Help!broke down on the highway

lotzagoodstuff

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One question: are your tanks running you out of fuel before the gage says you are empty due to the common shower heads crumbling? It doesn't seem like the OEM selector valves are that bad until you suck a bunch of debris through them.

If it was me, I'd drop at least one tank if you've had any abnormal gage issues and see if there's a bunch of trash in there. I'd also think about cutting open your fuel filter and seeing if there's anything revealing in there.

If you aren't going on long trips, going to a single tank seems like you are getting rid of a bunch of potential failure points in exchange for some overall range between fill ups.

Good luck either way
 

gandalf

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There is another option, which I think no one has mentioned yet. The selector valve can be taken apart and cleaned. There is a write-up here somewhere on the procedure. I seem to recall it was written by Oldbull8.

The problem could be a one time event. The test for that, now that you have it running again, is to simply keep driving, see whether it happens again. There is, of course, a certain amount of risk in this path.
 

Selahdoor

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There is another option, which I think no one has mentioned yet. The selector valve can be taken apart and cleaned. There is a write-up here somewhere on the procedure. I seem to recall it was written by Oldbull8.

The problem could be a one time event. The test for that, now that you have it running again, is to simply keep driving, see whether it happens again. There is, of course, a certain amount of risk in this path.
Thank you. I was about to post that. You beat me to it.

I haven't reached this point yet, in my build, but it is on my mind, because I may have to do that, myself. And yes, I'd go the rebuild instead of replace route. I'll replace only if absolutely necessary.

As for driving after switching tanks... I can tell you that after switching tanks, and just letting it sit there and idle, it takes at least 8 to 10 minutes before it starves to death.
 

chris142

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Isn't pieces of a shower head breaking up and getting stuck in the valve common?
 

Cubey

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This is why I have always just used the front tanks on mine. Both my IDIs, I hear the valve click so it might work, but I got them set to front tank and the sellers never used the rear tanks, so I leave it alone.
 

Shadetreemechanic

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its a crap shoot. It could have been something jammed in the selector valve, or it could be malfunctioning. When you get it home, verify that it is properly switching again (with both supply and return) and if it is I would run it. Once the engine is warm, you can usually tell where the return is going by feeling the lines. The return line in use behind the selector will be warmer. The suction valve is easily verified by unhooking it.
 

Diesel8873ne

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Alright guys im amazed by all the feedback, i am just now getting back from work ended up being a double.

Niether gauge works habent gotten to it, and im pretty sure that the shower heads are junk.

But aleast for now id like to avoid dropping tanks,thats something ill do in the future, i am just swamped i work 7 days a week and already have to address this issue,fix my oil leak wich requires removal of the turbo,and i need working ac some time before its 90 degrees out.

I think i might try the cleaning of the valve not sure ill have to look that up
 

Diesel8873ne

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Just had a good laugh thought id share, the local ford stealership wants 560$$ for the ftsv. 460 with a commercial discount.... guess ill be celaning mine, bypassing it or doing a single tank conversion.

Is there already a good thread for doing the bronco tank swap?
 

chillman88

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I installed a valve from Standard Motor Products. Worked fine until it somehow got water inside of it. If you do use an aftermarket valve pack the connector with dielectric grease, I wish I had. It was a weatherpack connector so I don't know how it got water in it.
 

G. Mann

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It wasn't a fluke, it was like smashing your thumb with a hammer, so you learn not to do it again.
"Likely" the plastic pickup in one of the tanks has discinigrated and pieces got sucked up to the switch valve, which blocked it from closing or switching. It will suck more up as you drive it, and you'll get to repeat what you just had happen. FIX IT RIGHT.

Replace the valve won't cure the problem of broken plastic bits in your tank [one of them].....
Electric fuel pump to pickup line on a tank, pump tank dry into containers.... repeat for other tank.. drop empty tanks... remove fuel pickup sending units and clean out tanks.... replace broken internal parts... Blow out fuel hoses with compressed air, from front to back, with tank switch valve removed, so you get ALL the crap out of the fuel system.
Replace switch valve, fill tanks with clean fuel... prime fuel filter, start engine.... drive it like you stole it for next decade... you'll be good...
Otherwise, it will leave you setting at a train crossing somewhere.
Welcome to owning a sweet old truck that needs some love every once in a while.
 

chillman88

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This ^^

My original valve burned up, likely from bits of the strainer. I put a new valve in and every once in a while the rear tank would get a chunk stuck in the pickup and start stumbling until I switched tanks. Do as the man says and clean the tanks out good so you don't end up dropping the tanks twice like me.

And you don't HAVE to drain the tanks, everyone should have the "joy" of wrestling a half full tank out of the truck because they didn't want to mess with draining them LOL (That was a joke, learn from my mistakes!)
 

G. Mann

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If you are dropping a fuel tank, a cheep 12V fuel pump is your best friend... ebay or amazon, maybe $12, or less, and a few feet of fuel line over to a clean container, and "bobs yer unkle"....

Even with the tank empty, I like to use a transmission jack to drop the tank, and it makes install SOoooooooo easy.... the trans jack is that "third arm and a tail" you need to hold it in place while you put the straps back on.. and you can hook up fuel lines and electrical just before you seat the tank in place with the trans jack holding everything nicely.... Sweet !
 

Diesel8873ne

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What is required to put the 33 gallon bronco tank into my truck?

I can get one locally for aboyt 100$
 

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