reseal gas tanks

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mrthieba

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My car had been mostly sitting for a few years, with the occassional start up/warm up and add more fuel. Recently I have started getting it running again. New fuel hoses and filter,new spark plugs, brake hydraulics rebuilt, carb cleaning etc.

I have been taking it out and it runs good, until the secondaries open, and then it would bog down, and after a little peddling would run again. I had been chasing carb problems, but it turns out it was the inside of the gas tanks flaking off and not allowing enough fuel through the lines to feed the engine under open throttle.

So now the tanks are out and have been flushed with warm soapy water, and soaked in acetone for 2 days. Tanks are almost clean now. Unbelievable how much black crud and yellow/orange goo has come out! They do not appear to be very rusty.

So I'm looking at the reseal kits now. POR15, Eastwood, and KBS seem to be similar, as the instructions are about the same. Redkote by Damon is different as it says it preps and coats all in one. Caswell is different in that you mix a hardener with the seal prior to adding. I think some are polyurethane and others are an epoxy. I dont know the difference of one or the other. Or should I leave them uncoated and keep tanks full? What about zinc plating?

Budget is important, but I want whatever I do to last a long time. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Cycle tanks

I have done at least 10 tanks . The steel used in GB was not any cheaper then the Asian ones I did. Epoxy products for bikes is nearly always frowned upon.

The only real difference is its a PITA to R and R a Tiger tank, so doing it twice is not fun either.

There are several how to do electrolysis methods including zinc plating using washing soda and a battery charger. The best part is the low price the 2 nd best is no brain numbing epoxies cut with MEK .

Standing around wearing a respirator sloshing goo in a tank is really not fun.

I always tried to keep tanks full but the E process pushes off the rust , something that merely rinsing with acid and covering with epoxy doesn't always fix .
 
I'm not sure about trying the zinc plating.

Of the coating choices named, does anyone have experience with them and recommendations?
 
3 sets

I have 3 sets , 2 in Pearblossom near you , one set at home, let's make a deal. Less than the cost of the materials you may buy. Be out your way Nov 3. Could bring to swap meet as well.

We met at Irwindale Speedway, your email settings are not set up to receive incoming so pardon the in forum response.
 
tanks

I had my tanks boiled at a rad shop and an aircraft coating put in. I believe Eastwood sells a similar product.
Brian
 
Both sets of tanks I have used have no paint on the inside, the cross tubes are painted on the inside and any paint clogging the fuel lines must come from the cross tubes, not the side tanks.
 
I'm curious. Not only were the tanks covered in a black film, there was also a layer of a yellowish film under that. Got big globs of it out. Too bad I didnt take pictures. Soaking in acetone for a few days and rolling them around with some short roofing nails dumped in has cleaned out everything but some light rust spots.
 
You can use muriatic acid, cleans the tanks really well but need to wash them out with soapy water then dry them quickly before they flash rust . used to be a good write up by Jim Ellis on the saoca forum.

As for helping loosen stuff on the inside, pebbles or a metal chain is good.
 
Tank Renu

After years of the "black corn flakes", I had mine done at Gas Tank Renu. Fairly $$$ but it looks permanent. You get the option of doing the outside as well or just repainting. Might be overkill, but I didn't want to worry about it ever again.

I used the POR product to do the connector pipes.

Its only been a year, but so far so good on both areas.

Paul....
 
Gas Tank Renu

I did the same as Paul. Read all the post for years and this seemed to be a good option, even though pricey.

Did it about 6 months ago and so far no problems. I had them do inside and out. Warranteed so we shall see. Was redoing whole fuel system from scratch. Tanks had tiny pinholes so had them weld up the holes and coat.

Good luck,
 
old POR ?

This is what happens to tank sealer in the cross tube after many years. It did sit for a long time though.
 
sealer

I used KBS 3 years ago looks good but haven't had gas in them yet, not to worried but did have some puddling. Haven't done cross overs yet but concerned about outlet size after sealing.
 
I read somewhere that the old por15 would not work with ethanol, but that the new stuff is ok with it.
 
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