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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 28 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 28 | Got my tank out (broke a mount bolt too, boo), took the sending unit out and it appears to be rusty on the inside. There was about 2 inches of gas still in the bottom that has been probably sitting for 2 - 3 years. PIC OF TANK HERE Any suggestions? It's pretty hard to see in there.....
-Troy
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | Old gas tanks arent worth messing with if a new one is available, I always go new,
Scott | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 | | | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 | It comes down to what are you into as far as messing with your old truck. 48 BigT is into swapping in new tanks, I'm into the original equipment angle on mine because it's 90% there. I'm into the idea of restoring others are drivers pure and simple.
I replaced the float on my sending unit(from NAPA)but with lots of research and elbow chemicals the mesh screen and all the rest came out nice, clean and ready to go again, plus I learned a bit about how they engineered things.
For the tank I found a 20' chunk of chain and a few shovels of pea gravel worked well, followed by hose off the hot water heater through the pressure washer and finished with an hour of shop vac blowing things dry. YMMV.
It's quicker to replace than restore that's for sure.
Give me ambiguity
or give me something else
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | Once you have the rust formed in the tank its very difficult to get it clean. I have had them derusted in a tank of caustic chemicals, then used the tank liner products available. It looked good when I was done and worked fine. I talked to the guy who purchased the '34 and 20 years later he had a rusty mess and ended up replacing the tank. So if you decide to clean yours I'd suggest giving it a visual inspection every couple years. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 | I went to a lot of trouble to salvage my old tank and spent almost as much on chemicals for it as a new tank. In the end I still wasn't happy and got a new tank. One of my better decisions.
Chuck
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | Once you have rust, you always have rust!
Scott | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,961 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,961 | Buy yourself a Spectra Premium tank. They are made in Canada and fit like originals. Then you will be done with the gas tank problems. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 507 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 507 | Have you got a link on where to purchase a Spectra Premium Tank??
Need one for the 41 1/2 ton. Looked at cleaning and discovered that there were 2 baffles in the tank, so the chain route dosen't work to well.
Thanks in advance: Kirk
"If it ain't Steel it ain't Real" "Earth the insane aslyum for the rest of the Universe" 41 1/2-ton, a work in progress 68 Shortbed stepside 327/325hp/700R4
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 457 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 457 | A new tank is the only way to go. Bought mine from Jim Carter. Expensive, but I am driving now without fuel problems.
1940 Chevy 1/2 ton pickup "KC"
A day without sunshine is like, well, ..... dark!
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