Dual Gas Tanks: Converting electric valve to manual valve

[dyno]

Hi,

I've had nothing but problems with my 1980 k20 dual gas tank set up. It's got the electric solenoid valve with 6 ports. I use the truck for hunting and don't trust the damn thing so I'm thinking of converting to a on the floor manual selector valve.

The only problem I can see is that each tank has 2 lines, one of the lines is a smaller return line to prevent vapor locking (i guess). If I did away with that line and just ran one line from each tank to the selector valve would I have problems? Would vented gas caps help?

Thanks

[69BBsuburban]

You should be fine doing it that way....
There should be a vent on the top of the tank, so vented caps aren't needed. My '78 is that way...it doesn't have return lines, just a simple 2 in, 1 out fuel valve.

[dyno]

Thanks. Yeah, I'm planning on capping off that second line on the tank and second line at the fuel pump. I'll use the selector switch for the sending valves only and put in a manual floor valve.

Can someone tell me the purpose of the fuel selelctor valve relay under on the fuse block? Can I disconnect it if I just use the dash selector switch to view the fuel levels in each tank?

[Damien]

Don't mount the valve under the seat and run 3ft of rubber hose from the tank to the valve like someone did on my dad's '76. It has a fuel leak so i pinched one hose off to fix it and gas ran out of the one right above it. The hose will crack after a few years. It is just run off one tank for now until it warms up outside.

[dyno]

So what's wrong with running 3' of hose vs. steel line?

[69BBsuburban]

Originally Posted by dyno

Can someone tell me the purpose of the fuel selelctor valve relay under on the fuse block? Can I disconnect it if I just use the dash selector switch to view the fuel levels in each tank?

The pupose of the relay is to send battery power directly to the valve. As the valve draws more juice and otherwise could potentially burn up the switch if power went that route. Having the switch activate the relay, which in turn switches the valve is much safer and reliable, as relays can handle more current (amperage) than switches.

[Damien]

Originally Posted by Damien

The hose will crack after a few years.

The longer the hose, the more places for it to crack and cause leaks. With that much hose there is also a good chance it will be run above an exhaust pipe and could leak onto the exhaust.

[dyno]

Thank you guys...you answered all my questions...on to electrical problems!