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| | | | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 106 Member | | Member Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 106 | I'm needing some more of that knowledge floating around... I'm installing a replacement gas tank behind the seat of my 51 3100. My old one appears to be the original tank, but was "painted", it appears, with a thick undercoating material. What did they have on them when they left the factory? The new one, from LMC, is galvanized, and I was going to wash out the inside before installing it to remove the dust, probably with water, then let it dry for a few days, then thought about the outside...The truck is reasonably well restored, but safety and convenience are first..Whatcha think??
51 Chevy 1/2 ton-Restored
46 GMC 1 1/2 ton-Farm Fresh
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 194 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 194 | If it is galvanized, you may have trouble getting paint to stick. Galvanizing will protect the exterior of the tank very well without any other coating. With the seat in you won't be able to see the tank very well anyway. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | OEM, I believe the tanks were in the cab when it got the final paint ,so the exposed face and top were interior color - the undercoating job on yer old tank was the "tank renu" stuff they use when boiling out and relining a tank - if ya wanna paint the tank like original and it's galvanized, wash it down [outside only!] w/ 50/50 vinegar and water and the paint will stick - or just leave it galvanized finish, which looks good IMO
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 106 Member | | Member Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 106 | Thanks Afu45 and Bill, I was leaning toward leaving it alone, so I suppose that's what I'll do...do you think washing out the inside of the tank with a pressure washer and letting it dry a bit is a ggod idea? It seems to have some kinda dust or manufacturing grit inside and out, and here in Colorado it'll be dry in 10 minutes outside in the sun and low humidity. What does the vinegar do to help paint stick? Just curious...thanks again.
Dan
51 Chevy 1/2 ton-Restored
46 GMC 1 1/2 ton-Farm Fresh
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | the vinegar etches it - like it does w/ any metal, and even concrete!!  potent acid - I wouldn't worrry about the inside, that's prolly the kinda residue that ya always see on zinc coatings, and the gas will take care of it!  Bill | | | | | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 | For getting the dust and stuff out of the inside use a cleaner like simple green with some water and slosh it around, the rinse thouroughly, a garden hose will do. Hang or set the tank so the water runs out the intake and let it dry. I usually use a vacuum cleaner to pump warm air through the tank to dry it, but you shouldn't need to.
Fred
52 3600
69 C-10
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