Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-10-2014, 08:47 AM   #1
29Cabriolet
Senior Member
 
29Cabriolet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 267
Default Cleaning a Gas Tank

Hi:
Looking for some advice on how to effectively clean a gas tank. This tank is from a '29 which has the steering column support bracket riveted to the bottom wall of the tank. As with many, stress at this point has caused the area to weaken and develop a leak. The tank had already been repaired many years back what looks like a braze or solder job. Apparently that was inadequate because later, epoxy and other sealers were applied over that.

I've removed all the epoxy and am down to bare metal in that area. To redo the repair, I am considering brazing or soldering again (by someone more qualified for the task than me) but of course I want to be sure that the tank has expelled all gas fumes and won't explode! At the same time this is a good opportunity to clean out the inside of any rust or residue that may exist. Prior to removal the car had been driven all last season. I began this project in January, the first step of course was to drain the tank. So it has been empty, open and uncapped since then. What is the best way to do this?
Thanks!
29Cabriolet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2014, 09:18 AM   #2
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Just came in from the super market-have been looking for reasonably priced vinegar
and is going for close to 4.00 a gallon.
just bought 6 gallons today at 1.88 a gal
pouring a couple into my Maxwell tank-let it sit for 30 days, then do each side and finally spin it upside down-will be nice and clean in about 3 months time.
Yes it is out of the car and much easier to work with.
Another good option is to go to a rad shop and have it boiled out...........
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 03-10-2014, 10:14 AM   #3
29Cabriolet
Senior Member
 
29Cabriolet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 267
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronn View Post
Just came in from the super market-have been looking for reasonably priced vinegar
and is going for close to 4.00 a gallon.
just bought 6 gallons today at 1.88 a gal
pouring a couple into my Maxwell tank-let it sit for 30 days, then do each side and finally spin it upside down-will be nice and clean in about 3 months time.
Yes it is out of the car and much easier to work with.
Another good option is to go to a rad shop and have it boiled out...........
Thanks for the reply. But Yikes! 3 months? My goal for this project is to get the car back on the road before the season ends. I've read a few articles about vinegar doing the trick but those were focused on rust and debris rather than gas fumes. Need to be sure there are none before hitting it with a torch!
29Cabriolet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2014, 03:52 PM   #4
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

If youre just worried about fumes-either run water through it and then dry it out with a shop vac or just use the shop vac to blow it out with air.
You might be surprised at what's in your tank...............
at the very least, shine a light around the inner base to see what you are working with.
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2014, 07:38 PM   #5
Paul from Maine
Senior Member
 
Paul from Maine's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oxford Hills, Maine
Posts: 325
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Took my leaking '29 gas tank to the radiator shop where they soldered it up so good, it hasn't leaked a drop in four years!
Paul from Maine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-10-2014, 08:49 PM   #6
1crosscut
Senior Member
 
1crosscut's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Posts: 1,905
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Flushing it out with water and then a few rinses with a strong mixture of some good old simple green will probably do the trick. I would shy away from using a shop vac on any gas tank unless it has not had gas in it for MANY years. Pulling gas fumes through an electric motor has bad written all over it.
__________________
Dave / Lincoln Nebraska
1crosscut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 12:35 AM   #7
Brentwood Bob
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: brentwood, ca
Posts: 4,214
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

static electricity is not your friend. be over cautious and you will live to report back to us. Bob
Brentwood Bob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 03:30 AM   #8
Marvin/TN
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Chattanooga, TN area
Posts: 832
Send a message via AIM to Marvin/TN
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

When the tank is empty just stick an air hose in it and purge it for 30 or more mins. That should clean out the fumes. Thats the way we did fuel cell repair on airplanes when I was in the AF, except we use a blower with lots of volume but the tanks were a lot bigger.
Marvin/TN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 04:00 AM   #9
ronn
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ
Posts: 6,758
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Blowing air in is bad......?
never knew
ronn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 05:56 AM   #10
QGolden
Senior Member
 
QGolden's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Alton, NH
Posts: 1,231
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronn View Post
Blowing air in is bad......?
never knew
I don't think so, I think 1crosscut interpreted that you were sucking the fumes out.
__________________
It's not what people think they know that will hurt them, it is what they think they know that aint so! -Mark Twain.

It is the very things that we think we know, that keep us from learning what we should know.- Unknown
QGolden is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 07:11 AM   #11
Barry B./ Ma.
Senior Member
 
Barry B./ Ma.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southbridge, Ma.
Posts: 1,614
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

I cleaned out a 29 tank with a pressure washer, water and detergent and let it dry for a few days. Remove the dash gas gauge so you can direct the spray around. I would bring it to a radiator shop and coat the cracked area with solder using a large solder iron. No danger with fumes with a large iron. Don't use that lower bracket to hold the steering column.
Barry B./ Ma. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 07:20 AM   #12
Benson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,579
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

The leak is not always under the soldered bracket. I have seen cracks 3/4 to an inch below the bracket.

Radiator shop drilled a small hole at each end of crack to stop it from going further and soldered a brass patch over it. Then you can install the improved 30-31 steering column bracket to prevent further damage.

This area can not seen unless you look under the tank.

Last edited by Benson; 03-11-2014 at 07:28 AM.
Benson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 07:42 AM   #13
Marklambert61
Member
 
Marklambert61's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Otter Lake MI
Posts: 61
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Watched my dad weld many gas tanks back in the day. He aways remove, drain then flush the tanks with exhaust gases from a running motor with a hose or pipe for one hour. Warm exhaust gases evaporated and evacuated left over fuel and gas in the tanks.

Mark
Marklambert61 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 08:10 AM   #14
29Cabriolet
Senior Member
 
29Cabriolet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 267
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Thanks guys for all the suggestions. Hmmmm vinegar, detergent, water, air and exhaust. Maybe I'll try all of 'em!
29Cabriolet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 10:04 AM   #15
Growley bear
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 777
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by ronn View Post
If youre just worried about fumes-either run water through it and then dry it out with a shop vac or just use the shop vac to blow it out with air.
You might be surprised at what's in your tank...............
at the very least, shine a light around the inner base to see what you are working with.
The voice of experience and seven stitches in my left eyebrow and much water under the bridge says that just running water through your tank won't help. Also using a vacuum cleaner with electric motor is likely to cause things to get very exciting, not a good idea with fumes in the tank.
The OXYGEN MUST be removed from the tank. I removed my tank and took it to the radiator shop to be boiled out.
Use caution as a gas tank is a BOMB if not handled properly. Good Luck on your repair. Some times on these repairs the hard way is the easy way.

Chet
Growley bear is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-11-2014, 10:09 AM   #16
Growley bear
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 777
Default Re: Cleaning a Gas Tank

Quote:
Originally Posted by Marklambert61 View Post
Watched my dad weld many gas tanks back in the day. He aways remove, drain then flush the tanks with exhaust gases from a running motor with a hose or pipe for one hour. Warm exhaust gases evaporated and evacuated left over fuel and gas in the tanks.

Mark
Don't forget that the exhaust displaced the O2. You can't have combustion without oxygen.

Chet
Growley bear is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:59 PM.