Topic: 1965 gas tank boil out or get a new one?

[65fastbk]

Hi,

My new car has been sitting for 26 years. Unfortunately there was gas left in it. It is a k code mustang that I've been trying to keep as originail as I can.  Is it worth boiling out and sealing my old tank or just buying a reproduction one.  What's the best repro to get?  If I decide to have my original, what color can I paint it so it still looks stock but protects it from the environment?

Thanks!!

[CharlesTurner]

If the car is a low mileage unrestored original, then I would say have the tank cleaned.  Otherwise, Spectra brand is about the best one there is, be sure to get one with a drain plug.

The original tanks were not painted, they were Ni-terne steel.

[J_Speegle]

Don't know any paint that will reproduce the finish of a gas tank. Have tried a number of them (tests)  -

[Rsanter]

Is the tank dented?
Rusted?

If the tank is not dented and you look inside and the rust is minimal then I would clean it up and reuse it.
If you have a pressure washer you can stick it in the tank and do a bunch of clean up yourself.
If there is a little rust in the tank you can pour some evaporust in there and let it work, rotate the tank into several orientations to get most of it then wash it out and you are good to go.
Be sure you install a new filter sock on the end of the pickup

Bob

[Bob Gaines]

If the outside finish looks nice you can clean the inside and seal it inside . It is a lot of work plus time and only worth it if the finish on the outside looks reasonably good and it is for a survivor type car and you want to save the original otherwise not worth the effort IMO . As a example I did this to a original tank I had but the outside had been preserved by undercoating so that it looked new. This was before the good reproduction tanks otherwise I wouldn't have done it. You talked about painting it which indicates to me that the finish on yours is marginal at best. In that case you will be wasting your time for a inferior look. If you have started to restore the car (new paint,detailed engine compartment etc. then the saving the gas tank doesn't much matter since the other areas have been worked on. The Spectra brand tank is a great replacement.

[65fastbk]

Hi,

Thanks...The bottom does have surface rust on it....The car was indoors for 26 years and outside for the last 1.5 years.  I think the weather got to it...I will drain the gas and see the condition of it on the inside.  If I were to keep the original, how would I restore the outside, sand it down?  If I took it to get boiled out maybe the rust will be removed from the outside?

Thanks,

mark

[Bob Gaines]

Hi,

Thanks...The bottom does have surface rust on it....The car was indoors for 26 years and outside for the last 1.5 years.  I think the weather got to it...I will drain the gas and see the condition of it on the inside.  If I were to keep the original, how would I restore the outside, sand it down?  If I took it to get boiled out maybe the rust will be removed from the outside?

Thanks,

mark

Given the dents not mentioned before and the amount of rust the tank will never look on the outside close to new. The amount of time ,labor and materials will easily excede the price of the excellent repro tank.  The problem I see besides the dents is that the rusted finish once taken off will leave a darker unplated areas (almost half in this case) when compared to the plated other areas.   I had a similar situation but on my tank besides not being dented it was covered with dealer undercoat plus ended up in a dry area so once stripped the outer coating was nice with a exception on a few slightly rusted areas which once cleaned and clear coated still show up as a distinct different look . It was such a small area I went with it. On yours it is a lost cause IMO for it to look anywhere close to new. You have to decide if you want to clean it ,paint it and live with it looking like a obvious refurbished tank or spend less time and money for a new one. Your choice. It sounds like you are trying to get justifacation to keep it even with the down side . It is Ultimatley up to you what will be best for you.   

[65fastbk]

Given the dents not mentioned before and the amount of rust the tank will never look on the outside close to new. The amount of time ,labor and materials will easily excede the price of the excellent repro tank.  The problem I see besides the dents is that the rusted finish once taken off will leave a darker unplated areas (almost half in this case) when compared to the plated other areas.   I had a similar situation but on my tank besides not being dented it was covered with dealer undercoat plus ended up in a dry area so once stripped the outer coating was nice with a exception on a few slightly rusted areas which once cleaned and clear coated still show up as a distinct different look . It was such a small area I went with it. On yours it is a lost cause IMO for it to look anywhere close to new. You have to decide if you want to clean it ,paint it and live with it looking like a obvious refurbished tank or spend less time and money for a new one. Your choice. It sounds like you are trying to get justifacation to keep it even with the down side . It is Ultimatley up to you what will be best for you.

Thanks Bob, I appreciate the response.  Im going to go with a Specta Tank, your right it the amount of time and money spent will not be worth it in the long run!  For the fuel sending unit, do I just clean it test it and reinstall it or just get a new one as well?  Since the car set for so long I'm going to blow out the fuel lines and probably add another clear fuel filter in front of the fuel pump for a while just to make sure everything is clean!

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks Bob, I appreciate the response.  Im going to go with a Specta Tank, your right it the amount of time and money spent will not be worth it in the long run!  For the fuel sending unit, do I just clean it test it and reinstall it or just get a new one as well?  Since the car set for so long I'm going to blow out the fuel lines and probably add another clear fuel filter in front of the fuel pump for a while just to make sure everything is clean!

The fuel sender is a similar finish as the gas tank . Only worth messing with if a assemblyline one.  I have had good luck after cleaning them up to lightly plate the round plate end with the eastwood zinc plating kit. That is the only portion submerged into the plating bath.