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MG MGA - Gas Tank

Just had my mga gas tank cleaned and sealed. I'm about to fit it onto the frame and cannot I D what the brass wing nut is for and what its function is??. Have patience or mercy on me as this is my first attempt to put an mga together out of many many boxes>>>>>
c allen

I don't recall a brass wing nut when I assembled the gas tank on my car. How big is it and what thread? Then again maybe I have just forgotten....

Ralph
Ralph

I also had my gas tank cleaned and lined this past year. I do not recall a wing nut when I re-installed the tank.

What I recall is; Six long bolts with spacers for the tank straps. Six screw w/ washers for the sending unit. A small machine nut for the sending unit wire. Four machine screws for the gasket in the trunk.

The only wing nut that comes to mind is the large one for the spare tire hold-down clamp. Mine is not brass.

Good luck with your project. BTW - Where are located in Washington?

John
jjb Backman

Thanks fellow's for your response. Here is a picture of the item I am trying to I D it fits on the left lower corner of the tank. The union thread you see is right tightening into the tank and the wing nut portion is left turning to thread it outwards and there is a hole in the tube section that the w/nut closes or opens it BUT does not matter where the w/nut position is, the hole in the tube is well inside the tank when fitted and cannot be used for a drain plug??? if you can sort this out good luck. thanks Clive...



c allen

John I forgot to answer your query I live in Sudden Valley close to Bellingham. Thanks Clive
c allen

C ALLEN.
That does not belong on that end of your car at all. It is a drain valve for the radiator.
Possibly some DPO put it in the tank as an afterthought.
That valve drains through the hole in the center of the wings.
Sandy
conrad sanders

looks to me like a radiator or block drain. My tanks all had a solid drain plug in the bottom center. It would be unsafe to use the pictured part as a fuel drain.
R J Brown

When replacing the drain plug in the tank bottom, do not forget to use the red fibre washer, with the nut. This will stop any chance of leaking.
Gordon Harrison

I'm beginning to think maybe the tank is not an mga?????. It must have the union fitted or else the fuel will run out and YET, the tank has the positions for the straps to fit into a ledge thats part of the tank. The filler hole appears to be at the correct angle for the filler neck placement?? So I'm still thinking this is an MGA tank... NOW WHAT??.I did try and screw this union into the bottom of the radiator and althougth it is tha same diameter it began to become very very tight so I backed off doing anthing further. Amoungst all the other boxes of parts maybe the rad tap will be found BUT that still does not explain the gas tank union MYSTERY Help someone... Clive..
c allen

Pictures?
R J Brown

First, the drain valve in your photo uses a tapered pipe thread, so it will get tight before it bottoms, it's designed to do just that in order to seal.
On your tank you should have a drain plug in the bottom center of the tank, item 29 in the photo, and on the right side you should have a large hole for the sending unit and a smaller threaded hole for the pick up tube. This is the one where a 90 degree pipe thread to compression tube elbow would screw in and your fuel supply line would attach there. There shouldn't be any other holes in the tank except for the filler neck. What it appears has happened is that the 90 degree fitting has been lost or is still with the supply line and that a drain plug has been substituted.

Bill Young

Thanks Bill for your reply. Tomorrow I will take some picts of the TANK in question to show the threaded hole in the left lower side of it. I'll show one with brass union drain type tap that screws into the Tank that is the MYSTERY together with the threaded hole which is apprx .5 of an inch in diameter. Watch this site for the picts because this is beginning to @#$%^& me.... Thanks. Clive...
c allen

Here are the pics I was referring to of the drain type union on my mga gas tank...Thanks to all of you. Clive..

c allen

From the photo it appears that your tank has been modified and this drain added. Probably by a previous owner who was getting bad petrol with water in it. This drain would enable you to drain off the bottom of the tank carefully and check for any water. I'd just install a pipe plug of the same thread as the petcock and leave it. All the other necessary connections should be on the right side panel of the tank.
Bill Young

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2008 and 22/08/2008

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