Thread: rusted

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i have a 1963 fairlane that i am playing with. the gas tank has rust in it. is there a way i can get the rust out and keep it out.

thanks for any help u can offer

wenpen

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...highlight=tank

To keep it out, keep the tank full.

you could also disconnect the fuel line from carb, after siphoning, then put a radiator preassure tester on the filler and pump it up quick, could also be done with a blow gun a peice of rubber and compressed air but regulate it to around 30 PSI, that will get the line clear, if that is what is wrong

A couple of years ago I bought a '79 Yamaha two-wheeler that had been parked in a guy's shop for over twenty years. He parked it with half a tank of gas in it.

Needless to say, the tank was a rusted, caked up disaster. A friend of mine who restores bikes told me to go to a motorcycle shop and get a kit (and I've forgotten the name of the stuff) to fix that very problem. Surely they make a kit for cars, too.

The kit contained a bottle of acid (and I've also forgotten what kind of acid) that will dissolve the rust and a two-part creamy looking liquid treatment to completely coat the inside of the tank.

The first thing you do is put a strong detergent in the tank with some water and then dump in a bunch of nuts and bolts (or plain 'ol gravel. Then you put the cap on the tank and pick it up and shake the hell out of it every time you walk by it. Repeat this procedure as many times as it takes for the water to be clean when you dump it. Then comes the acid treatment, and then the "sloshing" exercise to coat the inside of the tank.

It ain't much fun, but it works. But .... if the tank were mine I'd take it to a radiator shop and say "Fix it". They can. They'll also patch any pin-hole leaks that may have been caused by the rusting.

Good luck,

Jim

Originally posted by Big Tracks
A couple of years ago I bought a '79 Yamaha two-wheeler that had been parked in a guy's shop for over twenty years. He parked it with half a tank of gas in it.

Needless to say, the tank was a rusted, caked up disaster. A friend of mine who restores bikes told me to go to a motorcycle shop and get a kit (and I've forgotten the name of the stuff) to fix that very problem. Surely they make a kit for cars, too.

The kit contained a bottle of acid (and I've also forgotten what kind of acid) that will dissolve the rust and a two-part creamy looking liquid treatment to completely coat the inside of the tank.

The first thing you do is put a strong detergent in the tank with some water and then dump in a bunch of nuts and bolts (or plain 'ol gravel. Then you put the cap on the tank and pick it up and shake the hell out of it every time you walk by it. Repeat this procedure as many times as it takes for the water to be clean when you dump it. Then comes the acid treatment, and then the "sloshing" exercise to coat the inside of the tank.

It ain't much fun, but it works. But .... if the tank were mine I'd take it to a radiator shop and say "Fix it". They can. They'll also patch any pin-hole leaks that may have been caused by the rusting.

Good luck,

Jim

Yes there are gas tank coatings, for tank insides, and there probably the same chemicles. the acid is more than likely a very light Myriatic acid that will eat the rust but eat the metal much slower but could if left in too long ( week or so ).

thanks for all the input the radiator shop sounds like the option.

wenpen

I think I remember seeing it at the EASTWOOD COMPANY.

Yes Eastwood has this tank coating. www.eastwood.com for a catilog.

thanks rod

It only cost me $25 to get my tank cleaned at our local radiator shop. It did the trick, and only took a week.

I remember a fuel tank repair from back about 30 years ago. Used to be an auxiliary tank maker called "Travel Accessories" in NorCal. One of the welders did repairs in his free time.

He talked about someone bringing in a leaking 20 gallon aux tank. Said he didn't get all the gas out before taking the torch to it. Gave the owner back his 40 gallon tank.

I guess my point is that some things are best left to professionals. I like the radiator shop idea.

"The Ark was built by amateurs. The Titanic was built by professionals. " Which one would you go on?

thanks for all the help

wenpen