Getting her started after restoring gas tank

[seattle_Jerry]

A little factoid I wasn't aware of as I have been trying to get fuel to flow...apparently you need at least 4 gallons in your tank to re-establish fuel flow after running dry.

I'd also like to smack the guy that designed the whole tank/fuel pump system.

The tank is way too hard to install and the pump inside the armored can is a pain in the butt.

I was dreading re-draining the tank so I could disconnect the hoses and take off the cannister...all just to check the wiring (which way it was pumping)

[waqas]

What size is your tank?  Last year, when I had my tank refurbished, it took me only 2 gallons to get me started and to the nearest gas station. There is a 'flower pot' (as named by Dr. Benz) in the middle of the gas tank [search for 'fuel tank tour' by Joe Alexander and all will be clear]. This is where the feed line exits to the fuel pump. If the little feed hole at the base of the flower pot (to let gas into the flower pot from the rest of the tank) is not fully clear of debris, then it might take a while for gas to seep through to the flower pot. This might have looked as if it required more gallons of fuel, when it was just more time that was needed in order to allow enough fuel to seep into the flower pot. This is just a guess.

I generally use a good set of hose pinchers to avoid having to mess with the fuel tank when working on the fuel pump. Last year I swapped out three different fuel pumps while debugging a fuel issue, all without draining the fuel tank.

My favourite kind of hose pinchers are these:

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=wdbl5i551b2bub55d3mb52vw&partnumber=22850LISLE

[seattle_Jerry]

Thanks for the tip.
Well I'm thinking not enough gallons is the problem...the 4 gallons was straight out of Haynes.

I'll find out tomorrow. Other choices include reversed pump wires so I'm running backwards.

I put the brown wire on the right.

[merrill]

each time I had the tank our or pulled the inj pump I had to prime the system to get the car to start.

I usually pull the return hose off the inj pump and use my mighty vac to pull a vacuum till the fuel is sucked thru the system

Then it only takes a few triees to get the car to start.

[seattle_Jerry]

Sure enough... 4 gallons and the fuel started to flow.