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-   -   40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone? (https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=355961)

Zax40 02-27-2026 04:33 PM

40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

7 Attachment(s)
This is the tank I pulled form my 40. I now have a new Drake tank in place. Before I scrap this old tank I wanted to make sure that it was too far gone to save. If it can be saved I'll pass it along to someone in need of one.

Thoughts?

Ggmac 02-27-2026 05:11 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Whats the inside look like ?

19Fordy 02-27-2026 06:29 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Yes indeed! Outside looks pretty good. The inside of the tank will tell you if it's worth saving. There are baffles inside the tank that rust.

Bob C 02-27-2026 06:32 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ggmac (Post 2439750)
Whats the inside look like ?


Look at the last pictures, kind of rusty.

petehoovie 02-27-2026 07:06 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ggmac (Post 2439750)
Whats the inside look like ?

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...3&d=1772227970

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...4&d=1772227970

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...5&d=1772227970

Zax40 02-27-2026 07:18 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

The last 3 pics are the inside as viewed from the sending unit opening. I can try to get some more, but it's hard with the cell phone camera.

I actually drove my 40 several hundred miles with this rusty tank in place. But as you can imagine, I was having issues with consistent fuel delivery.

Thanks for the pic enlargement @petehoovie

Tony, NY 02-27-2026 07:21 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

I would try one of the gas tank seal kits from Eastwood or others.
https://www.eastwood.com/gas-tank-se...nk-sealer.html

TJ 02-27-2026 08:10 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

If I was looking for a tank I would pass on that one. Use sealer, no thanks. Had that stuff come loose on me in a car that I bought and I was miles from home when it happened.

19Fordy 02-28-2026 10:04 AM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

That tank is a "goner". Too rusty. Best to replace it.

Seth Swoboda 02-28-2026 10:09 AM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

How do you use a Drake tank with an original Ford sending unit?

Kube 02-28-2026 10:14 AM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Bottom line? You won't be able to give this tank away. Sad, but true.

TJ 02-28-2026 12:04 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda (Post 2439844)
How do you use a Drake tank with an original Ford sending unit?

Seth, I think some of the tanks are drilled for the early sender and a late sender. Also there are adapters out there to use the early sender.

Seth Swoboda 02-28-2026 12:13 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ (Post 2439875)
Seth, I think some of the tanks are drilled for the early sender and a late sender. Also there are adapters out there to use the early sender.


Thanks

Zax40 02-28-2026 07:00 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda (Post 2439844)
How do you use a Drake tank with an original Ford sending unit?

Cutting and grinding sadly. I have pics and such if you are interested

Zax40 02-28-2026 07:03 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll send this one to the scrapper. Just didn't want to toss one that could be saved

Flathead Fever 02-28-2026 08:49 PM

Re: 40 gas tank, can it be saved, or too far gone?
 

I agree, it's a goner. That's some pretty thick rust. If you were to clean it, you would probably end up with a hole or two in it. I have my dad's '32 roadsters that has set for at least 15-years. I drained the tank and put some new gas in it. It only made it a block, and a piece of rust plugged the fuel line. I removed the tank it and put some blasting sand in it, then I took a long piece of steel brake line threaded to and air hose and struck in the tank and blew it around until it was shiny metal all around. You want to talk about a mess in the driveway, I blasted for hours inside that tank, even behind the baffles by bending the brake line to get behind the baffles The fuel fumes made me sick and I had a respirator and goggles on. I ended up with two pin holes in the tank. I took it to a local metal fabricator and had them tig welded up and he pressure tested it. I ended up with a decent original tank, but my tank didn't have nearly the rust in it as our '40 tank does. I have not heard any good info on the fit of the repro '32 tanks so I messed with the one I had. I had a stroke, so the tank has been laying out in the garage and I'm lying on the couch. One of these days if I feel better I'll paint it and put it back on. I have too many car projects, maybe 15 or them or so. I bought all of these over the years to restore when I retired but then I had a stroke. I'm not so bad that I couldn't go out there and work, but I just don't quite feel right.


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