New gas tank
 

I just got a new tank and compared it to my original one. Besides being about 1.5” shorter it looks great and can’t wait to install it. My question is this, the original has little rubber blocks on the top so what else do I have to add to it? I know the straps are supposed to have a rubber covering on them. I thought I heard about there being some rubber tape on the edge where it contacts the body, if so where do it get it?

Thanks,

Mike

Re: New gas tank
 

Rubber tape on the edge of what? the tank - do you mean the seam? The seam doesn't touch the body. As far as i know, you just have the rubber blocks on the top plus something on the straps where the tank is. Later (57) used a cloth type material between the tank and the straps - not sure about what was used earlier.


The cloth type material can be purchased from a TBird parts supplier, assume any old Ford parts supplier has it.

Re: New gas tank
 

Since the tank mounts with rubber blocks and some cushion strips...
Use an Ohm meter or a test light and make sure the fuel sensor in the tank has a good Ground to the body of the car, or the fuel gauge may not indicate correctly.
You may need to add a Ground wire for it.

Re: New gas tank
 

All of my 57s had a ground wire on the tank. It was tied to one of the sender screws. My 58 Edsel Pacer had no isolation between the tank and the chassis/body and still has the ground wire on the sender. Is there really a "standard" for these cars?

Re: New gas tank
 

I just had heard that there was some sort of insulator between the tank and the body-outside of the rubber blocks. I assume it is for vibration insulation. But I can run a ground wire from one of the outlet holes-it came with an outlet and return line. But good point on the ohm meter to see what I get from the sending unit.

Mike

Re: New gas tank
 

There are some rubber pads between the tank and the trunk floor that can be re-used and transferred to the new tank. This was done at the factory to prevent noise, friction and eventual wearing between the tank and ribbing in the trunk floor. (There is a small amount of deflection between frame and body during body-roll events, such as turning corners or going over bumps and potholes).
For the gas tank straps, you can just cut two strips (one for each strap) of roofing felt and glue the felt to the top surface of the strap, or just lay it in between the strap and tank and it should stay there sandwiched between the strap and tank. I have done it that way on two cars.

Re: New gas tank
 

Are those pads available? When I removed my tank they were is very sad shape.

Re: New gas tank
 

Not to my knowledge, but you don't need 1/8" thick, 1-1/2" wide rubber pads anyway. Just go to the hardware store and get a roll of self-stick foam rubber strips as wide as you can find them and place strips at the high point of the ribbing of the tank. Try to get the dense foam rubber, not the cheap squishy stuff.
If all they have is the squishy stuff, get the thicker strips (about 1/4" to 3/8" thick) and it will smash down when you tighten the gas tank straps up.

Re: New gas tank
 

Maybe. Look around at the websites of or call the various restoration parts suppliers and ask.
The gas tank pads are available for '55/'57 T-Birds and might(?) be a similar size, I don't know.

When I put in a new tank I used some thick rubber pond liner leftover from a landscaping project. Probably shouldn't have covered the whole top of the tank so it could stay drier and not rust later.
But it's really dry here...

Re: New gas tank
 

The pads are available from the Tbird pats vendors, most likely the non TBird vendors. I just helped a friend put a new tank in his 57 Bird and he had new rubber pads.

Re: New gas tank
 

Got some new pads and strap 'covers' from the local T-bird store. Is it worth stripping the oil/grease/cosmolene off of the tank and clear coating it to protect it from rust?

Mike

Re: New gas tank
 

If you want it to look nice, yes, it's worth it.

Re: New gas tank
 

Are the tanks painted when new?

Re: New gas tank
 

I think they are zinc plated (or some other type of coating)

Re: New gas tank
 

According to Auto City Classics they don't need to be painted as they are coated from the factory. I called and the guy I talked to said that I could paint it with a zinc spray paint from Eastwood. I looked it up and it is about $13 a can and they generally takes two cans. I was just curious as I just didn't want it to start rusting, that is all. But since it is already coated I will just install it.

Mike