Topic: Original fuel tank identification

[evantugby]

Gents,
I am trying to search for information on how to identify an original fuel tank.  Any part numbers stamped into it?  Or were the part numbers painted on?  How can I identify an original from aftermarket? 

[Bob Gaines]

Gents,
I am trying to search for information on how to identify an original fuel tank.  Any part numbers stamped into it?  Or were the part numbers painted on?  How can I identify an original from aftermarket?

There are no metal tags ,stickers, stamps  or stencils typically on assembly line tanks. Stencils are commonly seen on service replacements . In the past the only way I could tell a original from a good repro is how the top and bottom tank had the ribbon weld done seen from the trunk side  . Sorry but my pictures are not readily available .  Jeff may have some. 

[midlife]

Occasionally, but rarely, do you see an ink stamp of the manufacturer's metal type (geez...I forget the name...) on a tank.  This was a stamp placed on the raw sheet of metal before it was cut and put into a die to form the tank itself. 

[Bob Gaines]

Occasionally, but rarely, do you see an ink stamp of the manufacturer's metal type (geez...I forget the name...) on a tank.  This was a stamp placed on the raw sheet of metal before it was cut and put into a die to form the tank itself.

That is a MFG mark for the sheet steel used and not a Ford mark .

[21.04]

As mentioned, the welds are one of the identifiers.  The assembly line tanks were welded with a separate weld for each sides and intersected in each corner.  Commonly referred to as cross welds.  Here is an example of an assembly line tank from a Jan ?66 Dearborn coupe.  I believe US Steel was the manufacturer.  If you do see a tank with a manufacturers ink stamp it will have ?USS? inside a rectangle boarder.  I recall the stamp was approx 6? x 4? or close to it.  I used to have a photo of one from a tank I owned.  I believe an assembly line tank will also have a drain plug.  Nearly all replacement tanks will not have one. 

Matt

[ChrisV289]

Reproduction tanks have the drain plug

[Bob Gaines]

Drain plugs can not be used as a determine factor in all cases. First off as been mentioned some repro tanks come with drain plugs. Most all of the 69 repro gas tanks have drain lugs yet some mid production 69 assemblyline tanks do not. It is a combination of identifying things depending on the year that will more reliably help determine original or repro gas tank.

[jwc66k]

I just finished reviewing the 75 edition of Ford Car Parts (aka MPC) for gas tank drain plugs. Remember, this is a "replacement" document. No drain plugs are shown in the illustration section for 1971 and up Mustangs, and other Ford products as well. There is also no mention of tanks without drain plugs on some 1969 models. That is not uncommon, the MPC lists service replacement parts, not Concourse or assembly line. The replacement drain plug listed for all 64 to 70 Mustangs is 353055-S (PP29) 1/4-28 X 3/4 extended head.
Jim

[CharlesTurner]

Original tanks are date coded on the lip at the back, usually on the bottom.  Once installed the date is obscured.

USS Steel stencils could be on the top or bottom.

[RoyceP]

Some of the later Ford replacement tanks for 1965 - 68 Mustang / Cougar didn't have drain plugs. They were available at Ford dealers up through the late 1990's. Again not assembly line but replacement parts.