Fuel Tank question ( To seal or not to seal )

[funkimon]

Hello well I've got a 1970 bus that has been imported form cali. I've got then engine and fuel tank out at the minute. Gonna give the tank a clean out inside the best I can with some nuts dropped in there and give it a good shake to get rid of any loose surface rust. Then wash it through a few times. My mate recommend getting some tank sealant and treating the inside of the tank. He is well versed with old buses and is rebuilding the engine for me. But by the looks of it it's gonna cost nearly a £100 just to seal up the tank (there are no leaks in it by the way). The bus has been sat for a while and there just appears to be surface rust inside the tank. What do you lot reckon
Thanks for any help

 

[aogrady]

Hi!,

I think you can put something in along with the nuts and bolts, but not sure if it's diesel/parafin or suchlike? Surely if not leaks, as long as it isn't too rusty, surely it would be in the same condition more or less as if you bought a 2nd hand tank, which AFAIK should be plentiful, i dont think they go rusty often as they are covered by a bulkhead from 69 onwards. Maybe a 2nd hand one without rust is no too dear anyway?

I reckon a good clean up inside with some kind of fluid, along with the nuts and bolts should do the trick? I would certainly fit 1 if not 2 in line filters just in case, worse case if one blocks, you still have the other to rejoin the pipe with?

And save the £100 for something else maybe?

Just a thought.

Alistair

 

[Harlequin]

Found this diy kit & may have to do my tank as I have to change the filter quite often
http://klassicvwkampers.co.uk/Rust_Treatment/Restoration_Kits/VW_T2_Fuel_Tank_Sealer_Kit" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[mike.s]

I speak from recent experience and would deifintely recommend doing it!

I had my tank out which was rust free and way - the old petrol ahd turned to varnish in the bottom and i cleaned it out by soaking it with acetone and shaking with nuts and bolts. I thought at this point that it was clean as a whistle.

i fitted it and was having probs with hetting grit into the carb, eventually i removed the fuel tank to find that the filter in the bottom had loads of crap round it. I removed the filter and chucked it in the bin as it was knackered. I then used the frost sealant as i didn`t want to mess around removing it again.


This was my filter after i`d cleaned the tank out!-

I`d seal it - its not that much -
the sealant is £25 -

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail....roductName=Fuel Tank Sealer (US Quart, 946ml)

and you need metal ready £14 to `convert` any surface rust inside to harder stuff -

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_detail....uart)&frostCat=&frostSubCat=&CatID=&SubCatID=

The reason mine kept letting grit through was because of the filter i`m pretty sure but i just wanted to make sure with the sealant.

If you can`t afford the sealant, i would defintely removed the filter from inside the tank - you just pull it out of the bottom outlet once you`ve removed the big nut.

 

[type2tattoo]

I found this really useful ..... http://www.ratwell.com/technical/FuelTankRestoration.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I got mine 'boiled out' by a local company and was then going to seal it as in the link but got a good clean one instead

 

[ronmidg]

echo mike.m

used the Frost sealant on a 40 year old tank, not VW, that had been in a barn for decades and was well rusty but not holed, 15 years since and still getting clean petrol through.

 

[Bookwus]

Hiya funk,

type2 has the best advice. Take a look at Richard Atwell's (Ratwell) website. He will take you through the entire process, with pictures yet. If you follow his advice (to the letter on product and process) you will turn out a professional quality coated tank at a fraction of the price.

I have used Restomotive products (POR-15) on gas tank restorations for quite some time now and they are the standard by which all others are measured.

 

[funkimon]

Thanks alot for your help guys. I have emailed frost about some sealant as they are out of stock at the moment. Looks better than petseal which is on ebay and seems to get mixed reviews. Thanks for the ratwell tutorial I will be following it. Don't want to get the bus on the road and get constant hassle with rust in the carb. I was shocked at how much crap came out just with a good shake and because she had been sitting for years i'm sure i'll find some sludge in the bottom too.
Cheers Guys