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Since I have a 21 gallon gas tank that came with my 1947 Custom Super Clipper and I figure I would see if I could repair it and put it back on. As you can see by the pictures it is pretty banged up and it has at least one hole you can see on the bottom. It has had a couple of people already worked and patch it up. It had been coated inside, so I took it down to the locate radiator shop and they boiled it and once they notice it had been coated gave it back to me and they said there was nothing they could do since it had already been coated inside. Now comes the job of repairing to the best of my ability.
So the first thing I'm doing is cutting it open. It looks like the top half about an inch above the seam would be best. So here I go, if you don't hear anything else from me... Oh I just kidding I'm taking all the precautions, I've heard too many horror story as a kid growing up about empty gas tanks. So I will keep posting until finished.
Wes

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Well I cut it open, first I was a dremel to cut an opening and finish it off with my jigsaw. Boy what a mess I found inside. Also found what was left of my float from my original fuel sender. Now with it open hopefully I will be able to beat out some of the dents and get it back into shape.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec-8A5k16Ak
Here's what it looked like inside.
Wes

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Doesn't look like much of the coating survived? This should be an interesting project to watch.
John

Yes, I agree. Not sure if it was due to having the tank boiled or the ethanol gas. But so far the tank is cleaning out and I can see a little shiny metal when I peel the rest of the coating off. I'm also starting to find a few more (pin size) holes.
I had saw a post where someone else did this, so if anyone remembers where it is, could you please point me to it.
Thanks!
Wes

Wes, that is quite the project and sure hope it is successful. Finding pin holes is not good and even seeing shiny metal, I would wonder how salvageable that tank will be in the long term. If the metal is that thin, even with a repair of holes you find now and applying more sealer it seems like a leak waiting to happen.

I am wondering if anyone has ready access to current tank catalogs such as the old Spectra catalogs now listed on ebay -- or has a source that could obtain one. The illustrations in those catalogs, in addition to showing shapes also list dimensions. For that matter, even those old catalogs might still be a viable reference.

If a new tank is available that could be used with maybe just modifying a fill or sender location or maybe do other similar but still minor mods that seems like it would be less work and have a better chance of long term reliability.

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Just to show what my Fuel Sender looked like when I pulled it out and since opening the tank I've found the float or what's left of it.
Wes

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Hate to sound pretentious but that tank looks way past the point of no return, may want to purchase a new tank!

What happened to the re-pro tanks that Fred Kanter was proposing or wasn't there enough interest?

Got one? It does look pretty bad. I guess I'll see what happens.
Wes

Would like a tank for my 40 super if Kanter are reproducing them.