Fuel tank..gulp..how much

[mrzigazaga]

Hi peeps..feels like an eternity but heard from garage today and he started cleaning fuel tanks and the drivers side is shot and is seriously rotten.. had a quote for repair £280+vat.. RT said they could make one but would cost £815+vat.. But then they gave me a number for someone they know and they are digging one out for less than £100 just gotta make sure it fits... Oh apparently it doesnt have plastic fuel tank passenger side,, i think he said its got a plastic coating..not sure if inside or out but have found a company that can manufacture plastic fuel tanks..waiting for the damage per ea..as i think maybe it would resolve alot of issues surrounding fuel..Quote me if im wrong but i was thinking of peeps that stash their pride and joy away for the winter..5 months..6 months..start it every day..Its just ive noticed on the forums problems which are similar to what i had (even though a mild version) are arisen and wondered if you are getting very slow but sure rot of the linning of the tank..It might be nothing but i thought id mention it..would anyone else be interested in replacing the stainless with plastic fuel tanks... cheers chaps.zig

[adam quantrill]

I'd get one off a scrapper (but make sure it's sound!) it should be much cheaper.

[Geo28]

When I was looking at getting my chim fuel tank repaired I came across some stuff by por 15 on the frosts site. A fuel tank repair kit which seems to prime and coat the inside of the tank with some sort of plastic resin.
Seems to be used a lot on motorbike tanks and a few videos of it's application on you tube. Seems to be the thing to do on restoration projects. Cost was approx £50 and worth a punt?

[stainless_steve]

Took me half a day to make one from scratch in stainless steel,£815 is taking the piss.

[jeff m]

In the Northeast USA we store our cars that have a front spoiler that is not strong enough to plough snow.
We use fuel stabaliser in the tank on it's last fill up.

Tank;
In the US we would take a gas tank to a rad shop, they reline them, or we'ed buy a used fuel cell.
I don't think originality is an issue on a 280i, it can't drop in price anymore by having a non standard tank.

[carob]

Might be worth a try

www.fueltanks.co.uk

Rob

[mrzigazaga]

cheers chaps.. Apparently the drivers side tank is that rusty that its not worth re-sealing.. I have found one and it is second hand and theyve said it will be well under £100..will know tom how much..Thanks carob but they quoted me around £280 + vat.. Do you make em for anyone else stainless steve?..old buddy.. mate..is it worth looking into plastic tanks as ive found a marine company that make em..waiting on a call back.. cheers chaps..Just checked me emails and got pics from guy with tank..look ok..but the breather looks like its in a different place to the one on mine..not sure if that matters..

Edited by mrzigazaga on Wednesday 6th October 00:21

[dwgriffith]

I have the tanks off a 1982 280i available, if you need them make me an offer?

[stainless_steve]

looks like your sorted
No time at the moment to make any tanks,but i won't see people being ripped off with silly prices.If needs be i will knock a batch up

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks chaps..dwgriffith might take you up on offer..have emailed you..thanks stainless..that might be a good idea..Unfortunately the ones in pic are from a 2+2 and they are too big..so its stuck at garage untill i can place one..Im on a tight budget at mo and need to find one asap..I know the cars were hand built but are the tanks hand built to each car or were they a standard fit for each model? many thanks..mark

[Wedg1e]

I always though the 2+2 had one single tank fitted transversely inside the car, behind the rear seats.
The early cars' tanks were aluminium, I'm sure of it, and although they looked generally like the ones in the photos they weren't quite as 'finished' as those... I'm sure my car has mild steel tanks, don't think they ever used stainless at the factory.

[hallsie]

[quote=Wedg1e]I always though the 2+2 had one single tank fitted transversely inside the car, behind the rear seats.
quote]

What he said ^^^^

Stu

[stainless_steve]

The pics look like ally to me

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks guys..the drivers side one apparently is very crudely made so it was probably changed at one point..the other has had plastic coating..have located some thanks to peeps on here.. i love you guys..not in a gay way either..Im so glad i bought a TVR even though ive had all these probs the feedback outways anything else..and although my knowledge is limited i will endeavour to help where and when i can.. I look forward to going to a meet to meet some of you.. Once again..thanks,,mark

[tempus]

The plastic coated tank has probably been repaired at a radiator repair shop, a firm called Re-Nu do them and for the most part are sold through rad repair shops.

[Wedg1e]

stainless_steve said:

The pics look like ally to me

Aye, but those nice rounded corners don't look like the tanks I've seen... they were more like a sheet folded into a trapezoid, with closing panels welded in the ends, leaving a flange.

Like this...

Edited by Wedg1e on Wednesday 6th October 17:23

[mrzigazaga]

Hi chaps.. Those tanks in pic were from a guy that RT recommended..Not sure what model or what they are made of..They look in good nick and seemed reasonable so if anyone wants em i can forward the number.. Im hoping the ones that dwgriffith has are the right ones..rather give some cash to a fellow wedgie..When i replaced the pipe to tank(drivers side)the tank looked quite small and square, i had a feeling when i saw the pics that they wouldnt fit..the breather and filler were in a different place for a start..The plastic coating sounds like a good idea..cheers chaps.

[stainless_steve]

Wedg1e said:

stainless_steve said:

The pics look like ally to me

Aye, but those nice rounded corners don't look like the tanks I've seen... they were more like a sheet folded into a trapezoid, with closing panels welded in the ends, leaving a flange.

Like this...

Edited by Wedg1e on Wednesday 6th October 17:23

yup,thats like the one i made but with rad bends

[taz turbo]

stainless steve said:

The pics look like ally to me

I would say the centre of the three pictures looks identical to my fuel tanks, which are ally, and fastened to the car by two round diameter straps.

wedg1e said:

Aye, but those nice rounded corners don't look like the tanks I've seen...

The steel tanks on my previous wedge were very angular (and quite rusty externally and that was over 20 years ago!) They were held in to the car by a sort of fabricated channel bracket and four M8 bolts per tank.

Zig, If you have an option of some ally tanks, I personally would go for them.

Chris.

[Wedg1e]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi chaps.. Those tanks in pic were from a guy that RT recommended..Not sure what model or what they are made of..They look in good nick and seemed reasonable so if anyone wants em i can forward the number.. Im hoping the ones that dwgriffith has are the right ones..rather give some cash to a fellow wedgie..When i replaced the pipe to tank(drivers side)the tank looked quite small and square, i had a feeling when i saw the pics that they wouldnt fit..the breather and filler were in a different place for a start..The plastic coating sounds like a good idea..cheers chaps.

Last time I was down at David's place he had a spare roof (the fold-down bit at any rate) for an early DHC... was in bloody good nick as I recall.