1982 HE XJS US version- father/son project.... almost done...

Have it all running and couple weeks ago went and filled the tank. Only had it 1/4 full while we kept working on it- and doing small trips around block to check it out... but - after filling it- 2-days later my wife asked me about the puddle under back tire...

Fuel had leaked out some rust pinhole somewhere- and saturated the foam under the tank; leaked out and made puddle under back of car- fortunately we still had the trunk carpet out- I pumped out the tank; drained.... and thru a lot of effort- finally got the tank removed from the car. I read the pdf- Experience in a Book... on tank repairs- nice... 2 and 1/2 pages on repair of fuel tank- and ends with..... 'just get one made of aluminum'...;-)

So- I have a fuel level indictor ordered. Took the tank to local welding shop I have used before- also getting an inlet spout- (shop does not have one in aluminum). And he is building a tank. I am getting it made about an inch less wide- so it will be easier to put in- and then brace with foam like the original. Getting compression fittings chaged to basic hose barbs and use clamps on the lines.
So- my real reason for the post is... With the tank out- any suggestions on other things to look at; check; replace; while the tank is being made? The pdf said get all fuel hoses replaced. Just seeing if I am missing something obvious. thank you

 

You have a wonderful opportunity to modernize the fuel system and be rid of the surge tank and external pump. There are a half dozen ways to go about it but basically any of them work that have been used a zillion times.

 

External pumps may be slightly noisier, but they are easier to change. Internal pumps do last longer due to cooling from the gas surrounding it.

Your choice, YMMV.

Doug

 

Cooler and longer lasting is a thing, everyone went to internal pumps for good reason. I believe Jag did on the later XJS but they overcomplicated it a bit as I recall.
Decluttering the system by not having to worry about the surge tank and a few less fuel hoses, all sounds like a win to me if you're in there anyway.

 

thank you

 

thank you- will look into it- they have not started to build the new tank

 

Internal pumps, if accessible without removing the tank, would probably be the way to go.

If you have to pull the tank, I'd stick with an external pump.

While you're there, check on the hard pipe connecting the tank to the rochester valve/charcoal canister assembly....if your car has that.

 

Any help on where to learn to install internal pump? and remove the surge tank? I have been looking over the forum and the pdf- Experience in a Book... just need some help/guidance on where to find info....

 

its not hard, I put an internal fuel pump on my EFI converted 1961 corvette.

You need a new tank with a top access plate opening, that opening may very well be standard.

The new tank i bought had pump access hole, and I bought a pump and plate from Summit racing, IIRC. You need an external adjustable fuel pressure regulator, the regulator usually goes on the return line.

It was similar to this:

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...l-pump-modules.

Has ports for fuel out and return fuel.

Doug

 

It'd be custom work with maybe using some aftermarket stuff off the shelf. The hot-rod crowd builds tanks regularly and most of them are EFI so they have the same requirement of anything else, keeping the fuel from sloshing
away form the pump while in motion, venting, etc. The v12's fuel pressure and volume requirements aren't really very high by today's standards so nothing extravagant is needed. The most basic example would be a "pot" mounted to the floor of the tank (a cylinder with the
top removed) and a couple of small holes in the bottom perimeter to let fuel flow in and out, but slowly, and your submersed pump of whatever flavor suspended inside it with the sock filter near the bottom. Wouldn't be much
to it while building a tank. I'd use some fuel cell foam or maybe baffle it a bit just to prevent slosh regardless of where the pump ends up being.

 

Most tanks would have two baffles, vertical plates about 3/4 high of the tank wall with some holes for fuel flow, each baffle equally spaced from the ends. That keeps fuel in check during hard cornering. And your cylinder with some holes for the sock.

Doug