Gas Tank Help 79 Fiat

[CajunMike]

So I decided to open my gas tank up to have a look. The gas has been stale in there for at least 10 years (car hasn't been started in 7 or so). Not a pretty sight! Gas smelled like paint thinner and there is surface rust on the inside of the tank and the sending unit is corroded. What is my next step? Is the gas tank a 2 part tank or is it a solid piece? Is it worth trying to clean it up and how do I go about doing this? Should I just plunk the $$ for a new one. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[racydave]

One piece tank, it lifts out. I would siphon the old out first. The fill hose needs to come off, and stuff on the sender. There are treatments a radiator shop should be able to perform to coat the inside of the tank, and you might check into a new sender.

[CajunMike]

Thanks Dave, any thoughts on the new gas tanks that either IAP or Vicks sells? I have no problem buying a new one if its not worth it to try to scrub up the old one. Im sure those guys at the Radiator shop will probably charge a small fortune for time and effort. Can I just get a fine wire brush in there and get the surface rust off. Maybe then shoot it with something like Wd 40 or something or a light aerosol oil? Or would this cause more rust?

And yes, a new sending unit is on the shopping list. The one in there now is a replacement anyway. Funny thing there, the original one kicked the bucket a long time ago. I priced a new one then went to the local junkyard to look for a used one. They had a nice example but wanted like $60 for it. I informed them that I could get a new one for $40 and if he would take $30 for it. He told me no! Can you believe that? Wanted a premium for a used part. Next time I hit the junkyard, ill be sure to have a parts catalog with me.

[racydave]

Unfortunatly, once rust gets started, theres no way to stop it. The gasoline will disolve most home remedies. Id say, clean it out real good, and maybe get a glass fuel filter. Mine is off now, Ill do the same also, plus clean and paint the outside. How ugly is the sender? As far as the Junkyard, I came back later when the nice guy was workin! Ive had good luck with IAP, but any major supplier reccomended on this site is OK!

[spider54]

i pulled mine off and had a radiator shop give it an acid bath to remove the surface rust. then i used the tank sealer to finish the job. get the i quart size, it will cover all the surface area inside the tank better than the pint size. if you dont do the acid bath the kit brings instructions for a home remedy to remove the rust. follow this link for the sealer.

http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm

warning the filler hose hardens when the inside is exposed to air. if you keep the tank off a long time and dont replace the hose your going to have fun reinstalling it.

[pope]

Dont use the dry wall screws in the tank. They get stuck in places and impossible to remove. Use lacquer thinner and a two foot link of chain. The size that you would lock a bike up with. It adds weight and is easy to remove all of it. Usually the rust is just on the bottom.

[baltobernie]

Here's another solution:
http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?grp=FTRK&dept=12

It takes about a week to perform this job, because the tank needs to be bone-dry before application. I used a small "muffin" fan over the sender opening to speed things along.

[pope]

Bernie, the reason that I didnot use that stuff is that it contains Isocyanate. That is some pretty nasty stuff. Use it outside at the very least. Never inside a closed in garage, as you can count the brain cells die. That is the same stuff that is in 2-part clear coat paint and those painters use fresh air masks.

[baltobernie]

zdw 'fwf'opwm' 3jl;oii' ksa'??

[racydave]

It tooked me a minute tooo.

[rlux4]

Isocyanate huh? Thanks for the heads up Pope.
I gotta go, I need to call my mother in law and tell her I found a real good paint for her headboard.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

using it for eye liner and fingernail polish would work quicker

[rlux4]

Yeah! And lipstick.
Ron

[kristoj]

i pulled mine off and had a radiator shop give it an acid bath to remove the surface rust. then i used the tank sealer to finish the job. get the i quart size, it will cover all the surface area inside the tank better than the pint size. if you dont do the acid bath the kit brings instructions for a home remedy to remove the rust. follow this link for the sealer.

http://www.caswellplating.com/aids/epoxygas.htm

warning the filler hose hardens when the inside is exposed to air. if you keep the tank off a long time and dont replace the hose your going to have fun reinstalling it.

I used this same epoxy on my motorcycle a couple of years ago. My Ducati has a carbon fiber gas tank, and it started seeping fuel at one of the seams. I cleaned it out with laquer thinner, applied the epoxy, and it has been leak-free since.

[pope]

John, I agree, thats the stuff I use and its great.