The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop rusty fuel tank

I have a lot of rust in my fuel tank its a 1947 1 ton has any one had any luck cleaning and sealing one I can find one it is behind the frame rail from the factory and I cant find a new one any advice on what product that will work Thank You

they make a product that pours into the gas tank that is pvc based . I used this on an old motor cycle about three years ago and have not had any problems with it. I know they make the same product for car and truck gas tanks , but I am not sure where I saw it. you just pour it in, roll the tank around until it starts to set up and when your done your gas tank has a plastic liner.

I've used several tank liners and prefer RedKote. You can buy it on line or in some FLAPS. I bought mine through the local Bumper To Bumper store. Clean the tank good and follow the instructions & you won't have any problems. I've had it in my 38 for four years now, run 10% ethanol gas at times & had no issues.

I have used this product it isn't cheap but works if used as directed. You don't have to get the tank totally clean. It leaves a thick enough coat and is hard enough to add some strength to the old tank.
http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm

I would only add that you must take care not to use any product that will attack the solder around any of the fittings on the tank as a leak will occur. Also some people have used older Mercury Cougar tanks to have a filler up thru the bed floor FWIW.

I have been told to use muratic acid to get the rust out has any one used that?

The "kits" you can buy use phosphoric acid as a cleaner. I use muriatic acid because it's quicker, easier to find and cheaper. It's a lot more dangerous than phosphoric, to you and the environment. Wear protection when using it and kill it with a lot of soda water before dumping it.

use the por15 kit in my tank in the 37 in 2000 and it still looks good inside. The kit back then was $50 and I had to buy something...probably the muriatic acid?

the vinyl based stuff is called Kreem, I got it a it at a Motorcylce shop once. Never got around to putting it in, it is expensive for large tank, enough to do 2 motorcycle tanks is 50 bucks. The stuff that POR 15 sells works good, It has been in my 64 for 2 years, no problems. The kit uses phosphoric acid. Adhesion relys on the phosphate coating left on the metal. You have to think of this stuff as a paint system, thats what it is.
If you use muratic acid to save money you might have adhesion issues. READ the directions. It took me years to figure out that I am not smarter than the guys that design painting systems..and other designers of chemical products. Phosphoric acid is expensive though. Add it up, more expensive, works better in the application, AND safer to use.....thats two to one.

I used this stuff because it's alcohol resistent, I cleaned the tank with lye and sharp stones, a lenght of chain and a few dry wall screws, then shook it alot. http://www.hirschauto.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ARK-01