It may be time for a new fuel tak

[brigond]

I filled up the 1971 SE for the first time. After a cruise, I began smelling fuel. The tank is still full. Upon inspecting the fuel smell I located the source . There is no hole due to  corrosion or anything that physically damaged the tank. In the area where the fuel line from the engine plugs in and also the wire connects. There is a circular indent or what looks to be a plug . The leak is not coming from the fuel line . It seems to be the metal plug area.. I wiped it clean and a short time later it begins to sweat out fuel. The leak is small and slow but wreaks out the garage. The circular plug like area  is just above the half way seam of the tank. This is why it did not leak when it was lower.
What are your thoughts? 

[Paul G]

The fuel line and the electrical conector both connect to the fuel sender unit. A metal ring locks the sender to the fuel tank with a gasket between the sender and the tank. Is it leaking by the gasket?

[71 SE3834V]

Yeah sounds like the seal at the sending unit leaking. Could just need the unit removed, cleaned & maybe a new seal. Clean off the screen while ya got it out. Clean or replace the sending unit ground strap before it loses it's connection and your gauge quits working. I'd pull the tank & see what kind of crud is in the tank. Have to drain all that fuel first.
Had to do mine after pulling orange gas/rust out of the tank & a new filter was clogged w/rust. Tank was pretty rusty inside & shoulda been replaced but I needed to rebuild the front end & didn't have enough $$ so I flushed out the tank good, blew out the line & installed a clear filter so I can monitor if more rust is working loose.
Good luck.

[Paul G]

Big block cars got a sender with 3/8" fuel lines and a return line at the sender. If you are not using a return line that tube at the sender will be plugged. Is that the plug that is leaking?

[brigond]

Yes, I believe it is leaking at that metal plug ( sending unit) . The hose is dry but the sweating is happening at the bottom edge of the plug. I didn't know it was a sending unit. I'm glad its a matter of a gasket. How does the sending unit attach?  I didn't see any kind of mounting bolts/fasteners.

[Paul G]

The sending unit has a ring that holds it in place. That ring will rotate 1/4 turn and come off. Tap it with a brass drift so it does not make any sparks, remove the ring and the sender.

[71 SE3834V]

Don't forget to remove the fuel first. I pumped mine out from the front at the fuel filter with an elect. fuel pump. You might use a fuel transfer (manual) pump.
It's my understanding, w/o looking in a catalog, that the sending unit w/the 3/8" line was for the 440's & the Hemi's. For the record, my car w/the 383 has a 5/16" line.
brigond, if you do remove the tank to clean out there are 4 vent lines attached on the drivers side.

Oh, and by the way. I'm jealous that you were cruising in your car today. Mine has been in cold storage since the end of Sept.  although I have gone and visited it a number of times. 

[brigond]

Hey SE383 mine may be ready for cruise night  but yours is very original. It's give and take :icon_smile_wink:ke.  Now its cold storage until I address the fuel issue. Also I found an anti freeze leak where the heater hoses go into the same part on the inner fender that connects to one of the AC lines (passenger side) . Do you know what that round canister like part is called?  Thank you all for the help.

[71 SE3834V]

Hey SE383 mine may be ready for cruise night  but yours is very original.

And it will be more original once I get the rallye wheels on it!  Come on warm weather! I hate working out in the cold.  Just a couple more weeks.....