1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
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1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
So I have the privilege of replacing a fuel pump in a rare 1989 1LE Camaro (non-R7U). Some would think this is not a fun project ... and it wasn't ... but for a history buff it was fun for other reasons. So here we go ... pics of what is inside the famous 1LE tank.
Here is the tank. The car is one of the earliest 89 1LE cars out there. Tank was never out that I can tell. The tank has an interesting number on the side .. no idea what it was ... car number 5? who knows. Maybe just that this tank was a 1LE tank. Other than the number, not much to see. All looks like other tanks. The condition of the tank is quite good considering the car is a northern car.
If any pics don't load ... give me a bit to fix. My uploads aren't working well.
As we go inside the tank, the differences emerge. Here is the fuel pump. The strainer is different than a non 1LE tank. The fuel level float is suppose to be different as well in order to read the fuel down to half a gallon.
AND I can config that with less than 1 gallon of fuel (I added it to an dry tank), the car started up and drove!)
Now here we go inside the tank. The baffle that is always talked about is a plastic basin that the pump, strainer and float all sit in. Somehow this small reservoir is what supplied fuel in hard corners. It worked.
Here in this picture is a stamping inside the tank. No idea what. Sort of reads ALUM 10/0/88 or something like that. An no the tank is not aluminum.
Here is the strainer off the pump.
Pump close up. AC model.
A replacement strainer acquired! Took a while to track down, but easy to get.
And here we have old and new. The new pump is a stock type replacement. No need for BIG flow for this car. It's more of a time capsule.
As always ... hope some find this interesting. I was always wanting to look at a real 1LE and see what the parts were. Most people would not be taking a car apart ... but not me. :-)
Mark.
Here is the tank. The car is one of the earliest 89 1LE cars out there. Tank was never out that I can tell. The tank has an interesting number on the side .. no idea what it was ... car number 5? who knows. Maybe just that this tank was a 1LE tank. Other than the number, not much to see. All looks like other tanks. The condition of the tank is quite good considering the car is a northern car.
If any pics don't load ... give me a bit to fix. My uploads aren't working well.
As we go inside the tank, the differences emerge. Here is the fuel pump. The strainer is different than a non 1LE tank. The fuel level float is suppose to be different as well in order to read the fuel down to half a gallon.
AND I can config that with less than 1 gallon of fuel (I added it to an dry tank), the car started up and drove!)
Now here we go inside the tank. The baffle that is always talked about is a plastic basin that the pump, strainer and float all sit in. Somehow this small reservoir is what supplied fuel in hard corners. It worked.
Here in this picture is a stamping inside the tank. No idea what. Sort of reads ALUM 10/0/88 or something like that. An no the tank is not aluminum.
Here is the strainer off the pump.
Pump close up. AC model.
A replacement strainer acquired! Took a while to track down, but easy to get.
And here we have old and new. The new pump is a stock type replacement. No need for BIG flow for this car. It's more of a time capsule.
As always ... hope some find this interesting. I was always wanting to look at a real 1LE and see what the parts were. Most people would not be taking a car apart ... but not me. :-)
Mark.
Last edited by Mark_ZZ3; 08-25-2022 at 08:57 AM.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
I just did a fuel pump in my 89 formula 350 vert and it also has the baffled tank with double sided strainer. (The original 1LE tank had some rust in it but got lucky and found another 1LE tank)
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
I'm thinking about dropping my tank again and doing a similar inspection. If I get around to it, I'll let you know. I'm wondering if the ethanol in today's gas deteriorated something inside the lines causing my boiling gas issue. Thinking of doing an entire gas line/return swap. It might not fix it, but I won't have to question it.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Is this not the same as the ACDELCO TS44? AC Delco's website shows that is the "COMPONENTS OF Z28 Perf Pkg(1LE)" and is the strainer listed.
I bought it from Rock Auto and it was the same size as the one I took out of my '92 T/A Convertible 5.0L TPI/5-Speed when I recently changed the fuel pump. Even though Pontiac didn't really allow those (factory convertible) cars to have any of the performance options, as Drew said, mine also had the baffle.
I bought it from Rock Auto and it was the same size as the one I took out of my '92 T/A Convertible 5.0L TPI/5-Speed when I recently changed the fuel pump. Even though Pontiac didn't really allow those (factory convertible) cars to have any of the performance options, as Drew said, mine also had the baffle.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
I have 2 89s, both 350 cars 4,000 or so apart on the vin and the early car didn't have the 1LE tank and the later car did.
Last edited by TTOP350; 06-22-2016 at 07:26 PM.
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Car: 1989 Camaro-1LE
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Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.73
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Is this not the same as the ACDELCO TS44? AC Delco's website shows that is the "COMPONENTS OF Z28 Perf Pkg(1LE)" and is the strainer listed.
I bought it from Rock Auto and it was the same size as the one I took out of my '92 T/A Convertible 5.0L TPI/5-Speed when I recently changed the fuel pump. Even though Pontiac didn't really allow those (factory convertible) cars to have any of the performance options, as Drew said, mine also had the baffle.
I bought it from Rock Auto and it was the same size as the one I took out of my '92 T/A Convertible 5.0L TPI/5-Speed when I recently changed the fuel pump. Even though Pontiac didn't really allow those (factory convertible) cars to have any of the performance options, as Drew said, mine also had the baffle.
Mark.
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Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
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Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
That's interesting. So on your later car, did it "starve" for fuel in corners?
On my early (build date, Sep 1988) 1989, it starved for fuel when below 1/4 tank. Not sure on the convertible I have now, but it was built after Jan 1989. Maybe even later. I'd have to check.
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Car: 1989 Camaro-1LE
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Transmission: 5 speed (MM5, MK6)
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.73
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Mark.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
That's interesting. So on your later car, did it "starve" for fuel in corners?
On my early (build date, Sep 1988) 1989, it starved for fuel when below 1/4 tank. Not sure on the convertible I have now, but it was built after Jan 1989. Maybe even later. I'd have to check.
On my early (build date, Sep 1988) 1989, it starved for fuel when below 1/4 tank. Not sure on the convertible I have now, but it was built after Jan 1989. Maybe even later. I'd have to check.
Mark.
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Car: 1989 IROC-Z. Original owner
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
At some point the baffled tank became more or less standard. I've always wondered if my May 1989 built IROC has it, since I've never experienced the sputtering around corners that I have with earlier cars near empty.
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Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Just to clarify, neither of my cars have 1LE rpo code.
I'll have to get the VIN numbers and other info in a bit
Black 89 formula 350 TTOP 03/89 No 1LE tank (It does now) Yes, It used to starve in corners with low fuel, not since tank swap 25yrs ago.
Blue 89 formula 350 asc vert can't read door tag Has 1LE tank. Doesn't starve in corners with low fuel.
I'll have to get the VIN numbers and other info in a bit
Black 89 formula 350 TTOP 03/89 No 1LE tank (It does now) Yes, It used to starve in corners with low fuel, not since tank swap 25yrs ago.
Blue 89 formula 350 asc vert can't read door tag Has 1LE tank. Doesn't starve in corners with low fuel.
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Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
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Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
That's interesting. So on your later car, did it "starve" for fuel in corners?
On my early (build date, Sep 1988) 1989, it starved for fuel when below 1/4 tank. Not sure on the convertible I have now, but it was built after Jan 1989. Maybe even later. I'd have to check.
On my early (build date, Sep 1988) 1989, it starved for fuel when below 1/4 tank. Not sure on the convertible I have now, but it was built after Jan 1989. Maybe even later. I'd have to check.
Just checked my Convertible. It was built Feb. 1989
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Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
My earlier 5.7L car (Sep 1988 build on a 1989 GTA) would cough and lack power in a corner. It was awful.
On my convertible, I have yet to really drive it much. I just put my 2nd tank of fuel in the car in 1.5 years. Thought about fuel in cornering, but didn't "check" the issue. That was when I put gas in the car earlier in the month. I'll have to check next time it's low, which won't be until the salt/snow is off the roads.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
FWIW my 89 was built in Feb of 89, and it used to sputter around hard corners when it was low. I was DD'ing the car when I bought it back in '98 and I was a young buck barely making enough to make ends meet. It was under a quarter tank a LOT! .....I knew of 3 turns on my way to work that would make the car sputter like clockwork when it was low.
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Car: 90 Formula / T-tops
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
FWIW my 89 was built in Feb of 89, and it used to sputter around hard corners when it was low. I was DD'ing the car when I bought it back in '98 and I was a young buck barely making enough to make ends meet. It was under a quarter tank a LOT! .....I knew of 3 turns on my way to work that would make the car sputter like clockwork when it was low.
btw - I still have original fuel pump and strainer. looking forward to comparing them with these pics.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
That's interesting. So on your later car, did it "starve" for fuel in corners?
On my early (build date, Sep 1988) 1989, it starved for fuel when below 1/4 tank. Not sure on the convertible I have now, but it was built after Jan 1989. Maybe even later. I'd have to check.
On my early (build date, Sep 1988) 1989, it starved for fuel when below 1/4 tank. Not sure on the convertible I have now, but it was built after Jan 1989. Maybe even later. I'd have to check.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
All the baffle does is slow the fuel from sloshing around the tank. The return line dumps the excess fuel back into the plastic tub with the fuel strainer, but eventually you'll have burned the reserve that the baffle and return provides.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
I should have asked the fellow running the 87 Iroc how his ran in the corners when I was running my car. I never had any issues other than hanging on! I do recall my 89 Formula would sputter in corners.
Mark.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Anyone have pics of the plastic tub? That would be similar to the 4th gen setup and if those parts are still available could be a better swap alternative than a 4th gen tank.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Maybe in 89. By 91 all TPI cars got the "1LE" tank, strainer, etc. I uploaded some photos of a tank, fuel pump hanger, etc from a 91 Formula about a year ago in this thread : https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...ml#post5920265
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
https://www.thirdgen.org/1989-chevy-camaro/
Back in the day, the Tech Data was a text document called "Camaro Technical Database" on F-body.org covering more than just Thirdgens. It didn't necessarily originate there, but that was the first place I remember seeing it in it's entirety. That original document credited "Original By Pierre-Henry Marbot (phm@brl.ee.washington.edu)" can be viewed here - http://www.teufert.net/camaro/67-95camaro.htm Note some of the hotlinks still direct to the defunct f-body.org website. The text from that document was copied and pasted, shared wide and far across the internet. Parts of it are copied verbatim on many websites.
When Thirdgen.org came along, the 82-92 section was copied, and a few bits of Firebird trivia were added. People started noticing glaring, obvious errors, so I did a rather extensive edit somewhere around 1998, or 99. I fixed a bunch of little errors and more obvious errors, and notably expanded a lot of the Firebird data. 1LE info was more open to debate at that point, so I left it alone.
I'd intended to go back and do another edit, but I really just lost interest in fixing it. When Dirk stopped administrating the forum, that pretty much ended my contributions to the site since that was my avenue for making contributions.
That's the origin, as best as I remember, and kind of how the rumor has spread, and why it's still in the Tech Data.
Back in the day, the Tech Data was a text document called "Camaro Technical Database" on F-body.org covering more than just Thirdgens. It didn't necessarily originate there, but that was the first place I remember seeing it in it's entirety. That original document credited "Original By Pierre-Henry Marbot (phm@brl.ee.washington.edu)" can be viewed here - http://www.teufert.net/camaro/67-95camaro.htm Note some of the hotlinks still direct to the defunct f-body.org website. The text from that document was copied and pasted, shared wide and far across the internet. Parts of it are copied verbatim on many websites.
When Thirdgen.org came along, the 82-92 section was copied, and a few bits of Firebird trivia were added. People started noticing glaring, obvious errors, so I did a rather extensive edit somewhere around 1998, or 99. I fixed a bunch of little errors and more obvious errors, and notably expanded a lot of the Firebird data. 1LE info was more open to debate at that point, so I left it alone.
I'd intended to go back and do another edit, but I really just lost interest in fixing it. When Dirk stopped administrating the forum, that pretty much ended my contributions to the site since that was my avenue for making contributions.
That's the origin, as best as I remember, and kind of how the rumor has spread, and why it's still in the Tech Data.
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Car: 89 GTA ASC Conv., Prev: 89 GTA 6.3L
Engine: 5.7L L98 TPI
Transmission: 700r4 Automatic
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1 w/ JG1 Options:B2L, N10, U1A
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Wow. Dirk. That's a screen name from the past I recall. Wow.
#42
Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
I
I can confirm that an 88 Iroc had the plastic baffle inside the tank. I just replaced my fuel pump and looked inside the tank. Also cleaned the tank as well.
I can confirm that an 88 Iroc had the plastic baffle inside the tank. I just replaced my fuel pump and looked inside the tank. Also cleaned the tank as well.
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Re: 1LE Gas Tank - from the 1989 Archive
Hi Mark, ping me when you get a chance about a 1989 IROC 1LE.
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