29 Gas Tank Leak at Column Bracket

[Ted]

I am wondering what others have used to weld around the steering column support bracket & rivets on a 29 gas tank to stop the leaks. I'm not looking for sloshing compound. I'm wondering about mig welding, brazing, lead-something that will hold up to the stress of grabbing the steering wheel. Thanks.

[Rowdy]

They were originally soldered. I resoldered mine after I had it bioled out. Rod

[Mike V. Florida]

My guess is that if it is leaking the rivits must also be a little bit loose re soldering it would be temporary. I don't know about brazing or welding where it was soldered. Worth a try i guess.

[fordcragar]

My tank is leaking too. It has lifted a lot of paint off of the tank. I was thinking about replacing the tank, but have thought about repairing and maybe putting a sealer inside.

[Kirby1374]

Looks like mine was brazed years ago.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

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I wouldn't do any brazing or anything with a flame. Too dangerous on a gas tank. The originals were soldered. I've had very good results with the epoxy gas tank repair kits from CarQuest. Did one 4 years ago as a temporary fix and it's still holding up well. I would strongly advise changing the support to the 31 style that hangs from the dash and taking the rubber out of the undertank support clamp.

[d.j. moordigian]

Ted ...I agree with Rowdy, use a radiator shop and then pressure check. Dudley

[Ted]

Rowdy,
What type of solder did you use? Silver solder or plumbing solder?

[ford1]

every body is worried about getting a flame near the tank so they say solder it, lol, how are you going to solder it with out heat? have the tank cleaned or do it your self by washing it out with tide soap or anythind else you want i use tide soap ,then braze or weld, thats the only way to get a permante fix, if your real nervous fill the tank with water just below where your going to weld, then install the later year bracket the one that attaches to the dash

[Jim Parker Toronto]

Originally Posted by Ted

I am wondering what others have used to weld around the steering column support bracket & rivets on a 29 gas tank to stop the leaks. I'm not looking for sloshing compound. I'm wondering about mig welding, brazing, lead-something that will hold up to the stress of grabbing the steering wheel. Thanks.

Grabbing the steering wheel is a BAD habit that you should try to break. No matter how well it is fixed, you will start the cycle all over again, probably causing more stress and making it worse!

[Ted]

I'm guessing that even sitting behind the wheel & steering causes stress on the bracket at the tank.

[Chris in CT]

Hi Ted, Take your tank to a radiator shop that does gas tank repairs. Have it boiled out, silver-soldered (never weld or braze an A gas tank, the semi-hard sheetmetal will spider-crack from the stress), then coated with a baked-on rubberized internal sealing coating. Highly worth it from a safety and utility service standpoint. Good Luck!

[Paul from Maine]

Originally Posted by Ted

I am wondering what others have used to weld around the steering column support bracket & rivets on a 29 gas tank to stop the leaks. I'm not looking for sloshing compound. I'm wondering about mig welding, brazing, lead-something that will hold up to the stress of grabbing the steering wheel. Thanks.

I took mine down to the radiator shop. They soldered it up real well. I'd be careful about welding. Seems I read somewhere the gas tank is heat treated steel or something and welding weakens it. I could be wrong about the heat treatment, but I do remember reading that welding the Model A gas tank was a no-no for some reason.

[Fred K-OR]

I did the radiator shop route with solder. Then got a 30/31 brace to mount it to the upper dash. Brace bolted in with only one hole needed to drill in dash. Send me an email and I can send pictures.

[Ted]

Has everyone that has repaired their bracket gone with the 31 style support brace? I was hoping to stay original without the extra brace. Thanks.

[Rowdy]

I used the solder that my freind at the radiator shop gave me. Same solder he uses on radiators, I am not sure of the exact make up of the solder used. I also used the POR-15 sealer kit. Not much choice on this tank. Rod

[Barry B./ Ma.]

Originally Posted by Ted

I am wondering what others have used to weld around the steering column support bracket & rivets on a 29 gas tank to stop the leaks. I'm not looking for sloshing compound. I'm wondering about mig welding, brazing, lead-something that will hold up to the stress of grabbing the steering wheel. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Ted

Has everyone that has repaired their bracket gone with the 31 style support brace? I was hoping to stay original without the extra brace. Thanks.

Ted, my 29 coupe has the 31 brace. It needed a 1/4" spacer plate for mounting and one extra hole. Nothing shows as it's behind the dash rail. The gas tank mount is still in place WITHOUT the rubber sleeve. Don't use both mounts to clamp as it will set up vibration to the tank at the lower clamp.

[Fred K-OR]

Originally Posted by Ted

Has everyone that has repaired their bracket gone with the 31 style support brace? I was hoping to stay original without the extra brace. Thanks.

If you would want to take it out for shows or the like, it is not hard to remove and nothing much would show. It does give the steering column a very good feel.

[Ted]

This has been good information. I had heard of the plating inside the tank & half wondered if the metal would crack as it was heated. I have a spare tank I plan on doing the work to since a radiator shop would end up removing all the paint anyway. This way I can get the spare one ready & remove & replace. Thanks again for all the input.