Fueling a '40

Russ/40

Russ/40

Well-known member
I've had my '40 Ford for about 35 years, and I have never been able to fuel it up without the greatest difficulty. The Calif pumps will constantly keep clicking off, and only through pulling the vapor recovery cover back, and running the pump at minimum flow will I be able to fuel it up. The consequence of doing this also causes you to not know how full the tank is, until it overflows. The resulting expansion of fuel as the fuel heats up in the tank, causes the fuel to run down the vendor and ruin the paint. Anyone been able to defeat this cussed problem?
 
I have exactly the same problem. The gas running down my fender has damaged the paint. It would be great if you get some good ideas on how to remedy this.
 
I only add x-number of gallons when getting gas; just enough to where it is approximately between 3/4 and full. I don't let the pump go until it shuts-off. For example, I will add 4 gallons or seven gallons at a time, that is if gauge reads 1/4 to 2/3 of a tank when I start. It works for me.
 
Russ, like you, I hold the vapor recovery cap back, to keep the pump running, and listen for the fuel running up the fill pipe. I gas up on the way out, not on the way home, so gas never gets on the fender. Never leave the car parked with a full tank!
 
Mac's has a rubber flap-like protector that fits over the filler neck like a bib to protect the fender.

An even worse problem on the big trucks -- my friend's '39 1 1/2 ton will percolate gas out the filler when a full tank expands on a hot day, particularly when parked at the curb. Saw a freshly-restored '40 COE at a car show once that had a stream of rippled lacquer down the side of the cab as a result of this.
 
Ill bet my 35 is worse than the 40.I us a station full of cars,I beleave they use hi volume pumps so there is a lot of presser,or go to an old small station,drible it in.
 
For 35 the hydrostatic fuel sender has a short vent pipe that sometimes plugs up with dirt or bugs wanting to make a nest. The 35 does not use a vented gas cap, so they should not leak expanding gas onto the fenders unless your using a locking cap which are usually vented through the lock cylinder. For 40 the vent pipe is a piece of steel tube in the filler neck. The 40 does use a vented gas cap. the 40 vent tube can also become plugged with light rust, and what ever got in there over the years. The 40 fill neck can be easily removed and the vent tube blown out, the 35 hydrostatic sender has to be removed from the tank and it too can be cleaned and blown out it is made of mostly brass. If the hydrostatic isn't working it is a good time to re-solder any and all cracked solder joints, including at the fittings for the fuel and hydrostatic lines.
 
And I thought I was the only one with this problem... Our '39 is a real pain at the pump... and yes... gas has ruined the paint on the fender. I'm going to have the fender repainted but not till I restore the original Ford "bubble skirts" I got for her.
 
i had a bad experance with the fuel expanding & driping on the fender . what i did was drill a hole about 3" down from the top & install a 45% fiting with a piece of tubing faceing down. so if any fuel expaned up the filler neck it would drain before reaching the cap . we like to store the cars in the winter with a full tank but if you get a warm day the fuel expands & ruines the paint thats why i did this mod never had a proulbem since.
 
I can only add a "me too". The slow fill rate and little warning when gas is about to puke on the fender is frustrating. And, the simple answer is NO! I have not solved the problem.
 
It's the nature of the beast. First of all you can't open the nozzle full blast the fuel is pumped at more volume then it was when these cars were new. I turn the nozzle on my 39 so the trigger is towards the front of the fender and not poke it way down in the filler neck, this seems to work best. The nozzles with the rubber cap is supposed to to have a system to recover the vapors. Pushing the rubber seal down tight on the filler neck and not fully pulling the trigger works for me. 110,00 miles on this 39 and I learned how to fill the tank and very seldom get gas on the fender. G.M.
 
If you take the filler neck out of the car, weld a big flat washer in the neck.
I measured the hole in in wifes car, made sure the hole in washer was same size.
Now the filler neck fits in just like a modern car, problem solved.
 
I made a guard out of a piece of teflon sheet that fits over the filler neck and reaches down the fender to keep the garbage gas off the paint.
One repainted fender is enough.
This thing works great.
 
Another thing that screwed me up was a repop filler pipe that wouldn't take the fuel without burping up 3 or 4 times a fillup. The vent was clear.
I bought a scroungy one at a swapmeet, cleaned it up and installed it and that got rid of about 75% of the problems.
Another shiny new piece hanging on the wall.
 
I am aware of the problem having owned a '40 in the past. For the '41 pickup I plan on making a bib out of plastic to fit on the filler pipe. Didn't some cars have a rubber flap attached to the fender from the filler pipe to the bottom of the fender? :D
 
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