Fuel tanks

[Jim Burrill]

Hi Phil,
I admit, I don't personally have a long track record with Red Kote. The dingo tank was done about three years ago and the Humber tanks done about 2 and a half years back. I also sealed about a dozen watime Brit jerry cans.

I have not seen evidence of the stuff in the fuel filter of the HAC, nor have I had any carb problems. (other than the need to hand pump the fuel pump before starting it after a couple of months. - and getting used to the way the carb used the "pull, turn, pull and hold" choke cable to start it all the time)

So far, it has been a "non -issue" for my HAC. I have not heard any complaints from Bogdan about the tank in his Dingo either.

The shop who restored my tanks ran through a recounting of his use of POR and the failures and why he shifted to Red Kote, and his happiness with it.

I intend to treat the new Carrier tanks I get from Ben with it.

Cheers,
Jim

[Andrew Rowe]

Just a thought... how come you guys don't make your tanks from stainless steel?,then you do not have to coat the in sides with any thing.
I have found there is not much cost difference in the price of the material , and you can not tell the difference when painted, and you don't have problems with rusting from condensation because of half fulling tanks. There is also the problems from rust when you solder , if you don't neualize the acid flux.
I believe the original tanks used a tin coated steel , that made soldering fittings really easy , and also stop the internal rust.. just my thoughts.

[kevin powles]

Originally Posted by Andrew Rowe

Just a thought... how come you guys don't make your tanks from stainless steel?,then you do not have to coat the in sides with any thing.
I have found there is not much cost difference in the price of the material , and you can not tell the difference when painted, and you don't have problems with rusting from condensation because of half fulling tanks. There is also the problems from rust when you solder , if you don't neualize the acid flux.
I believe the original tanks used a tin coated steel , that made soldering fittings really easy , and also stop the internal rust.. just my thoughts.

Hi andrew, agree with you 100%, been saying that all along.

Kevin.

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Guys

I agree with you about making a replacement tank out of stainless, but I just don't know how to weld stainless. Always seem to have the wrong type or the wrong wire, or wrong gas.

Even if I solve those problems not sure how to attach the filler necks.

Now as to were the original tanks coated, on my Chevy CMPs 41 no, 42 yes but it looks like regular steel but has no rust in the tank or outside. 45 HUP the tanks had been really coated in what looks like tin/lead. Wonder if the raw tanks were dipped after being welded and then the filler neck and other fittings soldered on last.

As to sealants the problem as I see it, is we just keep our vehicles to long, good sealant for current gasoline may dissolve completely in the gas of 10 years from now. There is a big stink in the US right now over the introduction of E15 or 15% ethanol. The proponents of it say there is no problem as long as older cars were built after 2001.

Cheers Phil

[Lynn Eades]

Hi. Andrew is correct. Most fuel tanks were made from tin plate ie. a piece of panel steel with a thin layer of tinning (soldier) on its surfaces. Any one ever looked at how much was on old landrover tanks.
later they were galvanized, then anodized (zinc) Now, I guess they are made of poly#%*@$

[Bob Carriere]

Hi Phil

Linde gas ( formerly BOC ) now sells a SS wire for gas welding..... a large roll is around $180. and I am not sure what type of welding gas mixture would be required.

All I know from the old stick welder days, if you welded with SS rods and made a mistake, you needed a stone to grind down the SS to make corrections.

Why couldn't we have a regular steel tank with a bladder inside like a race car......? Or a poly gas tank retro fitted inside the tool box.....? Not original but if it keeps then rolling so be it.

Bottom line CMP gas tanks were not intended to last 70+ years and even if we reproduce them faithfully, their life span will be limited no matter what.

I have lined an old Allis Chalmers gas tank about 10 years ago.... and it had pin holes.... she is still serving me well now that I have repaired the engine.
All I used was a POR kit and followed the cleaning process to the letter. Maybe the main difference is that I keep buying Hi-test gasoline from the farm distributor which claims it has no ethanol added..... a few cents more per litre but in limited quantity no a major expense.

I procured a decent early cab 11 CMP fuel tank a few weeks ago with half inch varnish deposit in the bottom..... like a porous bubbly tar like varnish brittle residue..... not sure how to remove it as it covers baffles and will not chip off. I did a test using a pint of Vinyl solvent made of toluene, M.E.K. and acetone..... it desolved big deposit chunks in a beaker in about 30 minutes.....stinks of old gas and probably toxic as H***...... the only problem is I would need about 3 gallons to degum that tank....... any safer solution to recommend...?

Bob C.

[Lynn Eades]

Bob, Is it worth talking to the POR15 people. I imagine they will keep it up to date,( or have to withdraw it from the market) They sell it in lots of countries? (a guess)
Different oil companies have different brews that make up the fuel (lots of aromatics) so wouldn't they (POR15 people) have to cater to that?
The stuff must add up to a "rubber "bladder akin to a fuel cell.
BTW, I have never used it, but have seen it recently used in carrier tanks.

Are you still happy with it Lew?

[maple_leaf_eh]

One fellow told me how he recovered a scaley gas tank by throwing in a handful of sharp edged steel pieces and some chain links. Then he rolled and shook the tank until he was happy the crud had been broken free.

If your gelled fuel has an edge, what about attacking it with a pressure washer? Find the edge and it might come off it slabs. I think you are right about the toxicity. Try to keep the particles from washing into the surface creeks. The good people in Montreal will thank you for not polluting their water supply - much more.