Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-19-2015, 12:24 PM   #1
29 model-a
Senior Member
 
29 model-a's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iron River Wi
Posts: 172
Question Leak around rivets on gas tank

Can someone tell me how to fix a leak in my gas tank? It's leaking around the column support "the rivets". Is there a way to tighten them or what does one do? Thanks Pete
29 model-a is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 12:40 PM   #2
Rowdy
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80
Posts: 4,893
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Your not going to want to hear this, but they are sealed by solder. Repairing it correctly will require the gas tank being removed from the car. The tank drained, cleaned and purged of any gas fumes or residue and soldering the entire steering column mount. This whole process will with out a doubt ruin your paint. There are some quick fixes out there and I am sure someone will post something else that will work for now. Eventually it will need to be dealt with correctly. Rod
__________________
Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!
Rowdy is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 07-19-2015, 12:49 PM   #3
29 model-a
Senior Member
 
29 model-a's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iron River Wi
Posts: 172
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Rod, I should of said the tank is out and needs to be painted, I'm in the middle of restoring it. Thanks Pete
29 model-a is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 01:01 PM   #4
Fred A
Senior Member
 
Fred A's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Encino California, near Burbank
Posts: 935
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

I danced around with this problem and now have gone with a tank without any sign of ever leaking. Late '31 Frod ditched the column supported by the tank for very good reason. Another congenetal defect like the flywheel and its housing was not fixed until the Model B. One fix that should survive on '30 or early '31 cars is to remove the upper clamp on the tank completely and patch it in a safe manner. A late '31 column support replaces the bracket. Not at all a quick fix but solid. Good Luck: Fred A
Fred A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 02:06 PM   #5
Benson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Not all tanks leak under the steering bracket.

My 29 had a 3/4 inch crack a 1/2 inch BELOW the bottom edge of the steering bracket.

1. We soldered a brass "patch" to seal the hole in addition to soldering the bracket.

2. Removed the bottom half of the bracket, leaving the upper half, incase someone wanted to return to stock setup.

3. And added the 31 bracket that is fastened to the dash rail.

Since tank is out it might be best to have it magnafluxed around the steering bracket in addition to soldering the bracket.
Benson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 02:12 PM   #6
29 model-a
Senior Member
 
29 model-a's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Iron River Wi
Posts: 172
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
So I could remove this bracket and put in a 31 under dash bracket?
29 model-a is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 02:24 PM   #7
Benson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by 29 model-a View Post
So I could remove this bracket and put in a 31 under dash bracket?
Yes.

All the things that we did can be reversed if a restorer wants to return to stock.

Some folks cut a hole and remove the bracket and weld a patch. Then the tank is very difficult to return to stock condition. Then you have bare steel inside the tank that will rust because all the Terne coating has been burned off the inside of the tank.

The whole problem is caused by folks using the steering wheel to pull themselves into the car.

The 31 bracket removes the strain on the tank and makes it very unlikely that it will ever leak again.

Last edited by Benson; 07-19-2015 at 02:39 PM. Reason: additions and spelling
Benson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 02:25 PM   #8
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Senior Member
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Posts: 11,485
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Just open up the tank, remove the rivets and weld-up the holes along with the fatigue cracks that you will find radiating from the rivet holes. Re-drill the holes and re-rivet the bracket on. THEN add the solder to sweat the bracket back on.
__________________
.

BRENT in 10-uh-C
.
www.model-a-ford.com
...(...Finally Updated!! )

.
BRENT in 10-uh-C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 02:32 PM   #9
Chris in CT
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 272
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Hi 29,
Since your tank is out and you are restoring it, you have the opportunity to fix it correctly. I have a 29 roadster, and have done this repair myself. First, take it to a radiator repair shop that is willing to play with your tank. Have them completely clean out the interior of the tank, then pressure test it with their equipment.
If the radiator shop is a good one, they will be able to SILVER SOLDER the leak in the tank, whether it is a crack or a leak around the rivets as you suggest. In any case, the edge of the 29 bracket should also be silver soldered around its perimeter, whether it is cracked or not.
DO NOT allow anyone to weld on this tank! The tank is a semi-hard sheet metal which will spider-crack if it is welded on.
If you can find it, it would be a good idea to have the interior coated with an alcohol-and-gasoline fuel proof coating if you can find it. In all probability, if you find the right coating for the tank, it will have to be baked on. Beware that there are some gas tank coatings which will "melt" over time, causing the fuel lines to clog with a gummy or flaky substance as the coating melts inside your fuel tank. Hope this helps...Happy Motoring!
Chris in CT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 02:58 PM   #10
WestCoast
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: oroville calif
Posts: 893
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

the tank has to be fixed the right way now, there is no safe way to mickey mouse a repair on the tank, it has to be resoldered , opening up the tank is the absolutley the best way to repair the tank, but most restores don't have the experience or talent to do it that way, clean the metal around the leak to bear metal, clean tank to remove any fuel or vapors have a radiator shop clean it, some radiator shops will still solder it, if not it can be done at home if all precautions are taken and followed, solder all of the bracket around seams and rivets, when done install the late steering column bracket the one that attaches to the bottom of the dash rail, if you do it your self use silver solder, its stronger, how ever you do it just remember that's gas leaking on your foot
WestCoast is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-19-2015, 07:01 PM   #11
Phil Brown
Senior Member
 
Phil Brown's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Santee Calif.
Posts: 491
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Don't forget to look at the choke rod bracket while you're there,not as likely to leak but finding one that does after paint sucks
Phil Brown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 07:39 AM   #12
Bob from Northport
Senior Member
 
Bob from Northport's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: 215 E. 6th Street Northport, Michigan 49670
Posts: 933
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Send it to Brent Terry's garage and let them repair/weld it correctly. They can paint it as well if you need it done.
__________________
Bob from Northport
Northport, Michigan
Bob from Northport is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 07:54 AM   #13
john in illinois
Senior Member
 
john in illinois's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,181
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

However you fix tank,I would reccomend the 31 support. As mentioned it is completely reversible. You keep old mount and do not put bottom clamp on or leave out rubber spacer so it bears no weight.

This is direction to fit 31 mount to 29.



Posted by Tom Endy from cpe-66-75-83-114.socal.res.rr.com (66.75.83.114) on Friday, October 26, 2007 at 12:31PM :
In Reply to: steering column support posted by Allan in N.S. from blk-222-214-180.eastlink.ca (24.222.214.180) on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:43PM :
Allan:
You can get what you need from Bratton's. You need to order the three parts that make up the 31 steering column clamp set-up. Order support 4860, anti rattle 4880, clamp 4840. The 4860 is a very rough casting and you will have to spend some time filing and block sanding to make it smooth.It is otherwise a good quality part.
You then have to make an adapter bracket to fit it to the 28-29 dash rail. You will need a piece of metal stock 3/8" thick by 3/4" wide about 7" long. You will also need four 1/4" flat head screws one inch long.
Locate and drill counter sunk holes in the adaptor bracket to match up with two holes in the 4860 and two holes in the dash rail.Two counter sinks will be in opposite direction to the other two.
The new set up will space the steering column down to where there is a 1/8" space around the old clamp. This will take the strain off of it. However, you will still have to deal with whatever fuel leak is there.
Tom Endy



John

john in illinois is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 12:43 PM   #14
ericr
Senior Member
 
ericr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,542
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob from Northport View Post
Send it to Brent Terry's garage and let them repair/weld it correctly. They can paint it as well if you need it done.
this is sound advice, about the best here, but does anyone know if Brent is actually accommodating towards this kind of work, does one need an appointment, ballpark figure, etc. I understand that Brent would be too ethical to solicit or even comment upon such repairs within an answer, but has anyone actually followed through on this?

I personally can't imagine finding a typical radiator repair shop where I live even attempting to cut the tank open, but I have been surprised before. I can see them being willing to solder the outside of the tank.
ericr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2015, 12:51 PM   #15
Rowdy
BANNED
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Gothenburg Nebraska Just off I-80
Posts: 4,893
Default Re: Leak around rivets on gas tank

Probably going to use Brents method to fix my worst tank. It is the one from the donor fordor and has the correct firewall date to match my engine and frame numbers. It will be challanging as so far I found 22 pin holes.Very doable, but time consuming. Sure could not afford to send it to someone. If it don't turn out I can always put the firewall section on one of my other tanks. Rod
__________________
Do the RIGHT thing - Support the H.A.M.B. Alliance!!!!
Rowdy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:06 PM.