Hi everyone. I just wanted to share a story about a nasty problem I had with my 77 L-82. I hope none of you ever experience this, but if you do, here's the most likely problem...

About two years ago, my vette developed a problem where she would just die on me, anywhere, and under any condition. I would go through the normal routine on the side of the road,(Murphy's law being it was usually night...and raining.) I had no clue as to what was the problem, I had a new battery, the alternator was fine, plugs were firing normal, timing was O.K., fuel tank read 3/4.....OK, let me say, that was 3/4 FULL.

I tried spraying starting fluid into the carb, and she fired right up, and died again. I was out of gas. After a trip home, to gather all my fuel containers, and the gas station, I started to fill her up. She only took about 3 gallons. She fired right up, and ran like the fire-breathing dragon that she is. I drove her to the gas station, to see if she would take more fuel, but she was full. I said "Whatever" at this point.

Not even a week later, gas gauge reads 3/4 again, and, you guessed it, she dies again. Same fix. 3 gallons, and she reads full.

I started getting into her fuel system, filter is clean, lines are not kinked, and are free to flow. So I'm at the point of taking out the gas tank. I attempt to siphon the tank, because she still reads 3/4 of a tank, and no gas will come out. O.K. I thought I just sucked at sucking, but when I was finally dropping the tank down, she was light as a feather, and empty.

I removed the sending unit cover, looked at the float arm, moves free, and is not gunked up. I look inside the tank, and the damn neoprene bladder collapsed upon itself, leaving only enough room for about 3 gallons, and stopping the float arm at 3/4. I felt that sheer feeling of victory right then. I reshape the bladder, after much debate on wether to rip out the bladder, and put an extra vent tube on the tank, to prevent the tank from creating a suction between the bladder and the tank,causing it to collapse again.

She ran great after I reassembled her, not even a sputter in the way she ran, up until the time I put her in the garage for a complete frame-off.

I hope none of you ever have to have this problem, but if you do, the bladder is probably the culprit.
I'm about halfway done with my baby, I really enjoy seeing all of your frame-off pics. of the other members here, and I'll post some of her when I'm done. Take care everyone.
Alan

I have fixed several of these with this problem. The fault is in the cannister purge system. The cannister purge is the vent for the tank. It won't allow air into the tank when gas is being pulled out. This creates a vacuum, and the bladder collaspes. Just find the restriction between the tank vent and the charcoal cannister. It my be the cannister itself. That will fix the problem.

Ken Styer