Workshop Basics

Tackle problems in your classic car’s fuel system at their source

How to refurbish your classic’s fuel tank pick-up.

The pickup that lives inside your classic car’s fuel tank is a very common but much-overlooked cause of running issues. It’s fitted with a gauze filter that clogs with varnish – a solid black residue that build up gradually on the inside of the tank. This is particularly true if the car is rarely used or has been laid up for a long period at some stage in its existence.

The amount of petrol that can flow through the gauze slowly diminishes until supply no longer meets the demands of the engine, often aided by particles of rust in the tank. Pickup filters are available off-theshelf for many classics. Replacement simply involves removing and cleaning the fuel pickup, then fitting the new filter.

If you can’t buy a new filter for your car, you can refurbish the original. Brass gauze is available via ebay at around £6 for an A4-sized sheet. A basic 25W soldering iron for electronic circuits will be fine for most applications – but a more powerful model might be advantageous. The adjustable

80W model we’re using here cost £12 brand new, again via ebay. A bit of standard electrical solder completes the job.

Inspect your fuel pickup after removing the old gauze, as it’s likely to clogged with solidified gloop. Tease it out with a drill bit and use an old speedometer cable, or similar, to chase out all debris and obstructions from top to bottom.

Check the tank while you’re at it – it’s likely that it, too, will be coated with varnish and corrosion. A few handfuls of gravel and a lot of vigorous shaking should do the trick. Inspect closely for serious rust and pinholes.