Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I installed a Drake fuel neck on my '36 and as fate would dictate the pipe did not line up with the fender hole. A careful comparison of the outside length of the Drake neck to an original found the lengths exactly the same. However, when you diagonally measure the distance from the cap opening to the tube end you find the Drake diagonal is 11" versus the original diagonal of 10". This difference suggests the bend of the Drake neck is different than an original which explains why it won't line-up with the fender hole. Has anyone else found this problem?

Tom

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Friggen' PATHETIC excuse for quality control. Sorry for your plight. Now, I hope you're not hit with the infamous..."You're the FIRST to complain about that" from the sales dweeb you get on the phone at BD. Wonder if you'll have to pay for "return shipping"? Keep us up to date. What a pisser! DD

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Yep, No matter how hard I tried, I could not get my Repro fuel filler neck to line up correctly with the fender hole on my 1937 Ford. I took the whole rig apart three times. I was able to get close but it still was not right. I cut the neck and used the some of the old parts and a hose in between.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Had a problem with Drakes "8" on my '46 hood ornament and studs on the rear fender gravel shield breaking off and yes I was told "never happened before". Yeah right, as to your problem perhaps a muffler shop could increase the bend for you. If you don't want to send it back. I agree, Drake needs better QC.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I bought a repop filler for my '40 coupe.
The middle of it was a smaller diameter and I couldn't pump gas into it.
Even at a very slow rate that took forever it would burp gas out.
I finally bought an original off Ebay and it works fine.
I'll spend more time and money finding original parts than buying repop stuff....too much of it just doesn't work.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

BobDrake is a love hate experience to me. When the parts fit properly (which I believe happens most of the time) life is good. I once complained to Bob in person that a part didn't fit properly and he asked if it was one of his parts with his name on it and I told him I was sure it was. He told me to check it then get back to him. Oooops, not his. Got one of his and all was well.

Spent 2 whole days trying to install the window and channels on my 40 tudor rear glass. Finally took them all apart and compared the channels to the originals that I had kept (and should have bead blasted to use again) and found that the pieces were welded together up to 6" off from the originals putting all the geometry out of whack. Ended up cutting and re-welding plus making new rollers as his new ones were non rollers which woujld put a lot of wear on the channels.

I believe I know why this happens having dealt with Taiwan in building boats. Scenario - - - Bob orders 500 gas necks and says they must look like the original. Supplier says "no problem". When Bob gets the shipment it is found that they are not right. Supplier says, no problem, they are close and already made. Bob can then not sell the bad fitting product and lose all the money he has paid out or try to get them out to the market and recoup his money. I have told Bob that I would feel more kind to him if he would in fact tell us when an item is not up to his Bob Drake standard as he has to know it when the shipment arrives. I asked one of his guys at the Puyallup swap meet if they had the misaligned mounting holes on the water pumps and he said he hadn't heard about the problem. That can't really be true and it doesn't instill much confidence in them.

I now feel that anything I buy from ANY supplier is a "good start". Don't take me wrong, I am thankful for effort and hard work of suppliers to fill our parts needs. Just need them to be more up front with us.

My .02

Fourdy

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Fordy, In so many words I have expressed your exact argument in regard to quality less than "what's advertised". Many know I have a particular dislike for the way ol' Bob does business. And, while I can appreciate his efforts, too many times, they fall short. What I CAN'T and WILL NOT accept is all the BS that follows.
The bottom line of any wholesale to retail business (which Drake is) is that the person / company selling the stuff is responsible. In this case, Drake does not need to accept parts of lesser quality. Nope, he CHOOSES to.
Stop accepting crap and see how long the folks in China keep churning it out - not long. Keep buying crap and they'll continue to make it.
It IS that easy.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Tom,

Are your intensions to make the new filler neck work?? From your photo with one on top of each other, you might try a muffler shop to use their hydraulic tubing bender to line them up.


As far as our part vendors… I am convinced there is one or two manufacturers and two or three wholesalers that our ‘favorite go to’ vendors buy from. Most can’t or won’t tell you where the part is made. I use Mac’s a lot cause they are 13 miles away and I can see it/compare it before I buy it. (In my limited experience …the most helpful/truthful folks I have dealt with has been Dick Spadaro’s V8 Reproductions…JMHO)

Jim

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Tom, I had the same problem.. I had to cut the pipe off to get the right length and also cut a small wedge out of it to get the right bend.
Royal

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I think you can see the difference in you pictures.......Mark

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Curious, what did BD say when you called/informed them...or .....?

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I also had to cut the tank end, make an insert to replace the tank end and weld it to the end of the cut neck. At that point I had returned the original I had gotten reordered from Drake, found the identical problem and realized all the aftermarket shops are using the same supplier. Called Drakes a couple of times but their customer support can not handle a problem like this. Since the neck is extremely hard to find NOS I had to modify. A print of the insert I had made is below.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Tanks Inc. tanks have a neck welded on that connects to their filler neck with a heavy large rubber tube and SS hose clamps. You could do the same Idea with your stock tank as long as the collar to tank thread makes a good seal. Cut the BD neck leaving enough on it to connect with tanks rubber connection and either use a Tanks filler neck for about $15 which includes the rubber connector or get a large rubber hose matched and connect to modified BD neck.
Tony

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Jesus! Naive soul that I am, I confess I always thought the picture of Bob Drake standing next to Henry Ford meant that anything that was shite ended up being flushed and customers were treated with only the very best, number one, always exact reproductions. This whole colloquy has dashed that one to floor and left a pile of shards and dust. So he's just a fat-faced merchant without a conscience and those who work for him are knaves. Oh well. I'll take that to mean I need to search out OEM and slightly used, and repairable stuff to create something with real soul. And, we all know Made in China translates to Dog Shite. Something one should not lower one's boot onto. Out the window with the Bob Drake Catalog.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

The V8 Times now has a column about parts that don't match the Ford originals.

You should send this in.

I agree with the other suggestions to have a muffler shop fix it.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Update-

Several responses suggested a muffler shop could bend things for me to get the neck to work on my '36. Well, I tried three muffler shops and they all told me it couldn't be done without crushing the cap end and the threaded collar. :( So that leaves me with a cut and dice operation. AnthonyG's suggestion seems the simplest approach. At any rate, thanks guys for the suggestions.

Oh yes, I called Bob Drake. Talked to "Cole." He said, "No one else has complained about the '36 neck." However, I can send it back but I must pay the return shipping and will be charged a 10% restocking fee. :(

Tom

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Funny that you received the only bad one, isn't it ? :rolleyes:

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Ya know, looking at you pics...how is the neck joined into the part that screws into the tank?

It looks as if it not oriented in there correctly..can it be removed, reoriented and welded back in?

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Mike-

The neck itself is a continuous one piece. The collar is not attached to the neck. No way to re-orient by cut and welding.

Tom

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Mine would not fit either. I tried to fit it three times. No dice. I cut the new one in half. I took the new threaded sleeve and connected it to the old filler neck with a hose. No problems since.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I see, it's a collar.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

The key word is "restocking" How many times do you think Drake has made 10% on this very same part at the gut wrenching expense of his customers?

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I had the same prrpblem with my '35 filler neck from Drake. Found a good original one and it worked fine. Mike

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I had trouble with the sending unit mounting flange on a '48 tank. Only two of the spot welds were holding allowing gas to slosh out.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

While I also appreciate those entrepreneurs that devote their lives and fortunes into supplying us with reproduction parts, its sort of pointless if the parts do not work as delivered. One might as well completely re-do a worn out rusty or beat up part since they will end up cutting and welding the non serviceable parts anyway.
Perhaps they get into this game because they love the old cars but later discover that they can make more money hawking good stuff but selling inferior goods..
I would not rest or even want my name associated with stuff that only "looks" like the original but was useless as presented.
You have to have some disposable income in order to have this hobby. I am sure most people would pay more for a part that actually works as well as the original instead of having to remake everything they buy which ends up costing more in the long run.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I was being more than a little facetious with my post. Of course Bob Drake has added to the hobby, all the while adding to his fortune. What I was getting at is that a reputation earned on respect remains, while one that is kept alive because you're the only one catching rats on the life raft and selling their meat is another. Someone should tell Bob Drake that --- it only takes a short time to lose customers by word of mouth. This can happen quicker than he may realize. Schlitz beer went bust because green beer was canned and sold. People found out it was shite beer and never drank another can. End of Schlitz market in zero flat. A business based on trust should be aware of the quality of its product line because that is the only thing that makes or breaks it. That is all people know about it, when they use the parts. When you lose the public's trust, your lose your business; because, the fact of the matter is, people will seek out better goods when they know they're out there. No one company, or individual can monopolize the market with crap.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

When I encountered your exact problem with a bd neck after spending an hour on hold listening to messages about their commitment to quality and how their parts are licensed by Ford, I put the collar end in a large vice in the pipe holder then, put a three foot piece of pipe in the filler end that just fit the I.D. and put it in as far as it would go and bent the pipe to the profile of the old one. It was surprisingly easy and after also filing away about 1/8" of the threads at the collar end so it would match the original I have had no leaks and no problems. At bd, they told me no one had ever had a problem before me. This was two years ago.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

And to think I caught hell for the decent original 37 filler neck I listed on e-bay. And after alot of questions that I answered it still didn't sell. That was a couple of years ago and with the DA qustions I answered last time, not likely I will list it again for awhile. Rod

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

A bit late to the party BUT would it be possible to really pack the filler neck with sand & bend it to fit?

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Running into this issue with a 40 Standard Coupe as well

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

It was based on threads like this I decided to get an NOS filler off Ebay. I was happy to only pay $50 plus shipping, cheaper than a reproduction and fits perfect.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I had the same problem with the Drake gas filler tube for my '35. Solution: I found a good original made it look pretty and it fit fine. Sold the Drake one at a swap meet. That guy did not care if it lined up - it was for a rod. Mike

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

My experience was completely different. I bought a an exact reproduction gas tank and sending unit from BD for my 39 PU. I was very disappointed that Ford put the frame rails 1/2" too close together so there wasn't enough room between them to install the exact reproduction tank. I did some cutting and non-standard percussion re-alignment on the tank only to discover another Ford problem. Turns out the mounting holes in my frame were too close to the rear crossmember. Luckily while I was looking at that I also discovered Ford mis-located the filler neck cutout in the bed wall. This observation provided an opportunity to pause for a homebrew as a defensive measure against the indiscriminate f-bombs that were spontaneously flying about my garage in a most uncivilized manner. So it was a win-win moment. Once I brought the frame holes up to proper diameter to align with the exact reproduction captured nuts and made the cutout in the right spot, the tank fit perfectly. I remain perplexed that the exact reproduction tank will not accept the OEM sending unit, how could Ford have screwed-up something so easy as making the sender 1/8" too big for the hole? When I discovered that the BD sending unit won't drive my Ford fuel gauge correctly I was very upset. Why would Ford be so inconsiderate 70 years ago to design a fuel quantity gauging system that doesn't read the correct quantity when used with the new reproduction sender? Really, it only has one purpose and it can't do that, you'd think the DOD designed it. Luckily 2 minutes with a rotary file and the OEM sender was fitted. Because of the shipping and fondling charges to return the BD sending unit , I have a nice souvenir to keep the experience ever fresh in my mind.

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Great editorial SofaKing, still laughing as I write this. Know you weren't laughing when it was happening but you've got a flare for the written word!!

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

A classic! :)

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Sofaking- A good story! I can relate to it, especially the F-bombs. My wife hates it when I'm in the garage! I have to keep the radio loud, so the neighbors don't hear me on one of my rants......

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

Try going to classical music- My wife's suggestion-

No more head banging rock, my disposition under stress has improved...
Or my sense of (black) humor has.

Thank goodness I'm in this for fun and not working on someone elses car.

Karl

Re: Problem with Drake fuel neck
 

I can see the original is bent at a 90 deg.angle and the BD neck is not. I am amazed that the BD neck is not a total refund including shipping. JMHO.