VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1938 gas tank shut off valve

This is a question for all you 38' folks...others are welcome to chime in also because it may be the same for 37,39,40,or other years, I don't know?

My 38 Master coupe has a small valve on the bottom of the gas tank (called a needle valve) I guess my question is, is this type of valve on all 38's (or other Chevy's) or was it added. This valve allows you to shut off the fuel to the gas line or to drain the tank by removing the stem.
The parts manual talks about a type "E" fuel valve but it don't look like mine,in the picture, (not a needle valve).

My car is 98% original..I am the 3rd owner. All the other parts that have numbers are correct to the year and model.

Tiny...Does your coupe have this valve...if not what kind does it have???....All comments are apprecited...Thanx....ED

Mine has a needle valve. The gas tank/line is stock. 38 master coupe. Email for a photo..wawuzit@comcast.net

Steve.... You say "the gas tank line on yours is stock"???? Then you are saying the gas tank line is copper?
The person I got my car from replaced the gas line on mine with a steel line when he had the gas tank cleaned and coated,years ago.
I been having problems with debris in the tank So I have just replaced the tank with a new stainless tank (gave my first born for it) The parts manual lists all of the gas lines as COPPER..even the one from the fuel pump to the carb...That don't make sense to me for I have never seen a old Chev with a copper gas line....A photo of the fuel valve would be nice.....edpinkston@zoomtown.com THANX ED

Copper lines were supplied through Chevrolet parts system. They are not originally installed at factory but, flexible copper tubing was easier to supply as replacement than all those formed steel lines.

Just because a part was supplied through the Chevrolet parts system does not mean it was identical to the factory installed part. In fact the more years between production and supplying a part the more likely it will differ in some aspect(s) versus the original.

Are we all on the same sheet of music. On the bottom of the fuel tank you should find a plug that is used to drain water and other debris from the tank. On the front of the tank should be a fitting for the fuel line. Inside the tank the line goes down to the bottom of the tank to be able to supply almost all the gas in the tank. From the fitting on the outside of the tank there is a line that goes from the tank up to the fuel pump.

Am I completely off base?

Chipper.....What you said about the copper line is what I thought was a replacement part also...The parts book lists the copper tubing as coming in a "coil" and gives the length in inches needed....Thanx for your input on this.... Do you know anything about the "needle valve".....ED

AM....I don't know if you are "off base" but I think you are talking about a different tank. My car is a 38 Master Business coupe these have a gas tank unique to only the B Coupe & the sedan delivery (18 gallon) that lays flat in the trunk compartment under the trunk shelf boards.....The tank I took off is the original factory installed tank. There are two tapped holes on the flat bottom of the tank each one about a third away from each end.
looking into the trunk from the rear of the car the tapped hole on the passenger side is were the gas feed line (with the needle shut off valve)~~~~the tapped hole on the drivers side is plugged with a slotted screw in plug.There is no tapped holes on the front of the tank or anywhere else...The only other hole in the tank is on the top were the gas gauge sending unit goes.
Do you know anything about the questionable "needle valve"???
Thanx for your input.....ED

From the new fuel pump to the carb is copper(more bling).The line from the tank to the pump is stock(steel). I more than likely will replace it with copper also in the future.

The tank in your '38 Coupe has the same setup as those in earlier trucks. A 1/8" pipe thread plug 1/3 from one end and a similar outlet with a 90 deg. needle valve leading to the gas line 1/3 from the other end.

You mean this one??



It was leaking (split jam nut you can see in the pic) so right now I have a nipple with an "L" connecting to the fuel line. I bought a new valve to use the jam nut off of to fix the leak but I haven't gotten the gumption to crawl under the car yet to reinstall the original.

Tiny~~~~~Mine looks similar to yours. Mine has a thinner round type wire looking handle and the extension nipple on mine is 5 sided. all & all they are basically the same...Good~~~ so now I am sure that this belongs there and was not jury rigged. Many Thanx to all who responded...ED

Here is one that is similar. Its a Weatherhead item.
Don
https://picasaweb.google.com/101285...Gv1sRgCP7ewfrooYyEdw#5622228759901554050

[quote=donsbigtrucks]

Here is one that is similar. Its a Weatherhead item.
Don
https://picasaweb.google.com/101285...Gv1sRgCP7ewfrooYyEdw#5622228759901554050 [/quote

Don...Thanks for the tip....I also looked around on the web and found that Plews-Edelmann Company (the old oil can company) makes them, just like the one I have, and all kinds of other brass fittings.,,Dorman also has them....ED

Do either of you have a part number?

http://hydraulics.eaton.com/products/pdfs/E-BRFI-MC001-E3.pdf
If you look at page 104 I think that is the modern replacement for the one I have. The assortment that my valve came out of has been in our garage for 30 years and most of the stuff in it is much older. If you want the Weatherhead number I can see if the jar has a number on it.
Don

Tiny.....The Plews-Edelman needle valve, that looks like mine,
Has 2 models.
1/4"....#501420
5/16"...#502520
Their web site says that O'Rileys auto parts sells them.
They can probably order one if not in stock.
Visit their web site to look at them.
I don't know the Dorman number....ED