Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

I have developed a small leak around my fuel gauge and figure I should just pull the entire tank and have it cleaned and sealed while I am repairing the gauge leak. The only place I can find in my area (NJ next to Phila, PA) said it would cost about $250-$300 to have the tank cleaned and sealed. Is this what I should expect to pay or should I just keep looking? I would prefer to keep my original tank if possible since it original to the car (10-2-28).

Thanks for your advise

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

do you have a rust and debris problem inside your tank?? pulling the tank is a much larger job than fixing the gauge leak.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

I wouldn't pull the tank just for a repair to the gas guage. The guage is generally easy to reseal. There is a good explanation of the repair in Les Andrews maintenance book. Gar Williams

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

I have found evidence of fine rust powder accumulating in the sediment bowl screen and carburetor strainer although I have not experienced any problems yet. My concern is that when I fix the gauge leak I may dislodge more rust in the process. I do have the Les Andrews book and also the article in the Jan/Feb 2011 Restorer to reference. I think I can handle the removal.

Would you recommend just repairing the gauge leak and see what else happens?

Thanks

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

If it was mine, that is what I would do. Look up some of the threads on tank repair and you will find that it is doubtful that the tank can be cleaned completely. Removing the tank from your Briggs Fordor is a laborious job. Gar Williams

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

you wont disturb anything in the tank fixing the gauge. i would make sure you have the pencil screen in the top of the shut off valve, they are very important. i wouldnt touch the tank. also consider changing the float to a neoprene one while your there and use cork gaskets at the guage. also disconnect the battery first

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

If you're dead set on cleaning/sealing your tank, DIY. The stuff Bill Hirsch sells for ethanol gas resistance has been good so far in the three tanks I can speak about. It's only been 3-4 years, but so far, so good. All in, maybe $40 outta pocket and the priceless satisfaction that it wasn't done by someone who had a "bad day". Just sayin...

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

These tanks are small enough that you could easily do the clean and seal. Buy some phosphoric acid from Home Depot.Its about $15 a gallon. Get several. Block off the tank and pour in the acid. Throw some nuts in as well, large ones. You need to agitate it. This will get the nuts moving around and breaking loose rust away from the tank. Tilt the tank and let it sit for 1/2 day or so, then tilt another way and let it sit. Leave the acid in for 3 or 4 days, moving it around and shaking when you can. After the 4 days, pour it all out. Normally I do not do this with phosphoric acid, but I would rinse it with water. Rinse a few times and blow air in it to dry it up as quickly as possible. Then buy some Master Series. Pour the MS in the tank and again tilt tank around. You want the MS to flow everywhere. MS comes in quarts, you might need two of them to have enough inside to slosh around.After you are sure you have coated the entire tank, pour out the excess and let it sit a couple days. At that point, you are in great shape. Use the tank as usual.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

Plan on having to repaint the tank if you have it boiled out and sealed. I would just fix the gauge.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

Reading through all this good (& questionable) info, it sounds like a much bigger job than $250-$300 by the time it's re & re'ed, cleaned, dried, sealed and repainted.
I'd A) fix the gauge in car
or B) make sure the clean & seal person knows what they're doing and be prepared to pay more.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

I think you are making way more of this than it should be. If your car is on the road and working fine, don't mess with it.

If you remove your gas tank to have it cleaned, they are going to dip the entire thing which will damage the paint. They you have to match paint to your gas tank, reinstall, etc... Not a simple job you are talking about.

Just remove the gas gauge, change the cork gasket, and reinstall. I agree with replacing the float with a neoprene float while you are at it.

Then enjoy your A!

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I sense that the general feeling is to just repair the gauge leak by installing a rebuild kit, buying the separate neoprene float then put it back together. I appreciate your cautions and will take your good advice. I also intend to add the tank pencil filter, rebuild the shut-off valve, and install a new screen filter in the sediment bowl and a new carburetor strainer. I appreciate all the help you provided.
Supergnat

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

The cork gaskets dissolved on me, and this was years before ethanol. I switched to neoprene.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

Changing the gauge is a one hour job. Pulling the tank is a one day job, and about the same to replace it, though I am sure some have done it quicker.
Make sure while changing the gauge to have less than 1/2 tank full and the battery disconnected. Make sure to replace the cork float with neoprene while out of the tank.
GOOD LUCK !

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

I thought we had people here who didn't mind getting dirty???? The procedure I detailed is very easy to do . . at least compared to most things I end up doing. It would be about $100 in materials and would not effect the finish on the outside.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

If you look into the tank with a good flashlight you can see if its bad enough to have to clean it.Try to look at the top with a mirror, too. There are a lot of threads about this. Mine was real bad and had to be cleaned. The biggest problem with these tanks is the baffles inside, they make it hard to clean and may prevent a proper coating of the sealer. I decided to just remove the rust and use the pencil screen, so far so good.If the sealer comes loose afterward then you have a real problem. Good luck.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

I agree with Mitch in #6 and be sure to use the cork gaskets for the guage, as the black ones will swell and fail with ethanol gas.

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

Tom,
I thought the cork gaskets would be attacked and I should use the neoprene ones that Brattons sells separately from the rebuild kit. Which is correct?
Thanks,
Supergnat

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

cork and neoprene float

Re: Gas tank clean and seal cost?
 

rich

if you need to borrow the tools for the guage let me know and you can stop by the shop and get them

mitch