I decided to buy a new galvanized gas tank for the 57 3100 pickup. In the past I have had issues with gas smell and wet appearance around the sending unit. Since I had it all out for a wiring harness replacement and painting the inside of the cab I figured I would finally just replace the gas tank.

When I install the new galvanized tank and sending unit is there some special sealant or gasket prep I need to use or does the gasket go on dry?

The Assembly Manual says "4 see Lubrication Instruction - Section 14" But I do not see anythign listed for the sending unit in section 14 pages 9, 10 and 11.

The old tank was dry on the side of the rubber gasket (on top) where the sending unit mounts on top of it.

But the gasket had some sort of cement on the bottom of it to the tank. It was slathered all over the tank and down the back of it and around the edges of the gasket but none on the top of the gasket. I was able to pull it off in one or two pieces revealing a shiny tank below it.

So what is the proper way to assemble the tank, gasket and sending unit so that it has no chance of leaking?

Also, Should I paint the tank or not?
If I paint it should I have the sending unit instaled before painting it so that there is no paint under the gasket?