The Ford Barn

james heider · 11-20-2010, 04:44 AM

I just had my gas tank cleaned at a facility similar to Ready Strip.
The tank is now clean and ready to be sealed. I was wondering if anyone has used a hot dip galvanizing on their tank instead of a pour and slosh sealer.

Chris in WNC · 11-20-2010, 09:28 AM

sounds interesting, but I'd want mine to be cut open before galvanizing to be certain that it's completely cleaned.

what problems will galvanizing cause with painting the visible surfaces?
what would we seal the welds with after putting it back together?

also sounds expensive.
still plenty of good tanks showing up at swap meets.

Aerocraft · 11-20-2010, 10:42 AM

Before you use sealer on the tank, I suggest that you read the many threads that have been made here on Fordbarn. There is one such thread currently open near this thread. I personally will not use any sealer again after having it come out of my '30 Coupe tank. I now only use a fine screen on the fuel inlet / shut off valve in the bottom of the tank. Gar Williams

Tom Wesenberg · 11-20-2010, 11:11 AM

I agree with Gar. I've never used a sealer and never would, no matter what they promise about it. I've never had a problem with rust in a tank, but the shutoff valve screen and sediment bulb should take care of any rust or other debris.

james heider · 11-20-2010, 12:07 PM

I read that current thread about sealers after posting this question about galvanizing. I am going to call a couple of plants that do galvanizing and find out if it can be done and how to treat the exterior of the tank so that it will accept paint.

Steve Plucker · 11-20-2010, 12:12 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Maybe they can galvanize just the inside???

Pluck

5window · 11-20-2010, 12:35 PM

If it was a good idea, surely more people would be doing it. I'd call a gas tank manufacturer-like Tanks, Inc-and ask their advice. I would bet you'd end up with flakes of the galvanizing floating around in your gas.

5window · 11-20-2010, 12:38 PM

A quick Google search didn't run up much, but there was a posting on another site about contacting Steve at The Filling Station (Chevy site) for information about who dies it.

Jason in TX · 11-20-2010, 02:48 PM

The 1930 cabriolet that I just sold that was restored in the late 50s was shiney inside and looked to me like it was galvanized. I assumed that this was the original ford finish because I saw no sign of The tank ever being cut apart.

Steve Plucker · 11-20-2010, 04:26 PM

Elrod,

Go to my website and read all about the makeing of the Model A/AA Ford gas tank...I am sure that will enlighten you on the subject.

Pluck

james heider · 11-20-2010, 06:58 PM

Pluck,

Thanks for the website, very informative.
So the gas tanks were originally galvanized.

Steve Plucker · 11-20-2010, 07:43 PM

WELL.....If "Terne plating" is another term for "galvanized plating" then yes...otherwise NO.

Somewhere on the World Wide Web it tells the difference and I do not know where that is...anybody?

Pluck

midgetracer · 11-20-2010, 08:20 PM

I believe Terne plating is tin, while galvanizing is Zinc.

pat in Santa Cruz · 11-20-2010, 08:30 PM

terne was 20% tin, 80% lead

Mike V. Florida · 11-21-2010, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

WELL.....If "Terne plating" is another term for "galvanized plating" then yes...otherwise NO.

Somewhere on the World Wide Web it tells the difference and I do not know where that is...anybody?

Pluck

Coated in lead (solder) is terne

Rem · 11-21-2010, 09:31 AM

I would guess the biggest problem with galzanising (and I'm assuming you mean hot dip galvanising) is that of getting the molten zinc to flow out of the tank when removing it from the vat. I wouldn't volunteer to be the one who has to rock it around to slop the zinc out before it started to cool and set.

I have had reasonable results with tank sealers - I did a motorcycle tank 15 years ago that was very dry and rusty before starting the treatment and it is still fine now, despite just looking like a thin plastic film from the outset. Then a couple of years ago I used a POR15 kit on a '55 F250 tank and that was a real PITA to do - nearly blocked up the 1/4" outlet pipe due to its installation method, but otherwise seemed to work OK.

5window · 11-21-2010, 11:00 AM

Wikipedia lists "terne" as traditionally 210% tin and 80% lead. Now it is 50% tin and 50% zinc. It also said it needs to be painted,which sort of eliminates it's value as a tank coating-might as well just use a sealer.

rotorwrench · 11-21-2010, 01:13 PM

With any of the zinc or terne coating processes you would need 100% clean bare metal. That's not easy to get in an 80 year old tank. I hope the fellow in Australia, that's been mentioned before, starts making new ones.

Kerby

Ray500 · 08-02-2022, 01:37 AM

I too have considered either doing a coating or galvanizing inside my 1941 Lincoln Zephyr tank. I was able to get an original tank from Merv Adkins in California. I had it sand blasted on the outside and discovered some small pin holes so I soldered them. I will paint the outside of the tank once I'm through cleaning inside and deciding how to proceed. As to hot dipped galvanizing, the problem without taking it apart like a clam shell is it might leak afterwards. Hard to weld back as the metal is very thin. (18AWG?) Anyway there are also baffles inside the tank as most are to keep the noise of the gas sloshing around while driving. You'd never get a good galvanizing job without taking it apart. Now as to flaking of the zinc galvanizing, yes that tank metal is thin, and it will flex some and that can break some of the material off which you could hopefully catch in a fuel filter. Same with the plastic sealant, it's brittle and will flake off too! I will leave mine alone, just acid washed and clean. And I won't use any Ethanol gas as that's alcohol and that attracts water. I get from Shell a non-ethanol gas and that works. The ole V12 loves it too! It would like it better if there also was some lead in it. Not going there and starting a fight with the EPA! Good Luck!!

gdmn852 · 08-02-2022, 09:05 AM

Hello, I think with the advent of ethanol fuel, fuel tanks that were previously sealed in the 1980,s and before weren’t resistant to alcohol content as ethanol fuel wasn’t widely used then ,causing problems today.The newer sealers are supposed to be, I try to use non ethanol in my older cars , ethanol also has a tendency to draw moisture when sitting for a time , boat owners won’t use it.

11-20-2010, 04:44 AM	#1
james heider Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 125	Gas Tank Galvanizing I just had my gas tank cleaned at a facility similar to Ready Strip. The tank is now clean and ready to be sealed. I was wondering if anyone has used a hot dip galvanizing on their tank instead of a pour and slosh sealer.

11-20-2010, 09:28 AM	#2
Chris in WNC Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spruce Pine, NC Posts: 1,458	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing sounds interesting, but I'd want mine to be cut open before galvanizing to be certain that it's completely cleaned. what problems will galvanizing cause with painting the visible surfaces? what would we seal the welds with after putting it back together? also sounds expensive. still plenty of good tanks showing up at swap meets.

11-20-2010, 10:42 AM	#3
Aerocraft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 1,387	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing Before you use sealer on the tank, I suggest that you read the many threads that have been made here on Fordbarn. There is one such thread currently open near this thread. I personally will not use any sealer again after having it come out of my '30 Coupe tank. I now only use a fine screen on the fuel inlet / shut off valve in the bottom of the tank. Gar Williams

11-20-2010, 11:11 AM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing I agree with Gar. I've never used a sealer and never would, no matter what they promise about it. I've never had a problem with rust in a tank, but the shutoff valve screen and sediment bulb should take care of any rust or other debris.

11-20-2010, 12:07 PM	#5
james heider Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 125	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing I read that current thread about sealers after posting this question about galvanizing. I am going to call a couple of plants that do galvanizing and find out if it can be done and how to treat the exterior of the tank so that it will accept paint.

11-20-2010, 12:12 PM	#6
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Maybe they can galvanize just the inside??? Pluck

11-20-2010, 12:35 PM	#7
5window Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisburg,PA Posts: 938	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing If it was a good idea, surely more people would be doing it. I'd call a gas tank manufacturer-like Tanks, Inc-and ask their advice. I would bet you'd end up with flakes of the galvanizing floating around in your gas.

11-20-2010, 12:38 PM	#8
5window Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisburg,PA Posts: 938	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing A quick Google search didn't run up much, but there was a posting on another site about contacting Steve at The Filling Station (Chevy site) for information about who dies it.

11-20-2010, 02:48 PM	#9
Jason in TX Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ⓉⒺXⒶⓈ Posts: 2,047	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing The 1930 cabriolet that I just sold that was restored in the late 50s was shiney inside and looked to me like it was galvanized. I assumed that this was the original ford finish because I saw no sign of The tank ever being cut apart. __________________ -------------- Drive it like you know how to fix it! DMAFC / OILERS CC-MC

11-20-2010, 04:26 PM	#10
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing Elrod, Go to my website and read all about the makeing of the Model A/AA Ford gas tank...I am sure that will enlighten you on the subject. Pluck

11-20-2010, 06:58 PM	#11
james heider Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 125	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing Pluck, Thanks for the website, very informative. So the gas tanks were originally galvanized.

11-20-2010, 07:43 PM	#12
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing WELL.....If "Terne plating" is another term for "galvanized plating" then yes...otherwise NO. Somewhere on the World Wide Web it tells the difference and I do not know where that is...anybody? Pluck

11-20-2010, 08:20 PM	#13
midgetracer Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bismarck ND Posts: 1,189	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing I believe Terne plating is tin, while galvanizing is Zinc.

11-20-2010, 08:30 PM	#14
pat in Santa Cruz Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: santa cruz, calif Posts: 2,011	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing terne was 20% tin, 80% lead

11-21-2010, 09:31 AM	#16
Rem Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oxford, England Posts: 96	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing I would guess the biggest problem with galzanising (and I'm assuming you mean hot dip galvanising) is that of getting the molten zinc to flow out of the tank when removing it from the vat. I wouldn't volunteer to be the one who has to rock it around to slop the zinc out before it started to cool and set. I have had reasonable results with tank sealers - I did a motorcycle tank 15 years ago that was very dry and rusty before starting the treatment and it is still fine now, despite just looking like a thin plastic film from the outset. Then a couple of years ago I used a POR15 kit on a '55 F250 tank and that was a real PITA to do - nearly blocked up the 1/4" outlet pipe due to its installation method, but otherwise seemed to work OK.

11-21-2010, 11:00 AM	#17
5window Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisburg,PA Posts: 938	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing Wikipedia lists "terne" as traditionally 210% tin and 80% lead. Now it is 50% tin and 50% zinc. It also said it needs to be painted,which sort of eliminates it's value as a tank coating-might as well just use a sealer.

11-21-2010, 01:13 PM	#18
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing With any of the zinc or terne coating processes you would need 100% clean bare metal. That's not easy to get in an 80 year old tank. I hope the fellow in Australia, that's been mentioned before, starts making new ones. Kerby

08-02-2022, 01:37 AM	#19
Ray500 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Hawaii Posts: 1	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing I too have considered either doing a coating or galvanizing inside my 1941 Lincoln Zephyr tank. I was able to get an original tank from Merv Adkins in California. I had it sand blasted on the outside and discovered some small pin holes so I soldered them. I will paint the outside of the tank once I'm through cleaning inside and deciding how to proceed. As to hot dipped galvanizing, the problem without taking it apart like a clam shell is it might leak afterwards. Hard to weld back as the metal is very thin. (18AWG?) Anyway there are also baffles inside the tank as most are to keep the noise of the gas sloshing around while driving. You'd never get a good galvanizing job without taking it apart. Now as to flaking of the zinc galvanizing, yes that tank metal is thin, and it will flex some and that can break some of the material off which you could hopefully catch in a fuel filter. Same with the plastic sealant, it's brittle and will flake off too! I will leave mine alone, just acid washed and clean. And I won't use any Ethanol gas as that's alcohol and that attracts water. I get from Shell a non-ethanol gas and that works. The ole V12 loves it too! It would like it better if there also was some lead in it. Not going there and starting a fight with the EPA! Good Luck!!

08-02-2022, 09:05 AM	#20
gdmn852 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Erie Pa Posts: 689	Re: Gas Tank Galvanizing Hello, I think with the advent of ethanol fuel, fuel tanks that were previously sealed in the 1980,s and before weren’t resistant to alcohol content as ethanol fuel wasn’t widely used then ,causing problems today.The newer sealers are supposed to be, I try to use non ethanol in my older cars , ethanol also has a tendency to draw moisture when sitting for a time , boat owners won’t use it.