big tank repair

[John H.]

Re: big tank repair

it is a 63,

Ron -

Thanks - I was confused by the "56-57" icon on your original post.

[Steven B.]

Re: big tank repair

ATL, for one, will custom make a bladder.

Steve

[Wayne M.]

Re: big tank repair

Exactly like your pictures, it is a 63, the paint under the gas lid when raised is the the same color as the car, silver, the jack was stored inside the car on the passenger side with I believe a single rivet, no evidence the jack was ever stored behind the driver seat, the cover has 4 small holes behind the passenger seat on the top of the cover, about the same dimensions as the four corners of a license plate.....

OK Ron -- thanks for the additional info. So when you lift the gas filler lid and remove the cap, it looks like this (well, except for the color ).

My guess is those 4 small holes in the tank cover might have been to mount a fire extinguisher. I hope the screws were short, or there's a chance they could pierce the top of the tank.

[Joe L.]

Re: big tank repair

Ron -

Thanks - I was confused by the "56-57" icon on your original post.

John and Ron-----


Me too!

[Ron R.]

Re: big tank repair

Gary and Ken Nabers in Houston, Tx. (713) 664-1967.
Kevin and Gary have many years experience repairing, and even rebuilding. If your car is a 1963 model, it very well may be a Z0-6 Tanker. No matter, all the TANKERS are rare and deserve to be restored and cared for.

I've been informed that it is not a Z06, doesn't have the big brakes or roll bar. Master cyclinder is from a 64, one thing the car did have from a z06 was the rear shocks. The car is a first week November car......appears to have had damage at one time to the passenger quarter panel........
by the way I did speak to one of the Nabor brothers 2 years ago in Bloomington before the tank started leaking.....

[Joe L.]

Re: big tank repair

I've been informed that it is not a Z06, doesn't have the big brakes or roll bar. Master cyclinder is from a 64, one thing the car did have from a z06 was the rear shocks. The car is a first week November car......appears to have had damage at one time to the passenger quarter panel........
by the way I did speak to one of the Nabor brothers 2 years ago in Bloomington before the tank started leaking.....

Ron------


If there is someone that can supply a bladder for the tank, that would be the best solution. I did not know that such were available for these tanks. It would seem like manufacturing such a bladder, if it conforms to the internal configuration of the tank, and installing it would be difficult but if it can be done, I'd say it's the way to go.

[Ron R.]

Re: big tank repair

OK Ron -- thanks for the additional info. So when you lift the gas filler lid and remove the cap, it looks like this (well, except for the color ).

My guess is those 4 small holes in the tank cover might have been to mount a fire extinguisher. I hope the screws were short, or there's a chance they could pierce the top of the tank.

Is their any other telltale signs to look for to prove its original big tank car. I'm told it is by a lot of experts, just not 100 % sure.

[Wayne M.]

Re: big tank repair

Is their any other telltale signs to look for to prove its original big tank car. I'm told it is by a lot of experts, just not 100 % sure.

Ron -- here's another major sign; the interior fender wheelwell caps. Early '63 might present a more hand-laid (cloth weave) finish -- this is on my '65 and is mostly smooth but you can see a bit of it showing through at the lower edge. On the tire side of the wheelwell, the mat/weave is quite evident.

[Richard M.]

Re: big tank repair

Does the tank have baffles? If so how could a bladder fit?

[Wayne M.]

Re: big tank repair

Does the tank have baffles? If so how could a bladder fit?

Yes; there's at least one longitudinal baffle, in line with the filler tube.

In the Restorer Vol 18 #1, Chevrolet distributed instructions to competition teams, showing how to convert a 36.5 gal tank to 42.5 gal, by cutting laterally (also thru the baffle); spreading the tank halves by 6 inches and re-joining the baffle and tank halves by applying successive layers of fiberglass.

These instructions were dated 7-21-65.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: big tank repair

Bottom line is that the tank needs to be removed. I would remove the cover and see if I can see the problem. It could be a leaky sending unit seal. If not take tyhe tank out and fix the problem and replace it. I have had mine out 5 times. It takes about 2 hours. I had to make a sending unit as none are availaible

[Ron R.]

Re: big tank repair

Ron -- here's another major sign; the interior fender wheelwell caps. Early '63 might present a more hand-laid (cloth weave) finish -- this is on my '65 and is mostly smooth but you can see a bit of it showing through at the lower edge. On the tire side of the wheelwell, the mat/weave is quite evident.

The interior fender wheelwell is as you described, it has all the characteristics of a big tank, except based on the production date being

[Bob J.]

Re: big tank repair

I've been informed that it is not a Z06, doesn't have the big brakes or roll bar. Master cyclinder is from a 64, one thing the car did have from a z06 was the rear shocks. The car is a first week November car......appears to have had damage at one time to the passenger quarter panel........

If your car was built the first week of November, with a 36 gallon tank, it HAS to be a Z06. Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: big tank repair

If your car was built the first week of November, with a 36 gallon tank, it HAS to be a Z06. Bob

Bob and Ron------


Yes, I don't think the 36 gallon tank was available as a stand-alone option at that time. At that time, it was only available as part of the Z-06 package.

[Mike M.]

Re: big tank repair

Ron -- here's another major sign; the interior fender wheelwell caps. Early '63 might present a more hand-laid (cloth weave) finish -- this is on my '65 and is mostly smooth but you can see a bit of it showing through at the lower edge. On the tire side of the wheelwell, the mat/weave is quite evident.

here's another sign of real 36 gall tankers: no evidence of the holes for the rivets that fasten the metal reinforcement plate to the back side of the partition between the cockpit and the area where a non-36 gal tank resides. mike