Fuel tank for 77' 280Z

[nx2z]

Should fuel flow from my gas tank if the fuel line (inlet and outlet) is removed from the tank. I think my tank is stopped up but I'm not sure. The car appears to not be getting fuel. Stupid question but I'm trying to cover all my bases before I sink money into this project. Any suggestions on getting a tank unclogged?

[JimmyZ]

Should fuel flow from my gas tank if the fuel line (inlet and outlet) is removed from the tank. I think my tank is stopped up but I'm not sure. The car appears to not be getting fuel. Stupid question but I'm trying to cover all my bases before I sink money into this project. Any suggestions on getting a tank unclogged?

It seems more likely to me that your fuel pump is bad but a clogged strainer or something upstream of the pump could be it. I have a 240 so I don't know if there is a pre-filter upstream of the pump. Have you tried replacing the filter? You could always break it open and see what kind of stuff it's catching.

If the tank were full to the top it would drain from the output/return lines. Anything less than 7/8 full would just get you a couple of drips. From earlier posts it seems that the 280Z's have a fuel strainer on the pickup in the tank.

Laquer thinner does a great job of dissolving varnish. Unfortunately it eats some plastic and rubber. If you were to clean out your tank with LT then you would have to remove the tank so you could tip it and allow all of the LT to drain out. (Or risk damaging components downstream)

If the strainer is clogged you can remove the tank, use LT and blow low pressure air through the line. If there is rust then a radiator shop is reccomended. (See link below)

Be really careful with gas! Work outdoors in a breezy environment and take precautions against sparks. A flash fire from gas can melt the flesh right off of you in a blink. Years ago I got 2nd and 3rd degree burns over half my body from such a fire. It's not fun when they use a scalpel to cut scar tissue off with no meds! Meds only began to touch the surface of such pain anyway.

Here's a link to a gas tank page I made. You can see the pickup is situated near the drain hole. Can you beleive someone would tackle a tank resto after being burned? (Must be nuts)

http://warbuddies.homestead.com/gastank.html