fuel line spaggetti help

[johnbeck]

A newer appr. 3/8ths blk plastic fuel line runs from the rear tank to the front of two holes on the right side of the manual fuel switch. The 3/8ths plastic line then comes out the switches bottom side and goes to the fuel pump. (A appr. 1/4" line also comes off the rear tank to the rear hole on the right side of the fuel switch) QUESTION: Is the old metal line coming off the rear of the fuel switch and going to the fuel pump area(plugged and not attached) likely an old abandoned fuel line, or a vent line that should be attached somewhere? Thanks for your help! (stock 1973 w/302, stock manual pump). Bought a month ago-no history. JB

 

[broncodriver99]

Probably going to need a picture. The only metal fuel lines that I know of on a stock bronco are from the fuel pump to carb and there is a line that crosses over from the drivers to passengers side that I believe only came on Broncos equipped with an aux. tank. I believe that cross over line was a vent line though.

 

[DirtDonk]

As soon as I read the beginning of your description, I wondered if it was a '73.
How many ports are on the tank selector valve? If 6, then you have one of the few return-line setups so that unused fuel comes back from a small manifold splitter thingy on the top of the engine, and back to the valve, and on to the tank. Good setup. Just more lines to replace when it comes time.

Glad to have another '73 too John. If you get the chance, search out Viperwolf1's thread titled "'72/'73 Owners, Mind Your P's and Q's" which references the P and Q series VIN numbers during the changeover from '72 to '73 model years. If yours falls into that category, add your info to the mix.

But as said, either way, pics come in handy for diagnosing and adding comments about different setups. While you can't post images directly until you become a contributor (13 a year I think) you can post links to any images you have on one of the hosting sites like supermotors and photobucket and such.

Have fun with your new Bronco.
Oh, and welcome to ClassicBroncos.com too!

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Oh, regarding your question about venting. None of the EVAP vent lines would have been to the valve. All of those (2 on the rear tank and 1 on the front) would have gone to a plastic tank up behind the driver's shoulder in the side panel, and then over to the round steel charcoal canister on the passenger side frame rail up by the front wheel well.

If that's still intact, we can walk you through the connections. But a lot of them were removed by PO's either because of some smell from leaks, or because they didn't believe in "those lousy smog control" devices.

How is yours in the garage smell department by the way?;D

Paul

 

[johnbeck]

The PO installed an edelbrock carb & manifold- if there was a manifold splitter it probably went then. There is a second tank with all the lines going to it. It's leaking slightly from the disk with the lines coming from the tank. I'm considering pulling the old reserve tank and just getting a larger main tank. The vapor lines look corroded, don't have time for them right now. If the vent system isn't connected to the carb., will it vent adequately thru the carbon canister- or how can I temporarily vent the main tank? Thanks, JB U15GLR30451, built 02/73

 

[DirtDonk]

The main might still be connected to the vent lines and to the canister. If so, you're good to go.
When removing the aux tank, you would need to cap off the extra vent line from it.

The carburetor on some did have a bowl vent fitting on top, but if you don't have one of those you don't worry about the carb venting into something. It's already set up to vent up into the air cleaner housing. It's not optimal from a garage fume standpoint, but it's not usually too much trouble in that department either.

If the tank vent lines are at least intact, then one of the larger fittings on the top of the charcoal canister would run up to the air cleaner housing.
On a stock canister there are three fittings. One small one from the tanks (via the plastic condensing tank in the cab), one large one to let ambient air pressure in, and the second large one to the air cleaner.

Both large ones would have originally had one of those strange paper/fiber tubes with a metal coil inside to keep it's shape. Both would have extended upward into the engine compartment, where one would have been capped off with a plastic fitting to keep the end from being crushed, and the other run to a fitting on the side of the air cleaner, as previously mentioned.

If you have all of that, you're set.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Looks like you deleted your post Rob? Did you find your answer, or decide to start another thread about it?

Just for others, a member asked about his canister with 4 ports, instead of 3. It's likely that the second small port was for a direct-to-carburetor float bowl vent.
Not all carbs had them, and not all were kept once carbs had been replaced or hoses started rotting off.
If you have a distinct vent tube sticking out of the top of your carb, it should either go directly to the canister, or be T'd into some other line I would think.

As for which one gets the big hose to atmosphere, and which to the air cleaner housing (center or offset), I can't remember. Unfortunately I had helpers with me that day who thought I was replacing everything and literally ripped off perfectly good hoses without noting any positions.
At a guess, and peeking at my old can, I'd say that the center hose goes to the air cleaner housing and the offset hose is the ambient vent.

Now that's there for reference for others, even if the poster figured it out already. I forgot about the possibility of the 4-port canisters.

Paul

 

[johnbeck]

thanks

Just wanted to say thanks for you taking the time to respond. Up date: Leaking w pump-found bad harmonic balancer. Checked the timing chain because I was that deep- loose chain, bought new set. Big hole with radiator and front of engine off- degreased eng. compartment, sanded, bought Por-15. My enthusiasm is still up, but I wish I hadn't found such a deep can of worms! Thanks again, JB

 

[DirtDonk]

Can-o-worms they are!
Just about anything you touch on one of these things turns into at least three more.

Have fun though. More of that coming too.

Paul