Fuel tank filler pipe modification. What to do?

[Mighty Flex]

Hi all,

We have a Lancia Beta Coupe that hasn't moved in ages. It had serious fuel starvation problems 20 years ago and killed the fuel pump. The tank is knackered and the fuel that I drained out yesterday looked like espresso coffee. The colour is in the liquid - It doesn't settle out like rust or other solids (which are also in there). The inside of the tank is thick with goo, rust and general unpleasantness. It's so blocked that you can't even blow through the pipe if you attach a hosepipe to the tank outlet. Strangely, another Beta VX (same tank design, same amount of fuel, same length of time and same garage) has none of these problems and the fuel is a bit grim, but the tank is fine. That's another story though.

The issue is that we have a spare, new tank for a Beta HPE, which differs only in the filler tube. There is an initial length from the tank which is joined to the filler neck by 6" of hose. This is a different shape: see the picture below with the old coupe tank on the right and the HPE tank on the left.



I'm not entirely sure about the best course of action in terms of making the HPE tank useable. The current orientation is not compatible, and would require cutting off and either joining to the filler neck with a length of hose, or with part of the original tank's metal piping (brazed on I presume?

Are there any MOT issues with, for example a (suitably specced) rubber hose joining below the level of petrol in the tank, or any other issues to consider?

Any Ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Felix

[andyiley]

I don't think there are any legal/MOT issues provided it does not leek.

I think your best bet would be to cut them both off in exactly the same position on the straightr pipe by the tank & put the filler neck that you want on the tank you want, they could very easily be joined with a short length of suitable sized hose & 2 jubilee clips, as I think you are suggesting.

[anonymous-user]

Joins are not an issue, provided you follow 2 caveats:

1) use specific fuel resistant rubber pipework (not silicone hoses!)
2) Roll a lip onto the ends of the cut metal tubes to prevent the rubber hose sliding off

[stevieturbo]

Viper hoses and no doubt others sell petrol suitable hose both in rigid and flexible style.

I'd also be fairly sure though there are companies out there who could clean and suitably coat the original tank to make it usable again.

[Steve_D]

Car builder solutions will sell you suitable hose.
You can take that hose from any suitable point you cut the pipe back too.
As it is not under pressure you probably won't need to flare the pipe. If you get enough rubber pipe on you could use 2 clips at each joint.

Steve

[anonymous-user]

It ain't under (much) pressure normally, but in an accident, the "water hammer" (or should that be "fuel hammer") effect can easily pop the pipes off, which is not really very optimum!