400se fuel tanks

[chapperssx]

Hi guys i have a feul contamination issue with the fuel tanks, i have had this issue once before and should of done a decent job last time round!! The plan is to remove the tanks and either repair or replace with some new ones.... Are the tanks a relativily easy job to remove or should i have a swear box handy ?

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Martin...Sorry to hear that you are still having problems mate...When my O/S fuel tank needed replacing i was quoted 900 sobs for one....I never realised they were hand carved from a solid piece of fossilised dinosaur crap!..I was lucky that a kind PHer happened to have one in his shed..I will see if i have the guys number that i told you about..His book of words contain some extremely accurate and useful wedge technical data...But he may need the old one for comparrison..Its a shame my mate threw out my old one as that could of been repaired...Hopefully help will come....Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Martin...I have been trying to find the number of the guy i told you about but cant find it..Yet..I have looked at other options for you and there is a POR-15 sealant kit for fuel tanks but im not sure how good it is and it seems to be a lot of mucking about...I found this company who might be worth ringing..Let us know how you get on...Cheers...Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=f...

[chapperssx]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Martin...I have been trying to find the number of the guy i told you about but cant find it..Yet..I have looked at other options for you and there is a POR-15 sealant kit for fuel tanks but im not sure how good it is and it seems to be a lot of mucking about...I found this company who might be worth ringing..Let us know how you get on...Cheers...Ziga
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=f...

Hi Mark... Yes i called them today... To refurb inside & out was quoted six hundred plus the dreaded on top... I might of found someone a lot closer to home that can make fabricate new ones, i will know more next week cheers for looking bud !!

[MarkS1966]

chapperssx said:

Hi Mark... Yes i called them today... To refurb inside & out was quoted six hundred plus the dreaded on top... I might of found someone a lot closer to home that can make fabricate new ones, i will know more next week cheers for looking bud !!

Blimey Martin!

That's £720, I hope that was for both of them?
I assume that they're sending a chauffeur driven limo to come and pick them up from you as well

[jmorgan]

I called TVR car parts not so long ago, (just before they went??) about some new ones and was told that get the old off, take pictures, match up and talk prices.

[Lemonentry]

To Take the tanks out, they come away quite easy with a bit of pulling and pushing, you need to raise the car right up on jackes so you can get right underneath, wheels off. Exhaust can get in the way a bit, if its that side, just drop it off at the rubber hooks to get a little more space. Worst job is undoing the middle transferr pipes, if the tanks are empty they are dead light in weight so don't expect anything heavy. To repair, fill them up with sand to soak up petrol vapours and keep them filled, they will then be safe to work on, and find a good metal works or mate to repair by brazing them only, do not attempt mig welding, they are too thin. For £900 a pop it's cheaper to have new ones hand made in thicker walled metal, as they are easy to copy. My view on the issue, Hope that helps.

[chapperssx]

MarkS1966 said:

Blimey Martin!

That's £720, I hope that was for both of them?
I assume that they're sending a chauffeur driven limo to come and pick them up from you as well

Hi Mark.. Yes sorry should of said that was for the pair!! Plus the carriage onto and as i live on the south coast it was starting to all add up !! So it looks like a new pair will take place of the old ones...

[chapperssx]

Lemonentry said:

To Take the tanks out, they come away quite easy with a bit of pulling and pushing, you need to raise the car right up on jackes so you can get right underneath, wheels off. Exhaust can get in the way a bit, if its that side, just drop it off at the rubber hooks to get a little more space. Worst job is undoing the middle transferr pipes, if the tanks are empty they are dead light in weight so don't expect anything heavy. To repair, fill them up with sand to soak up petrol vapours and keep them filled, they will then be safe to work on, and find a good metal works or mate to repair by brazing them only, do not attempt mig welding, they are too thin. For £900 a pop it's cheaper to have new ones hand made in thicker walled metal, as they are easy to copy. My view on the issue, Hope that helps.

Hi Kev... I don't think access will be a problem mate as this lot will be fitted at the same time... Thanks for the heads up though bud...

Edited by chapperssx on Thursday 21st February 20:21

Edited by chapperssx on Thursday 21st February 20:24

[al 350i]

wow that's far too organised for me.........i'd have it just chucked at the back of the garage!!! nice shiny new bits though

you might need some bolts in the wheels though

[chapperssx]

Yeah must get round to buying some new bolts for the 16x9s , mind you the old ones polish up really well though !!

[al 350i]

got some from here but its not cheap when you've got to buy 120!

they also sell the rim sealant for when you re assemble, the right stuff and easy to work with (you'll need 1 tube)

http://www.titanium-touch.de/shop/index.php?cat=c2...

[chapperssx]

Cheers Al i'll look into getting some bolt once the tanks are back in and the SX is back to tearing up the black stuff!! I'm going to need all the extra grip the 16x9 will give once its all sorted!!!

Edited by chapperssx on Thursday 21st February 22:48

[Lemonentry]

chapperssx said:

Hi Kev... I don't think access will be a problem mate as this lot will be fitted at the same time... Thanks for the heads up though bud...

Edited by chapperssx on Thursday 21st February 20:21

Edited by chapperssx on Thursday 21st February 20:24

Ok, good shot of the plan you have in mind, looks like you've got it under control, don't forget to take the plastic bags off the parts, before you fit them, you may suffocate the set up :-)

[Wedg1e]

MarkS1966 said:

Blimey Martin!

That's £720, I hope that was for both of them?
I assume that they're sending a chauffeur driven limo to come and pick them up from you as well

I reckon Stainless Steve could get a nice little sideline going here...

[pasogrande]

Martin, please clarify for me.

The leak. Can you see where it is coming out of the tank(s)? Is it from a seam, general rust, a ding or a bullet hole? (Sorry I live too near Miami) I don't have any faith in any stop leak products; they will just clog up your system at the engine end.

Here a custom made aluminium tank would cost me around $10 per gallon, not including fittings - so probably under $200 for two.

Or is it just the smell? On mine, and others, the leak was from the 5/8" hose from tanks to swirl pot and pump. Or the return pipe.


The contamination. Is this water, rusty bits of metal? Did you find it in the main filter? Was it enough to ruin your fuel pump (maybe the inside of the swirlpot is bad)

If you disconnect the hoses from the swirlpot (best with empty tanks) you can flush out the tanks into a container - at least 5 gallons. When this comes out clean you can replace the swirlpot and add a cheap inline filter in the hose before the pump; this will save the pump, and the main filter up front will last longer.

Wilf

[adam quantrill]

Hi Wilf, Aly sounds like the way to go - the tamks are well protected there they are so it should be strong enough, and save a kilo or so to boot.

[mrzigazaga]

Again we need some clever dickie to produce some part's..Maybe we need a "Re- manufacturing parts list"!...Please add to if you can.

1. Fuel Tanks.
2. Roof stays.
3. Targa panel retainers.
4. Expansion Tanks.
5. Oz Wheel Centres.
6. Upgraded steering bush mount.
7. Trailing Arm Bush Cage.
8. Switchgear & Heater controls (optional).

I know most of it can be sourced but at a heavy price..And we need someone who can make a living without a killing!..Ziga

[chapperssx]

pasogrande said:

Martin, please clarify for me.

The leak. Can you see where it is coming out of the tank(s)? Is it from a seam, general rust, a ding or a bullet hole? (Sorry I live too near Miami) I don't have any faith in any stop leak products; they will just clog up your system at the engine end.

Here a custom made aluminium tank would cost me around $10 per gallon, not including fittings - so probably under $200 for two.

Or is it just the smell? On mine, and others, the leak was from the 5/8" hose from tanks to swirl pot and pump. Or the return pipe.


The contamination. Is this water, rusty bits of metal? Did you find it in the main filter? Was it enough to ruin your fuel pump (maybe the inside of the swirlpot is bad)

If you disconnect the hoses from the swirlpot (best with empty tanks) you can flush out the tanks into a container - at least 5 gallons. When this comes out clean you can replace the swirlpot and add a cheap inline filter in the hose before the pump; this will save the pump, and the main filter up front will last longer.

Wilf

Hi Wilf...The problem with both tanks is rust !! This in part was due to my car spending a large portion of its life in Australia and with much of its time over in Oz not being used hence the cause of the rusty fuel tanks... Both tanks were flushed thoroughly five to six times about two years ago which seemed to cure the problem... This time round again for other reasons my car has been of the road for around six months and has caused the tanks to corrode thus blocking the filters and pump..

I also agree with what you say about tank sealers where eventually they do seem to break down thus causeing a case of Deja vu...So to solve the issue once and for all a new pair will be fabricated but for considerable more than $200...

[Trickie Dickie]

A friend of mine used to make the aluminium replacement fuel tanks for the early TVRs
for a local guy who then sold them on

Only problem for you is he is in Yorkshire in Sunny Bradfordistan

pm me if you want his details

Cheers
Trickie

PS that pic of your new parts is almost Porn!!!!
especially when I need new springs and shockers