The Ford Barn

luvmyclassics · 07-22-2015, 07:31 PM

I am considering just cleaning out my 65 year old tank and fixing some pin holes.

I was thinking of using a gas tank sealer but read about so many failures.

O r forget the whole idea and buy a new tank. Hate to spend the money though.

Suggestions?

Lawson Cox · 07-22-2015, 07:40 PM

It's a coin toss. I ran quite sa few years off one that I had sealed with Bill Hurst's stuff, without a problem.
I tried it on my avatar and it didn't work. Of course the tank on the pickup was a real pain. I finally went with a Backorder Bob's tank and it is working well.

19Fordy · 07-22-2015, 07:54 PM

I think the secret is that you have to have a clean tank on the inside.
Rusty metal is a problem. Maybe you could clean the inside and pour some POR on the inside and slosh it around.

wbedwards · 07-22-2015, 08:01 PM

Do yourself a favor and get a new one. =] Mine was done by previous owner and was nothing but a mess and some of that mess may end up in your carb. so more joy!
This is a cut away of what it looks like inside.

Scott H in Wheaton · 07-22-2015, 08:26 PM

To properly clean and seal you need to cut it open, get all the rust out, seal what you can and then weld it back together.

There is a series of z shaped baffles inside that is almost impossible to get to without opening it up.

By the time you do all that work you might as well spend the couple hundred dollars for a new tank.

4tford · 07-22-2015, 08:35 PM

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buy a new one. Replace every inch of line, pump and carb. Saves a LOT of grief. Just went through that.

Kube · 07-22-2015, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wbedwards

Do yourself a favor and get a new one. =] Mine was done by previous owner and was nothing but a mess and some of that mess may end up in your carb. so more joy!
This is a cut away of what it looks like inside.

I can't help but think someone was attempting to make a silk purse out of a pigs ear with this tank. It is quite obvious this tank had been long past any restorable life when someone made their feeble attempt to seal it.
Like others have mentioned, sealing works well IF and only IF the tank is clean inside prior to applying the sealer.

Barry-ct · 07-22-2015, 08:44 PM

I had mine done and they cut it open, blasted it clean and coated it and welded it back together. Let it dry for a month and right after I installed it and put gas in, it turned the gas red. It was for ethanol gas, so I was told. The brand was Red Kote. I think it has clogged my carb up so it won't start. I bought a nice clean used tank and will install it soon. If that gives me trouble, I'll buy a new tank. Should have done that first.
Funny thing is, I had a GMC 6x6 swb with the tank behind the cab on the frame and it had pin holes in it. I sloshed it with some kind of aircraft sealant and this was 25 years ago. That tank is still going strong with the person who bought that truck from me. I wish I could remember what it was.
But anyway, bite the bullet and get a new tank. There's also Tanks, Inc. to consider. B/O Bob isn't your only source.

Fibber Mcgee · 07-23-2015, 03:40 PM

I think for the time and money you will spend on the old tank you would be better off to get a new one. Then you could always take the time to cut the old one open and see if it's worth fixing and if it is, fix it and sell one of the two or keep as a spare.

46ford · 07-23-2015, 03:51 PM

Don't mess with welding on fuel tanks. Replace it or clean it out and run a filter.

07-22-2015, 07:31 PM	#1
luvmyclassics Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 193	Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal I am considering just cleaning out my 65 year old tank and fixing some pin holes. I was thinking of using a gas tank sealer but read about so many failures. O r forget the whole idea and buy a new tank. Hate to spend the money though. Suggestions?

07-22-2015, 07:40 PM	#2
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal It's a coin toss. I ran quite sa few years off one that I had sealed with Bill Hurst's stuff, without a problem. I tried it on my avatar and it didn't work. Of course the tank on the pickup was a real pain. I finally went with a Backorder Bob's tank and it is working well. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

07-22-2015, 07:54 PM	#3
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,950	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal I think the secret is that you have to have a clean tank on the inside. Rusty metal is a problem. Maybe you could clean the inside and pour some POR on the inside and slosh it around.

07-22-2015, 08:01 PM	#4
wbedwards Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Birmingham, Al. Posts: 339	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal Do yourself a favor and get a new one. =] Mine was done by previous owner and was nothing but a mess and some of that mess may end up in your carb. so more joy! This is a cut away of what it looks like inside. Last edited by wbedwards; 07-22-2015 at 08:17 PM.

07-22-2015, 08:26 PM	#5
Scott H in Wheaton Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Wheaton, IL near Chicago Posts: 861	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal To properly clean and seal you need to cut it open, get all the rust out, seal what you can and then weld it back together. There is a series of z shaped baffles inside that is almost impossible to get to without opening it up. By the time you do all that work you might as well spend the couple hundred dollars for a new tank.

07-22-2015, 08:35 PM	#6
4tford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Regina Canada Posts: 1,335	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) buy a new one. Replace every inch of line, pump and carb. Saves a LOT of grief. Just went through that.

07-22-2015, 08:44 PM	#8
Barry-ct Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Newington, Connecticut Posts: 1,374	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal I had mine done and they cut it open, blasted it clean and coated it and welded it back together. Let it dry for a month and right after I installed it and put gas in, it turned the gas red. It was for ethanol gas, so I was told. The brand was Red Kote. I think it has clogged my carb up so it won't start. I bought a nice clean used tank and will install it soon. If that gives me trouble, I'll buy a new tank. Should have done that first. Funny thing is, I had a GMC 6x6 swb with the tank behind the cab on the frame and it had pin holes in it. I sloshed it with some kind of aircraft sealant and this was 25 years ago. That tank is still going strong with the person who bought that truck from me. I wish I could remember what it was. But anyway, bite the bullet and get a new tank. There's also Tanks, Inc. to consider. B/O Bob isn't your only source. __________________ Barry 50 F-1

07-23-2015, 03:40 PM	#9
Fibber Mcgee Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Callahan Fla Posts: 1,149	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal I think for the time and money you will spend on the old tank you would be better off to get a new one. Then you could always take the time to cut the old one open and see if it's worth fixing and if it is, fix it and sell one of the two or keep as a spare. __________________ Wanted, a car with a " Dynaflex Superflowing Unijet Turbovasculator which is Syncromeshed to the Multicoil Hydrotensioned Dual vacuum Dynomometer. "

07-23-2015, 03:51 PM	#10
46ford Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nottawa MI Posts: 289	Re: Gas Tank-To seal or not to seal Don't mess with welding on fuel tanks. Replace it or clean it out and run a filter.