Mid year gas tank stencil

[Garry E.]

I just removed the gas tank from my late '64 and noticed a barely-visable stencil (in black) on one end of the tank...... I can make out the word "Louis" and most ofthe part number "3819506" under it. Can I assume the word "St." preceeded "Louis", or was something else used? A glob of black paint covers whatever preceeded "Louis".

Also, when the tank is in the correct up-right position, the stenciled information is "up-side down"..... is this correct?

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Greg T.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

Yep it's St Louis. Go to Quantas web site for more info. Not all tanks are marked.

[Craig O.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

borrowed photo that was posted before

[Garry E.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

Thanks for the pictures...... very helpful....

Another question..... what was the original finish on the tanks? My tank is original and has never been out of the car. When I pulled it the other day, I noticed that the finish of the metal under the straps had a "galvanized" appearance. Is this just an aging effect of the metal, or did the entire tank look like this when new?

The new tanks from Quanta have a very shiny finish to them..... I would have thought the original tanks would have had some type of finish (galvanize?) on them to slow/prevent rusting......

Thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Edward S.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

Hi Gary,
I have a Quanta tank in my 65 and have never lost any points on it. I think you will find that Quanta tanks are known to be spot on, so I assume the finish on their products are as they should be.

[Garry E.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

I agree about the quality of the Quanta tanks.... a friend of mine has one in his SW '63.... it looks and fits great.

However..... I'm still curious about the differences in the finish between my original '64 tank (non-shiny/galvanized-look) and Quanta's "high shine/gloss" look. If you look at the preivous posting with the pictures of an original tank w/stencil, the finish is not a glossy shine.... it appears more flat-finished.....

Interestingly, I also found the two anti-rattle strips glued to the bottom of my tank..... The '64 AIM indicates they were to be glued to the tank support and the rear frame crossmember - not to the tank. Maybe this was a bit of "custom work" from some guy on the line in S.L.

Thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Alan D.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

"Interestingly, I also found the two anti-rattle strips glued to the bottom of my tank..... The '64 AIM indicates they were to be glued to the tank support and the rear frame crossmember - not to the tank."

I found the same thing on my original tank (never out) when removed for cleaning. Guess I'll find out soon if it should be the other way around when judged.

The strap area was also shinny and did seem to have a slight galvanize finish look, but only in a few spots.

Have you noticed the repo anti-rattle strips are way too thin!

[Garry E.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

I ordered the NOS (supposedly...) anti-rattle strips from LIC.... we'll see how they compare to the originals..... I would like to keep my originals but sections of both strips are crumbling and falling apart....

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Craig O.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

[quote=Garry Eastwood (38705);437818]Thanks for the pictures...... very helpful....

Another question..... what was the original finish on the tanks? My tank is original and has never been out of the car. When I pulled it the other day, I noticed that the finish of the metal under the straps had a "galvanized" appearance. Is this just an aging effect of the metal, or did the entire tank look like this when new?

The new tanks from Quanta have a very shiny finish to them..... I would have thought the original tanks would have had some type of finish (galvanize?) on them to slow/prevent rusting......

Thanks

well it sorta looks like a galvanized plating for rust protection but I believe tanks used Terne plated steel .Terne-coated steel is also known as terne-metal and often referred to as "tin". I believe the old fuel tanks are an alloy of lead and tin. with regulations today, I would suspect the re-pro tanks like Quanta's are zinc coated.

[John H.]

Re: Mid year gas tank stencil

I believe tanks used Terne plated steel .Terne-coated steel is also known as terne-metal and often referred to as "tin". I believe the old fuel tanks are an alloy of lead and tin. with regulations today, I would suspect the re-pro tanks like Quanta's are zinc coated.

That's correct - the original tanks were stamped from terne-plated coil stock, and the current ones are stamped from hot-dip zinc-galvanized coil stock. EPA/OSHA regs make it difficult to handle/process lead and tin.