No rust fuel tank...
Discussion
Well, in pulling my gear box to replace the clutch, I have done that oh most easy thing to do... Pulled everything else apart. Good thing really. When I get done, I'll be able to work on the car and not get my hands dirty!! Hahahaha!
At any rate, I pulled the engine bay walls to check my fuel tanks. There was some indication that there was/may be some water getting into the fuel tank area. With the under pan removed, there is an access hole just below the tanks. There was moisture there at some point as that GOD AWFUL foam they put around the tank was wet on the driver side! Then again, living in 80+% humidity all year round, it is possible there is no leak. Putting in cold fuel will easily cause water vapor to form drops on those mettal tanks here in the Alabama heat...
I pulled the foam out! Thankfully before the real rust had started! If you get the notion - pull that foam (and you can do it without pulling the tanks all the way out) - and do what I did...
First, I rubbed a light coat of speed grease over the surface of the tank (not enough to be messy, just a little to fend off any moisture)
Second, I cut up some pipe insulation and fitted it over the lip of the tank. This stuff will not slip AND it will not hold moisture! I left a gap here and there to allow air flow.
I'll never worry about pin hole leaks forming again!
Drive Topless!!!
Cameron
At any rate, I pulled the engine bay walls to check my fuel tanks. There was some indication that there was/may be some water getting into the fuel tank area. With the under pan removed, there is an access hole just below the tanks. There was moisture there at some point as that GOD AWFUL foam they put around the tank was wet on the driver side! Then again, living in 80+% humidity all year round, it is possible there is no leak. Putting in cold fuel will easily cause water vapor to form drops on those mettal tanks here in the Alabama heat...
I pulled the foam out! Thankfully before the real rust had started! If you get the notion - pull that foam (and you can do it without pulling the tanks all the way out) - and do what I did...
First, I rubbed a light coat of speed grease over the surface of the tank (not enough to be messy, just a little to fend off any moisture)
Second, I cut up some pipe insulation and fitted it over the lip of the tank. This stuff will not slip AND it will not hold moisture! I left a gap here and there to allow air flow.
I'll never worry about pin hole leaks forming again!
Drive Topless!!!
Cameron
Dave,
If you've gone through all the trouble to pull everything apart and you have the engine out, (if I understood correctly), now is the time to pull those tanks out, remove the foam, have the tanks coated inside and out, and replace the old foam with some polypropylene closed cell foam. That stuff resists gas, will not hold water, and is cheap.
The foam acts as a cushion for the tanks as well as holding them in place. Last thing you want is to have them bouncing around in the wells.
The coating is relatively inexpensive and well worth the expense. Having had the arduous pleasure of replacing the left cell and redoing the right I speak from experience. Do it now while you've got the engine out. You will NOT want to even think about it with the engine in. I live in Houston. If I'm not mistaken that is some old indian word for humidity ;-p. If you want to be sure never to see rust again, have the coating treatment done. There's my $0.02 worth in the $0.50 rendition.
If you've gone through all the trouble to pull everything apart and you have the engine out, (if I understood correctly), now is the time to pull those tanks out, remove the foam, have the tanks coated inside and out, and replace the old foam with some polypropylene closed cell foam. That stuff resists gas, will not hold water, and is cheap.
The foam acts as a cushion for the tanks as well as holding them in place. Last thing you want is to have them bouncing around in the wells.
The coating is relatively inexpensive and well worth the expense. Having had the arduous pleasure of replacing the left cell and redoing the right I speak from experience. Do it now while you've got the engine out. You will NOT want to even think about it with the engine in. I live in Houston. If I'm not mistaken that is some old indian word for humidity ;-p. If you want to be sure never to see rust again, have the coating treatment done. There's my $0.02 worth in the $0.50 rendition.
I did not take the tanks all the way out.. pulling the engine is one step more than I'm up for! It appears that the tanks will come out without taking the engine, but that steel bulkhead has to come out... tooooo much trouble for now as well. I have the driver side bay wall out, all the bits contained within, air box and passenger side engine wall, the "top end" bits of the passenger side (no moisture trapped and no rust on this tank at all), all of the rear susspension (wire brushed and cleaned), and the gear box -(and the things that must be removed for that trick).
I'm in Mobile Al., not sure how far that is from you... 3-4hrs?
drive topless!!!
Cameron
I'm in Mobile Al., not sure how far that is from you... 3-4hrs?
drive topless!!!
Cameron
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