should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

[Henry J.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

Thank you, Alan. Both you and Joe have clarified this for me very nicely.

[Michael L.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

fuel tank A.jpgfuel tank B.jpgfuel tank C.jpgfuel tank.jpg


Joe,

See above. From what you and Alan have posted it appears my tank has the valve.

Mike

[Leif A.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

Michael,
If the inside of that tank is as clean as the outside there is absolutely no reason, at all, not to re-use it. That tank is pristine!!

[Joe L.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

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Joe,

See above. From what you and Alan have posted it appears my tank has the valve.

Mike

Mike------


It does not appear that the valve has failed and has been leaking. If that occurs there are gasoline stains around the valve.

[Michael L.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

Leif,

I'll have to find the gas tank key and take a look inside but at a minimum I wanted to get it cleaned out. Was thinking of having a local radiator shop hot tank it but after seeing someone recommend against it I'm not sure what to do. pretty sure I will need to paint it if I do tank it (I think it has been painted already by the guys who started this restoration) but if I do apparently that's a judging deduct. This is a full on restoration so I want to do this once and right. Hearing from guys that the replacement tanks are of high quality with no judging deducts makes me think that might be the way to go.

Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

Leif,

I'll have to find the gas tank key and take a look inside but at a minimum I wanted to get it cleaned out. Was thinking of having a local radiator shop hot tank it but after seeing someone recommend against it I'm not sure what to do. pretty sure I will need to paint it if I do tank it (I think it has been painted already by the guys who started this restoration) but if I do apparently that's a judging deduct. This is a full on restoration so I want to do this once and right. Hearing from guys that the replacement tanks are of high quality with no judging deducts makes me think that might be the way to go.

Mike

Mike------


From what I see of it in the photos, this tank does not appear to me to have been painted.

The filler neck appears to have been slightly leaking as as fuel stain can be seen rearward of the filler neck. This is quite common as the filler-to-tank gasket is cork and deteriorates over time. I recommend using a buna-N gasket and new screws with integral gasket. You may have to fabricate a buna-N gasket from stock material, as I did, as I don't know that they are commercially available.

You can inspect the inside of the tank pretty well if you remove the filler neck. If there is rust, it will most likely be on the bottom of the tank and visible through the filler neck. If there is rust, replace the tank. If not, the tank should be re-usable.

[Michael L.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

Thanks Joe. I'll keep you posted on what I find.

[Gary R.]

Re: should I re-use my gas tank or go new?

When I dropped my 72's tank 10 years ago it was dirty but didn't leak or have any rust on or in it. I washed it out and reused it, however I wanted to be proactive so I treated it inside with tank sealer. That was a mistake because it is now starting to peel up by the filler. I followed the instructions to the letter and it didn't show up till a couple of years ago. If yours is in nice rust free shape I would reuse it, not that there anything wrong with a new tank- I may be going that way soon enough.