[jethro]

Does this happen to anyone else, and is there a fix:

Gas is expensive enough without pouring it on the ground, and that is exactly what happens when I top off my 67 Camaro. Guess the old pumps didn't have the flow/pressure of the new ones. I have tried letting it shut off automatically at topoff at a lower flow setting, and tried to LISTEN as it gets close to topoff(dangerous unless you like gas in your inner ear) in order to stop it... but invariably a little runs out the back of the spout and over the car and ground. Makes me feel like a major polluter.

[DjD]

What you are experiencing is common but seems to be over come with practice. The filler tube is barely above the tank on 1st gens so having an idea how much gas it's going to take and never using the auto filler clip helps me. Listening is next and I've never had to put the side of my head in a place where it could get splashed to hear the tank getting full. When you know it's getting close slow down the flow, usually the auto shut off will kick in if the nozzle is pushed in as far as it will go. and never try to top off, you'll end up spilling when you drive off if it doesn't spill at the pump... Typically I turn the pump nozzle 90degs to the left or right when filling also.

[69SSConvertible]

Soon we will not be able to afford fill 'em up!

Problem solved.

[stingr69]

By the way...

You might not want to top off just before heading for home especialy during the summer. Gas is stored in underground tanks that are frequently much cooler than the ambient air temperature at that time. The gas in the full car tank will warm up to ambient temp when sitting in the garage and it will expand. The result can be an overflow. Just something to think about as we get into the warmer season. [img]smile.gif[/img]

-Mark.

[paulm]

I try to do the listening thing too, but when a noisy deisel or rice burner pulls up it kind of messes me up!!

[Silver69Camaro]

On my '86 C10, I learned the hard way not to top it off. I thought I'd be able to hear it when it got close to being full, but sure enough, it dumped fuel all over the place. Embarassing.

My advice is not to top it off. Just let the pump shut itself off, but pay attention anyway.

[MrDanB]

I have the same problem...So now I don't top off any more, besides (as said above), if you overfill and then go to leave, gas will spill all over the back end!

Dano

[Midlife Cruiser]

Just how many gallons do these tanks hold anyway? I put a new tank in my 69. How many gallons do they hold and how many gallons until my fuel gauge shows anything? I put 5 gallons in before starting the new motor for break in and the gauge didn't move. I checked the gauge and the sending unit. Both are working fine. Is it possible the float doesn't float? (New repro sending unit).

[Gary Dorion]

18 gallons.

[Everett#2390]

One reason the tanks spillover is there is no vent tube at the filler tube like the late model cars. Sixty-nine's are worse for this to happen as the fill tube is flatter with the top of the tank. Sixty-seven's & 68's do have some rise in the filler tube to help prevent.

Make sure the caps are good, some do dump fuel upon acceleration. A good visual check is look at the rear panel and check for gas stains.

Mid life Cruiser, 10 gals should give approx half full indication. Three gals should give the "E" indication denoting a 3 gal reserve.

Others please correct me if I'm wrong......

[CA420]

6 Gallons or so and it will move the needle. I just changed my tank and sending unit as well.

If the fuel pump nozzle and the fill tube on the tanks were the same angle the nozzle could sit flush and work as designed.

[Midlife Cruiser]

Well I pulled the tank and the sender last night. The sender works fine out of the tank. It has 89 ohms resistance at full and about 45 at half, 0.5 at empty. However, when I put it in the tank it's like it sticks or something. I put the tank back in the car and put 9 gallons in and the sender was only reading 1.6 ohms until I beat on the bottom of the tank. Each time I beat on the tank it would go up a little until it maxed out at 54 ohms. What's the deal? The float works smooth when out of the tank.

[Everett#2390]

Your car didn't come with the "hammer option?"....LOL On the serious note, I believe you may have to remove the tank & sending unit again.

Place the float in a bowl of gas and see if it floats, which I'm sure it will since you suggested it maxed out at half tank.

Check the axis the float rod rotates on. It should take less than one ounce of pull to move. It may be too tight.

[CA420]

Try using an extra length of wire to run from your ground on the sending unit over to a known good ground and see if it makes a difference. That's what I did to test mine when I thought I had a bad ground.

[Midlife Cruiser]

Everett, If the rod is too tight then what? I really don't want to take the tank out AGAIN. Of course I will if I have to. When I had it out a few days ago I compared how easy the rod moved compared to the old one. It seemed about the same. I think I'll leave it and see if doesn't start working better as the fuel sloshes around in the tank on the road. I can always take it out again. Or I can order the hammer option that CA420 reffered to.