Dearest KStyer...
Since you seem to be the Corvette guru of our group, I wanted to ask you this question.
The fuel tank in my 77 L-82 is a 13 gallon tank, can I get a larger tank for it? I realize I would have to change the sender assembly, and probably the gauge also, but this seems to be a real tiny tank. It is definately the original tank, but maybe I could only fit 13 in there originally because of that stupid bladder problem. (with the tank, not me.)
Fortunately, I have the car, excuse me, the 'vette disassembled right now, I should fill the tank with water, and see just how much it can hold now.
Thanks man...you seem like some of my former mentors that taught me how to turn a wrench. A great man, my former team leader in my dealership tech. days, "Buzzy", was my favorite. He forgot more than I'll ever know about cars. Man, I miss him. I'll leave you with his most important advise he gave me.

"A good cross thread is better than any lock washer kid."

Thanks

I thought 77s had a 16 or 18 gallon tank,the 78s came with the new 24 gallon tank,with the bladder in them,I don't know wht you couldn't put one in ,but I think you have to change the spare tire bucket because they had to make more room under there ,so they put the smaller spare tire in there to make up for the bigger tank.check it out and yeah youll have to change the sender

I should be larger than 13 gallons. I suspect the bladder is partly collasped. (A huge pitcher of your favorite drink will expand your bladder, but back to the Vette.) Check the cannister purge system as a possilble cause of not venting the tank, causing the collaspe. Fairly common. Another thread here has an detailed explanation of the cannister purge system. If you can't find it let me know and I'll find it for you.

I thank you for the praise. I have been earning my living repairing and teaching cars for over 30 years. This doesn't count the time spent in the driveway with my Dad (a very good tech in his day) from the time I was in 4th grade, or the teen years in the service station. I worked for Chevrolet for about 7 years. Over 2 at one dealer and close to 5 at another. This was in about 76 to 83. I loved working on the C3s. Everyone else hated working on them, so I did most of them. A labor of love and I got paid. How does it get better? I'm a Master Auto, Master truck, and Master Paint and Body certified tech. I used to host a radio show called "Car Time" on Saturday afternoon in Akron Oh. I have been published over 90 times in trade magazines. I now teach automotive at Stark State College of Technology in N. Canton OH.

I don't know it all. In fact there is a lot I don't know. Some of the things here I don't have a clue. The reason is what you do in a dealer vs mods vs old car repair can be similar, or quite different. Things happen after 30 years that don't happen in 5 or 10. I do depend on some of the folks here for some of that information. How the tank works, the sending unit, the liner, cannister purge tank vent, I can go into great detail on. I repaired those. I teach those. Some of the repairs I haven't done in 15 years. Those I need to think about for a bit. It comes back sooner or later. (They say two thing go as we age, one is hearing and I can't remember the other.) My down fall is which tank can be swapped with which. Sorry but I don't know. Never did that. I think it had to do with the larger rear area in 78. It was not something we did as normal repair. I can explain the technical.

I have a very good friend, Bill Woessner. Bill has raced in NHRA and been very competive. He has built many race cars for drag and track. Right now he has a top fuel Camaro that will do 6.9 in the 1/4 at 191 mph. His second marrage was on the starting line of Norwalk Raceway Park with John Force and Shirley Moldouney as best man and matron of honor. His buddies. Bill knows how to build high performance. We make an interesting team. When I don't know what to do, he does. He tells me what he does to acheive something. He can't tell my why it does it, he just knows it does. He tells me what to do, and then with that information I can tell him why it works. We are an interesting pair.

I know a great deal about cars and love them all. But this site is a great bunch of people and I give them all, including you, a lot of credit. We all have our strong points, and our personal background that brings great knowledge as a group. I learn from this group all the time. I love all Corvettes and C3s above any car ever built. That's just me. I feel lucky to have found C3VR.

So ask Away! Even when I let you down, like this time. Sorry. But someone here will answer when I can't. (You folks listening?) Passion does not always equal knowledge. But these cars are my passion. I will always do what I can to help. Now I need to shut up before I get too sappy or boring. Unless you want to know about that old advice on stripped threads, bolt threads, how they work, the advantages and disadvantages of different lock devices, fastener repair, etc. I once did a 6 page article on this.
Thank You All. Viva Corvette!

Ken Styer

|UPDATED|3/3/2004 10:00:22 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Well...I just got finished in the garage. The tank holds 16 gallons. Fixing that bladder problem just netted me 3 extra gallons. I think that adds up to about 15 extra miles.hahaha
Thanks for the help, and I'll always respect a man that can tell someone when he doesn't know an answer, and not just throw a bunch of B.S. there.
Take care. Hopefully we'll meet someday.
Alan

Northeast Ohio to East PA. Not so far. I look forward to meeting. Good lord willing and the creek don't rise!

Ken Styer

And...Route 80 does'nt get any more pot holes.hahaha

Hey Ken,

Great advice here on the forum, but, I still have one question..........I've heard that it's righty tighty, lefty loosey.....is this right or have I just been misinformed??



Seriously, thanks for all the great technical info.

Rick.