Protection for Fuel Tank - inside and outside

[Bill Goddard]

I am attaching pics of my fuel tank which I think is in excellent condition EXCEPT for a patch of rust around the filler neck. It is the shape of the felt pad which was placed there by the factory. The rust is mildly pitted in most of the area - a couple of pits look to be about .020" deep (about 1/2 the metal thickness). I have treated the area with a phosphoric acid and am wondering where to go from here. I think I want to fill the pits with epoxy (what product) or even JB Weld. and paint with 2 coates of MasterSeries aluminum primer all the areas hidden from view. On the inside, the surfaces that I can see look perfect and I am reluctant to get into the sealer products if I don't have to. So I will clean the tank (how?) and use good filters etc. Do any of you more experienced restorers have suggestions that I should look at or warnings about what I am about to do? Thanks Bill G.

[Rowdy]

I had the same problem but alittle worse and used the POR-15 body filler. I had to solder afew places that were rusted through. I just wished I had ordered another can of paint from Tower Paints before they burnt to the ground as the paint could stand to be darker. Rod

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Rod, Tower Paint is back in business, I just bought a couple of cans of thorne brown enamel.
Barry

[Rowdy]

Barry,, Thanks for the tip. I thought they were gone forever. Will give them a call soon if I can find their number again. Rod

[Farrell In Vancouver]

Originally Posted by Bill Goddard

I am attaching pics of my fuel tank which I think is in excellent condition EXCEPT for a patch of rust around the filler neck. It is the shape of the felt pad which was placed there by the factory. The rust is mildly pitted in most of the area - a couple of pits look to be about .020" deep (about 1/2 the metal thickness). I have treated the area with a phosphoric acid and am wondering where to go from here. I think I want to fill the pits with epoxy (what product) or even JB Weld. and paint with 2 coates of MasterSeries aluminum primer all the areas hidden from view. On the inside, the surfaces that I can see look perfect and I am reluctant to get into the sealer products if I don't have to. So I will clean the tank (how?) and use good filters etc. Do any of you more experienced restorers have suggestions that I should look at or warnings about what I am about to do? Thanks Bill G.

How about good old fashion body lead? Tin the steel up good and throw the lead solder to it, file it down and finish it with sanding.
Lots of different sealer system out there but few I trust to stay in place (especially W/ ethanol gas). I would test the tank with some fuel first before painting. Set it up on blocks in its normal position, plug off all ports and fill it up. Some of these old tanks still actual hold gas well and many are needlessly sealed inside only to create a mess. Test it first!

[Barry B./ Ma.]

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In the old days when it was available I would have painted it with Carroless then used filler over it. Eastwood bought Carroless and it's called Rust Encapsulator now. They also carry Metal to Metal which would be a good filler over the painted pits.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by Rowdy

Barry,, Thanks for the tip. I thought they were gone forever. Will give them a call soon if I can find their number again. Rod

Rod, they moved into another facility near Oshkosh, I think they are part of APS so I don't know if they have the same number. Do a search on the computer and it will show up.