Howdy, Looks like I need a new tank. Any ideas?? Lotsa aftermarket tanks out there. Which one would fit and let me use the original gas filler door? I imagine it would be real hard to find an original in good shape. I doubt they are repopped. Thanks for any gouge.
they're not repro'd, but a recoverable original might be found .... original tank dimensions here and here - that tanksinc one will not fit in the space at all, too tall and wide and the angled seam on the original is necessary for proper mounting .... from my past research, you will not find a tank to fit in the same space
"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir "When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me Some TF series details & TF heater pics
How bad is your tank? Rusted through? Take it to a fuel tank/radiator repair shop and see what they have to say before giving up on it. It may cost you some serious bucks, but in the end it will be worth it to have your original tank. My tank was totally rusty inside, dented, and a baffle had broken loose and was sliding around inside. They cut the tank in half, pounded out the dents, re-welded the baffle in place, de-rusted it, welded it back together and then coated the inside with some cherry red sealer. Best money I ever spent, haven't had a problem with it since.
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for your tank repair? I'm thinking of doing the same thing. I'm torn between fixing the one I have and trying to get a custom one made.
Cost me $485. BUT- keep in mind I had to have my tank completely cut in half in order to weld the baffle back in place, that was major. The bonus was it allowed them to pound out the major dents while they had it apart. They initially quoted me $200 to $250 without realizing the tank needed to be split. I wouldn't be surprised if you could find a radiator shop that would do it even cheaper. Just make sure the shop you choose is equipped to apply the sealer to the inside after they boil it out. I am absolutely stoked with the results, I'll never have to deal with it again!
The TF tank is made with two, almost identical, halves welded together. A sheet metal shop may do it at a cheaper price because of that. A tank builder can make it also, but a good sheet metal man may charge less. If someone made a wooden buck for one half, you would have a business selling Panel and Burb tanks. A good layout person can bend a half out of one piece of aluminum or sheet metal and then weld corners/provide indents. Making a die, too much money for the reward. Orrrrrr......Hydroform it with a pressure washer!
I'm intrigued by your idea of making a wooden buck to make tanks with. Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is a buck. Is that a block that you bend metal over (wood on the inside) or a cut out form that you press metal into (wood on the outside)? Sounds like it might be a fun woodworking project.
I'm intrigued by your idea of making a wooden buck to make tanks with. Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is a buck. Is that a block that you bend metal over (wood on the inside).
YES Plenty of info on bucks on the web. It's just a "negative" to make a "positive". If you have ever seen the wooden inner structure for older aircraft wings, for instance, it is like that. Wooden spars and ribs and all manner of ways to create a mold/form. If you screw it all together it will be easier to tweak various pieces. You will need a real tank to measure. Motorcycle tank
Forum containing bucks galore You would hold the metal/aluminum to the buck and weld. There are baffles/ribs inside a burb tank also. The tank can be "rolled"/formed by a sheet metal person and all bent out of one piece (I'm talking one half of the tank) folded up and welded. This would take several cardboard mock ups to get what the sheet metal flat pattern would look like before bending/rolling.(there are computer programs for that) The Burb/Panel tank fits into a couple of radiused cross members where they meet the frame channel, as you know. If you ever get serious about making them in quantity, let me know, I have some specific changes that need to be made to tank and info regarding off the shelf tank accessories. I've fixed up many TF burbs and panels and, as you can see, have thought allot about tanks.
