46-48 gas tank questions

[Topher5150]

I picked up a 46-48 gas tank a while back and I'm getting it ready to clean it out.
-I put some heat on the drain plug and the outlet noticed what looked like little metal beads. Are these lead soldered?
-it looks like there's a line in the tank that runs to the plate. Can that t taken off?
-last question can I fill some pin holes with lead solder?

[Bruce_MO]

It’s just me, but I always leave gas tanks to people who do that for a living. I know that I surely don’t know how to safely apply heat/flame to a tank that may have residual fuel or vapors. Please be careful, and good luck with saving an original. My ‘46 tank had several dime sized holes in the top, so I bought a new Drake tank.

[APDAVE]

I had a friend that was grinding on a gas tank it exploded and he woke up in the corner of his garage!! Dont put a torch on a tank !! Dave

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Topher5150

I picked up a 46-48 gas tank a while back and I'm getting it ready to clean it out.
-I put some heat on the drain plug and the outlet noticed what looked like little metal beads. Are these lead soldered?
-it looks like there's a line in the tank that runs to the plate. Can that t taken off?
-last question can I fill some pin holes with lead solder?

Yes, the bung is soldered.
You may or may not be able to solder pin holes. The issue is, if you see some holes, there are a zillion more that are not seen and will show up sooner rather than later.

I'd suggest buying a new tank from Drake. I am not a big fan of his but have to say, he got those tanks right. I have installed a couple in '46 - '48.

The safety thing that has been brought up by others is quite real and should be taken very seriously.
I don't know of any shops that will still repair these. The unleaded fuel has a way of permeating the metal and as such is much more dangerous than the tanks that were used with leaded fuels.

[19Fordy]

Gas tanks were made from terneplate which had zinc in it. That's probably causing the silver bubbles you saw.

[Topher5150]

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Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Gas tanks were made from terneplate which had zinc in it. That's probably causing the silver bubbles you saw.

Interesting....yeah they were just a few tiny beads

[Kube]

To be clear, gas tanks were not made from terne but rather, were plated with terne.
The beads surrounding the bung where you had applied heat was solder.

[TJ]

Topher , you are one lucky guy that that tank did not cause you some great harm. As others have suggested buy a new tank. Trying to fix an old tank is a huge waste of money and if you use sealer in it and the sealer comes loose, you will start all over again.

[Topher5150]

no worries...this tank hasn't had gas in it for eons.
I really don't want to buy a new tank I already have two others from parts cars. LOL

[19Fordy]

Thanks Kube for the "terne plate" info.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Thanks Kube for the "terne plate" info.

I seem to recall that once the plating is compromised, the tank rusts out rather rapidly.