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
gas tank reconditioning
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- Steve Simmons
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Re: gas tank reconditioning
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.
Hopefully the POR sealer will hold up against ethanol over time.
- VWNate1
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Re: gas tank reconditioning
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 .
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 .
-Nate
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- VWNate1
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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
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 .
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