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Can this gas tank be saved? OR - bondo fest!
- Thread starter tdskip
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Hey, TD, the hardest part is done.... pulling the tank. Funny, I just picked up my cleaned/boiled out gas tank yesterday from Mac's Radiator in Bellflower, CA. I wanted to start w/ a clean tank for the TR6. Mac's is a RENU franchise. They charged $250 to go thru the tank and seal inside/out.......
dklawson
Yoda
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Almost anything can be saved. The question is where to draw the line.
If you chemically remove the bondo (and likely fiberglass) how much metal is left? Even if it's a maze of pin holes, a tank coating might be possible. Check your local yellow pages to see if any of the radiator shops do that sort of work and get their opinion and a quote.
If the shops won't touch it you could consider coating this yourself. I've coated three tanks and been pleased with the results on two. The tank lining kits from POR are the best I've used so far and they would be worth trying if a new tank or professional lining is out of the question. For more information on that process (and tank cleaning) use the search feature on the forum. There have been numerous thread on the topic... most of them in the Spridget and MG side of things.
If you chemically remove the bondo (and likely fiberglass) how much metal is left? Even if it's a maze of pin holes, a tank coating might be possible. Check your local yellow pages to see if any of the radiator shops do that sort of work and get their opinion and a quote.
If the shops won't touch it you could consider coating this yourself. I've coated three tanks and been pleased with the results on two. The tank lining kits from POR are the best I've used so far and they would be worth trying if a new tank or professional lining is out of the question. For more information on that process (and tank cleaning) use the search feature on the forum. There have been numerous thread on the topic... most of them in the Spridget and MG side of things.
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TD, life is short enough. Get another tank.
foxtrapper
Jedi Trainee
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Beware fiberglass repairs and modern gasoline. The two don't mix well, at all. The alcohol content disolves the resin, leaving you a nice leaky gas tank.
Were it my tank, I'd scrape/brush off the mess and look at the base metal to make my decision.
Were it my tank, I'd scrape/brush off the mess and look at the base metal to make my decision.
Send it to Moyer's Fuel Tank Renu.
https://www.gas-tank.com/
They've been repairing gas tanks a long time, have done a few for me, & their work is excellent.
https://www.gas-tank.com/
They've been repairing gas tanks a long time, have done a few for me, & their work is excellent.
dklawson
Yoda
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Having the tank professionally dipped to clean it may be throwing good money after bad, particularly if after it's cleaned the shop tells you it's not worth saving.
On the MG or Spridget forum of this board there were a couple of threads during the past six months that discussed boiling out a tank at home. The process involves nothing more than water, a gas grill, and patience. That will clean the inside. Removing the Bondo and fiberglass... I'd think chemical paint strippers (before the grill) would work wonders and cost less than shipping and dipping this tank.
On the MG or Spridget forum of this board there were a couple of threads during the past six months that discussed boiling out a tank at home. The process involves nothing more than water, a gas grill, and patience. That will clean the inside. Removing the Bondo and fiberglass... I'd think chemical paint strippers (before the grill) would work wonders and cost less than shipping and dipping this tank.
TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
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A good radiator shop will give you an assessment before they boil it out. I had mine, albeit no where near as ugly as yours, boiled, minor holes repaired, pressure tested, and internally coated for $200. At the same shop, I had a heater core boiled and pressure tested for $20.
IMO, at the least it is worth some time to have it looked at.
IMO, at the least it is worth some time to have it looked at.
Thanks guys - I appreciate the help and coaching.
So I did drop the tank off at Strip Clean (chemical stripping) today because all the local shops indicated that they don't touch gas tanks anymore. Not sure if it is an Orange County CA thing, but no one wants to touch these tanks anymore. If I had an option like you found Ray I would jump on it.
I took a screw driver to the fiberglass and it was actually pretty solid under there. It almost looks like the DPO did this preemptively.
There is a bit of rolling of the dice here, but even if I have to get some welding done I think I'll still be under the cost of a replacement tank.
So I did drop the tank off at Strip Clean (chemical stripping) today because all the local shops indicated that they don't touch gas tanks anymore. Not sure if it is an Orange County CA thing, but no one wants to touch these tanks anymore. If I had an option like you found Ray I would jump on it.
I took a screw driver to the fiberglass and it was actually pretty solid under there. It almost looks like the DPO did this preemptively.
There is a bit of rolling of the dice here, but even if I have to get some welding done I think I'll still be under the cost of a replacement tank.
TR6oldtimer
Darth Vader
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Sorry to here that the shops in your area stop doing gas tanks, but do allow chemical stripping companies to exist. Here in Santa Cruz it is the other way around. Still have not found a paint and rust stripping company up here.
Oh, the radiator shop here fixed the few holes in my tank with solder and metal patches.
Waiting to see the results...
Oh, the radiator shop here fixed the few holes in my tank with solder and metal patches.
Waiting to see the results...
