Thanks to Cam, Christopher and Mike for the input on my previous Fuel Tank post. Using small bright light I was able to see in through hole in the top used for the sender. There is simply a piece of steel tubing going down close to the bottom of the tank. Nothing complicated. Carb cleaner plus 6+ inches of heavy line from a string trimmer chucked into an electric drill cleared the 544 tank pick-up. The pick up in the 444 line was clear. Decided to stay with the 444 tank. Its turned out to be less fouled with old deposits and using it avoids the need to change the venting system.

The gauge sending unit from the 544 too rusted to be usable. I need 12 volts in the 444 (using a B20 engine) and need to replace the 544 sender. I see that they are over $90 new. Naturally I'm wondering about a less expensive answer. I built an airplane a few years ago and used Stewart Warner sending units for that. I have one left. The mounting holes match up. It was mounted in the side of the airplane but it seems to me that with some careful bending of the wire holding the float it might be made to work. These units cost $23 and the gaskets are $1.25. Has anyone tried something like that or come up with some other alternative?

If there are no rubber seals in the tank, try a pint or so of that nasty carb dip (the really awful stuff) in the filler neck. Swish it around for a few minutes then pour it off. The stuff is great at getting any petro-chemical goo off (and will destroy any rubber seals) but will not touch rust. A short extension on the fuel outlet and a little dip poured in it and allowed to sit should eat through the goo in the tube in short order.
Once the goo is gone rinse several times with mineral spirits (paint thinner... the real stuff, read the label).
If you want the tank to last forever, get yerself a tank slushing kit. The cleaners in it will get rid of all rust and the coating will resist any attempt to create more by nasty moisture in the tank.
Or, you could periodically add gas dryer to the tank to run moisture through the engine.

Mike!

I haven't even gotten the new body yet but when I do in 2-3 weeks, I have been thinking that a fuel cell will work fine and be a little better all the way around. I will be driving it daily so I cannot have it getting blocked like it did in Utica in January 20004 at 9 below zero. Any crud can get attached to more crud and if it's near the pick up point...it can stop a car. Fuel cells can be larger that the 10 gallon size from a 544 (smaller on earlier b-16)and they start clean. $200-300 and you're good to go for many years.

Christopher Virgilthevolvo version 2.0

Hi Keith: Actually there seem to be many differences between the B16 style of tank and the B18 version. I have 2 parts explosion pictures that I will send you off-line (too lazy to FTP these to my web site). I think the newer tank might fit, but the dimension may be slightly different and the filler neck seems to be different too. Good luck.... Cam
--
Cam a.k.a. CVOLVO.COM