Gas Tank - Removal & Cleaning

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Bubba Bob, Mar 25, 2008.

  1. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    Cool. I just wondered cause it was a tip I had gotten when I did mine. I also "Red Coat"ed mine.
    http://mmb.maverick.to/showthread.php?t=25043
     
  2. Bubba Bob

    Bubba Bob Member

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    Nice lookin tank! Wish Id done that before I put the tank back on. How much did the Red Coat cost you?


    Got an O-ring comin from Dearborn Classics. Autokrafters wanted $10 to ship a $1 part :bs:
     
  3. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    :yikes: $10! WTH!? I guess I didn't pay that cause I ordered other stuff with it...or it was included I mean.
    The red coat if I remember was $45 for two cans (qts). I used 1 and have 1 left on the shelf.
     
  4. Bubba Bob

    Bubba Bob Member

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    UPDATE:

    gasket came in today. I didn't expect it to be such a PIA to get on. 30 degrees upside down & a gasket that just sits in place :ignore:

    I put some RTV around it and put the gasket in place. I pray that holds it. If not, looks like Ill have to pull the tank again to put it on.

    Speaking of which, an FWI for others removing the tank. I see no reason to remove the filler neck. I put a coat of 20w-50 motor oil around the filler gasket and it slid right into place. Aligning it was a bit tricky. You have to align it by feel since there's no way to see what you're doing, but it's not too bad. Have one hand balancing the tank and the other hand checking the alignment and lifting the jack and you're "good to go"
     
  5. 74merc

    74merc computer nerd

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    Whats with all these Alabama guys?

    Wish I had been on earlier, sounds like you're close, and we have a contraption made to clean rust out of gas tanks. Works quite well, but its loud as all get out.
     
  6. rayzorsharp

    rayzorsharp I "AM" a Maverick!

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    Yep...we gonna catch up with them Gawga boys soon! :D
     
  7. PaulS

    PaulS Member extrordiare

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    74merk,
    Are you going to share how this tank cleaner works and how to make it or is it a secret?
     
  8. stmanser

    stmanser Looking for a Maverick

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    when i did my fuel system.. i went and bought a spool of 25' of morosso 3/8" fuel line.. and i replaced the entire fuel line, slicing it in the middle with 2" of rubber fuel line and clamps..

    if you are going to clean the fuel tank, you might as well put in a new fuel line as well
     
  9. rayzorsharp

    rayzorsharp I "AM" a Maverick!

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    Replacing the line is not a bad idea. You can also get the line in two 4ft sections with flared fittings on each end from any parts house so you'll still have a splice in the middle but you can use a connector instead of hose. At least, that's what I did. :)
     
  10. Bubba Bob

    Bubba Bob Member

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    Damn thing still leaks. Put 20 gallons of gas in just to find out it didn't have a good seal. Just bubbled out a tiny amount, but that's still too much. I drained all 20 gallons out and dropped the tank. Ran out of day light so Ill have to take the gauge out and seal it right tomorrow. Wow Ive got a head ache... why is the room spinning?

    It'd be a good idea to replace the lines, but I can't afford the lines nor the extra down time of the car. Especially with oil now at $111. My truck is killing me to drive.

    74merc, Im down around Dothan. A good 3 hours or so away from you? Wish I could have it done right, just aint got the money.
     
  11. 74merc

    74merc computer nerd

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    Its a secret. I can't tell you that we made a bracket with 4 coil springs holding up the top half with a gas tank full of rocks strapped to and an off balance alternator being pulled by an electric motor.

    Rattles like a ... er... something that rattles alot. Loud as hell, sits there and rolls the rocks around inside the tank. Flip it over, do it again, about an hour or so, pull it, shake the rocks out, clean it up. It usually goes from brown rust to almost polished.

    I'll post some pics if you're interested. Really not much to it.

    yea, Dothan is a pretty good drive.
     
  12. PaulS

    PaulS Member extrordiare

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    Sounds like you turned the tank into a vibratory cleaner - of itself!
    Good thought (as long as the gas tank has good integrity to begin with. If it is too badly rusted the rocks would come out through the rust.)
    Thanks for sharing - I may try it - I have a couple of tanks that need to be cleand.
     
  13. 74merc

    74merc computer nerd

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    Exactly.

    And yea, if its that far gone, rocks will fall out. If its that far gone, you won't likely be using it to hold gas for long either.

    We've had a few that kind of seeped, once we were done the weak spots were quarter inch circles. Kinda lets you know why soldering a tank quite often doesn't keep.
     
  14. Bubba Bob

    Bubba Bob Member

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    UPDATE:

    Finally got it all put back together. The gas exit line had a small crack and had to be JB-welded. Dearborn Classics sent me a gasket (for the sending unit), not an oring. Part number was correct though. Not sure what is up with that. It did NOT work.

    However, a NAPA-Gold #3271 Fuel Filter has a gasket with it that works. Just an FYI for anyone else needing this seal. Its only $3.

    Thanks for the help yall! :)
     
  15. Hectorssn95

    Hectorssn95 Member

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    Fuel tank removal
     

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