprise me at tear down even the rotating assembly was original GM 302. Pre X and no papers 

[HawkX66]

Very sharp! By the way, in your sig, it's "Kurt S" not "Kirt". Figured you would want to know... I'd love to see that 69 SS396 too!

[69Z28-RS]

Great looking car, made all the more beautiful with the HO (high output) paint..      When you wear HO... one gets the checked flags and sometimes even a 'checkered wall'.. 

[sam81663]

PPG concept paint single stage paint on the car.My Wife did the wall when moved in and finished the garage.And the checkered flags i earned at a few dirt oval tracks around Wisconsin.