gas tank reconditioning

Questions, answers and reports on various technical subjects.
Post Reply
67clone
Active Member
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:33 pm
Vehicles Owned: 67 Sunbeam Tiger clone
66 Sunbeam Alpine

gas tank reconditioning

Post by 67clone »

While breaking in my new engine, it ran out of gas after 20 minutes and still registering 1/4 tank. The fuel system was the only system I haven't rebuilt. My electric fuel pump was good but no gas was flowing to it. Frustrated, I blew air into the tanks from the line going to the tanks and when I released the air line out came a few large pieces of paint. I removed the tanks and confirmed they were painted and about 1/3 of the paint was missing. This is how I conditioned the tanks for my Sunbeam.

1. I bought plumbing test plugs from the home depot to cap the inlets and outlets.
2. I also bought a torn bag of lava rocks at a discount
3. I placed about 5 or 6 handful of rocks in the tanks
4. I made a plate to hold the tanks on a shaft that I rotated with my lathe.
5. I mounted the tanks in four different orientations on the plate and rotated the tank for 20 minutes in each mounting orientation. Almost all the paint and rust was removed and the surfaces where scratched like you sanded them with 80 grit paper.
6. I then acid etched the tank for a day, rinsed it thoroughly, washed it with alcohol and recoated it with POR15 tank sealer.

Not only does this prepare your tank, but it also makes round lava rocks and a lot of pumice dust
User avatar
Steve Simmons
Site Admin
Posts: 4106
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:45 pm
Vehicles Owned: .
1937 MG SA Saloon
1946 John Deere AN
1949 MG TC
1953 MG TD
1958 MGA Roadster
1959 Morris Minor 1000
1965 MGB
1967 MGB GT (UK-Spec)
1967 Austin Healey 3000 BJ8
1969 MGC GTS
Location: Co-Nay-Ho Valley
Contact:

Re: gas tank reconditioning

Post by Steve Simmons »

A similar method is used to refurbish old pressure tanks. The tank is partially filled with gravel, and then rotated for a couple of hours. Works amazingly well!

Hopefully the POR sealer will hold up against ethanol over time.
User avatar
VWNate1
Veteran Member
Posts: 1402
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
Vehicles Owned: LBC's

Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

Re: gas tank reconditioning

Post by VWNate1 »

Yep , this works fine .

I use stamped flat washers and sheet metal screws .

Some use BB's .

I had a buddy do this , he wrapped his gas tank in a moving blanket then duct-taped it all up well , placed in the CLOTHES DRYER and let it run ~ everything was going swell until SWMBO came home early and had kittens on the spot .

His sex life took a long time to get back to normal , the tank came out clean and rust free inside , no damage to the pristine original paint :hammer: .
-Nate
Fifty Six MGA
Core Member
Posts: 562
Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:19 pm
Vehicles Owned: 1954 Velocette LE Motorbike
1956 MGA
1971 BMW 2002 tii (Sold)
the most generic gold tan minivan you can imagine
A pile of kayaks and bicycles.

Re: gas tank reconditioning

Post by Fifty Six MGA »

How big was his dryer¿
____________
Geoffcj@gmail.com
User avatar
VWNate1
Veteran Member
Posts: 1402
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:41 am
Vehicles Owned: LBC's

Mercedes Diesels OM 616 & 617

1969 Chevrolet C/10 pickup shop truck
250 I-6 , TH350 slushbox

1959 Nash Metropolitan FH Sports Coupe

1961 Morris Minor W/ 1973 1275 CC engine & gearbox

Ural Solo Motos , old Honda 90 CC Tiddlers
Location: Sunny So. Cal. , land of fruits , nuts & flakes

Re: gas tank reconditioning

Post by VWNate1 »

Oops ~

I neglected to mention it was a Motocycle tank ~ that's why he was so worried about the original paint on it .

I've seen HUGE commercial dryers in the coin laundromat .
-Nate
Post Reply