Author Topic: 86 Silverado duel tank problems  (Read 7835 times)

Offline blueboy86

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 38
  • Newbie
86 Silverado duel tank problems
« on: March 22, 2015, 08:25:08 pm »
My 86 has duel tanks, right now the fuel selector valve is bypassed and the right tank is removed. I don't drive it very often so i dont care about having two tanks. I would like to know how much gas I have though. Can I hook up the fuel sector valve and only run the fuel hoses from the left tank? And leave the other ports open/ capped off? Is the any other solutions? Anything would help. Thanks. - blueboy

Offline zieg85

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 7596
    • 73-87 GM squarebody extended cab and conversions up to 91 R/V series
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2015, 09:55:16 pm »
If the switch is good and still wired and switched to the existing tank there should be no reason the fuel gauge shouldn't read
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline blueboy86

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 38
  • Newbie
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2015, 10:26:19 pm »
Well right now the selector valve is not hooked up. So there is no connection between the sending unit and fuel gauge.

Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 13333
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2015, 01:06:14 pm »
these electric fuel pumps or what?
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline blueboy86

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 38
  • Newbie
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2015, 05:22:33 pm »
It has a single external fuel pump. Its a 2 barrel carb. The smog bull crap has been unhooked (for the most part). From the left tank I have three fuel hoses. Supply, return, and vapor. Vapor is the only one attached to the charcoal canister.

Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 13333
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2015, 06:10:52 pm »
are the wires still ran to the fuel tank selector switch under the bed?
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline blueboy86

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 38
  • Newbie
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2015, 07:39:50 pm »
Yes all the wires are ran to the connector. I have a brand new fuel selector valve in the box. Like I said the valve is bypassed. So the wires are disconnected under the bed.

Offline blueboy86

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 38
  • Newbie
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #7 on: March 23, 2015, 07:49:14 pm »
So basically this is my thinking. I cap off the ports for the right tank on the selector valve. Hook up the fuel lines for the left tank and mount the valve under the bed. And obviously keep the switch on the left tank. This way my gas gauge works and I can still put the other tank in when I want.

Offline zieg85

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 7596
    • 73-87 GM squarebody extended cab and conversions up to 91 R/V series
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2015, 07:50:53 pm »
So basically this is my thinking. I cap off the ports for the right tank on the selector valve. Hook up the fuel lines for the left tank and mount the valve under the bed. And obviously keep the switch on the left tank. This way my gas gauge works and I can still put the other tank in when I want.

Perfect solution IMO
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline blueboy86

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 38
  • Newbie
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2015, 07:53:58 pm »
Thanks. I just didn't know if that work work lol.

Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 13333
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2015, 06:38:39 pm »
if your not planing on using dual tanks i would leave the fuel lines alone and figure out which wire go to the gauge (should only be one wire on + ground the sending unit) then figure out what wire goes to the gauge and make a good connection and be done. i wouldnt worry about rigging up a selector valve if youre not using dual tanks. just one more thing to go wrong
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline VileZambonie

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19192
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2015, 06:46:56 pm »
Just pop the pink wire with the rubber cap off and move it directly to the good tank sending unit. You can simply bypass the valve altogether as it can easily fail on you in the condition you have left it.

BTW it's dual tanks not duel tanks. This is what duel tanks look like
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline bens85c10

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 9
  • Newbie
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #12 on: March 24, 2015, 08:09:05 pm »
Lmao

Offline timthescarrd

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 326
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #13 on: March 24, 2015, 08:53:16 pm »
Vile, wouldn't that be dual duel tanks? :)

Offline VileZambonie

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19192
Re: 86 Silverado duel tank problems
« Reply #14 on: March 25, 2015, 08:01:38 pm »
dual dueling tanks  ;D
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10