Another gas tank repair........

[ruppluver]

Yup,working on another gas tank that was full of junk,BUT it is a solid tank.

The gas tank in question.This had old gas lines,rust & a few nuts in it. I cut
it in length the long way.The gas tank is made in 2 seperate halves that have
a lip that is spot welded to each other.I used a cut off tool & cut just above
the lip.Both lips are still spotted together.

Here is tank cut.I started to clean the section with the fittings in it.

Here are both sections cleaned up. Most of the rusty stuff,cleaned up real nice.
Very minimal pitting in this tank.I'm going to shorten the height a little bit,
to make it more even,so its easier to weld back together!!! Yes,it is extra
work,BUT I have thrown away too many gas tanks that probably could have been
saved. If after the tanks are opened up & the metal is really pitted & thin,
I'll throw them away.The bottom will usually be the worst of the 2 sections. I'll
keep the good sections for future use. I'll pressure check it when I've
finished welding it back together.

[rupprat]

I'm working on a couple of tanks right now also. After a little trial and error, I agree that splitting the tank is the ONLY way to go. I did use some muriatic acid though. It dissolves the rust pretty well. I will be using Red Kote tank sealer to ensure no leaks and to prevent any rusting in the future. My 2c. worth.

[ruppluver]

The way these tanks are designed & put together,I find that it is almost impossible to get the ends of tank coated.There are ONLY 4 SMALL areas,in each half that access the ends.I look at these 42 year old tanks & think it has taken that long to get the way they are. I'll coat the inside of tank with WD-40,weld it,pressure check it & then slosh some gas around in it.I won't be alive in 42 years,so it will be good to go.

[magnumal]

I just get more amazed all the time !!!!

[ruppluver]

Heres the tank welded back together,& painted! These tanks are made from
thin material,they are a son of a gun to weld. I guess patience is a virtue.
Its done. I think I'll try another one,just for something to do. WRONG!!

[magnumal]

You can send me that one LOL Ill even pay for shipping

[ruppluver]

Sorry magnumal,all the gas tanks I have on hand,will be used in sleds. :oI don't think I have ENOUGH gas tanks as it is!!

[pathfinder]

You should start a Rupp University so we could all take in the tricks and techniques you have developed! It's almost like a Soap Opera, I can't wait for the next episode and what it will teach a cure for something I always wondered about. Outstanding use of what you've got at hand.

path ;)finder#6

[racingelvis]

dan, why dont you move closer to my shop. i could use a dedicated rupp guy like you!! you must have alot of time on your hands, lol!!!! cool stuff you have going on!!!,.....b.s.171

[ruppluver]

Thanks guys.Yes,I have more time than money! It is actually fun doing this stuff,but sometimes I don't know if it will work or not. I just keep trying to fix different things That I think are some what hard to obtain.Even common stuff I try & fix.

[ruppluver]

I'm building another 1970 Sprint 29.I used a 1972 gas tank & welded the hood brackets
from a 70 gas tank onto it. It was an old,cobbled up grass drag sled.I replaced lots
of BAD,WORN out parts.I made it into another test sled.So far,I have 3 sleds that
will be using my 6" idler wheels.The hood fits really nice. I made a jig for making
it easier to weld the hood brackets on,right spacing between the pins & right
spacing from the front of tank.

[magnumal]

you sure the cap will fit under hood?

[ruppluver]

Yes,it does.Plenty of room to spare.Even if it hadn't of worked,next I would have taken the filler neck OUT & cut a hole in the center of tank & put it there.Gas tanks are pretty flexible,I really don't care if they are correct for the year,as long as they work!!! Remember,I'm building test sleds,trying different things to see how they work. These are sleds for my enjoyment & fun,won't be for sale.

[ruppluver]

stretch,where did you buy this stuff? Thanks.

[Stretch]

www.evaporust.com/

It's not cheap (I think I paid about $100 for a 5Gal bucket) but I am still using it today.

[ruppluver]

Here's the tank done. I heard something in the tank,in the center section,so I
cut a small hole big enough to get the old pickup fitting & old hose out. Welded
plate over hole.

[ruppluver]

The trouble I run into with the gas tanks,is that thay are bady rusted & filled with old kinds of gnarly crap.Old gas thats turned to varnish etc. It says it works on rust really good,but not so good on what I find in my tanks. If I have to go through the trouble of trying to clean the tank out first,then dump that stuff in;I'll just continue to cut the tanks apart.Even after the tank is cut apart,lots of the stuff in there is really hard to get out. But the product,does look like it cleans up skis pretty decent. I would like to see before pictures of your tank,including the inside & after it was cleaned.Thanks.

[Stretch]

Dan - like I said, I don''t have any pictures of the tank and unlike you I don't have the means to cut my tanks open and re- weld them (I'm not that talented!). And yes, I did clean it out first by picking out the gas line and pick-up with a claw and then dumping a pound of BB's in it with some kerosene to shake and soak for a while. I used this product as an "insurance policy" as it leaves a protective residue for a couple of weeks to keep it from "flashing" until I could get some fuel in it.

I haven't checked it since I treated it last year but will let you know if I have any more rusting issues with it.

The ski's were mostly surface rust... If you look closer at the pictures you can see little black specs where the rust had eaten through the chrome, Can't fix that but at least the product did not eat anymore of it. It worked great on the clutch's as well!

Hope to see you next weekend!

[ruppluver]

Most of the experimenting I do,is on my own stuff.These items are intended for my own use only.I'm testing them,so therefore they go in my test sleds.My test sleds won't be for sale,anytime soon.

[ruppluver]

stretch,i have your phone number,will call you sometime on Saturday.Are you going to bring me any surprises,like you did a couple of years ago? I'm still in need of parts. Thanks.