Fuel Tank switching issues, need advise

[WPS 73 Bronco]

On my 74 bronco, the prior owner had installed the Tom's electric tank solenoid to replace the manual valve. Recently I've had fuel delivery issues tied to both the fuel pump and the solenoid valve. I was getting intermittent supply of gas to the carb, and I would also have extremely low pressure when I did get gas supply. Initially we suspected the fuel pump so it was replaced. This helped, but then we identified that the solenoid valve wasn't working correctly. It would switch on it's own and also just shut down. In the shut down mode, no gas would flow from either tank to the fuel pump.

The immediate solution was to eliminate the solenoid valve and put a fixed "T" on the gas line where both tanks are feeding the fuel pump at the same time. This works fine and I have perfect fuel pressure.

So what is going to go wrong with this solution? I'm sure there's going to be an issue. I worry about what happens when the aux tank runs out of gas. I'm thinking the fuel pump might struggle as one tank is feeding air, while the other is feeding gas.

Thoughts?

 

[1969]

https://shop.broncograveyard.com/mo...VhURBOpga4O21J7JgvrdOAkmOMExN8FxoCbLQQAvD_BwE

Put the manual valve in. All the big bronco vendors sell this part.

 

[WPS 73 Bronco]

I know that's an option, but I'm not sure I want to go down that path yet. I'm really just asking if my current solution is acceptable or will it become the next problem.

 

[wsager]

I’m thinking that when one tank runs out and goes dry, the pump is going to suck air and then it won’t be able to pull from the tank with fuel. Also, you might get a situation where the fuel flows from one tank to the other.

 

[67sport]

I’m thinking that when one tank runs out and goes dry, the pump is going to suck air and then it won’t be able to pull from the tank with fuel.

This is what will happen.
Put a straw in a glass of water and another straw not in the glass of water. Put both straws in your mouth and try to have a drink.

 

[Broncobowsher]

Tee will only work if both tanks have fuel. Either sucks air, no fuel.

Which tank will it draw from? No telling actually. An air bubble in a line could keep it from flowing and it will draw from the other tank just fine. And that could be either tank.

In a perfect world they would balance themselves, siphon balanced. But an air bubble makes it imperfect.

 

[DirtDonk]

Not worth it. Put a new electric valve in and be done.
Well, it is a bronco after all. So “done“ is relative.

Make sure the switch is switching properly, and the wires functioning properly, but it sure sounds like the old valve is at fault.

 

[sprdv1]

Right.. lol