Re: "Waking Sleeping Beauty" .... The Blog!

Posted by Jim L. in OR On 2011/2/16 12:43:58

Bad news this morning!
Mike from American Metal Clean who was working on the fuel tank from my '55 called to say my tank is toast. I can't say I was really shocked or even surprised. It appears that the water level that floated on top of the dead gas not only ate the bottom of the fuel sending unit (I'll post pictures if I ever figure out how) also ate the tank at the water line. He said the top half of the tank may be salvageable. I'll call Tom at Able Radiator in Milwaukie, OR to see if he's up to making a bottom half and how much. But I imagine I'll have to call Max Merritt about their reconditioned tanks. Please, if anyone has any experience of these or any other ideas - please jump in!
Actually, it really kind of tics me off! Packard (and many other makes of the era) thoughtfully provided drain plugs in their fuel tanks. I imagine it was so owners who didn't want their cars subjected to snow and salt could put them up for the season AND DRAIN THE DAMN GAS TANK! Why the two brothers who thoughtfully stored the car in a heated garage for 26 years didn't USE THE DRAIN PLUG is one of those mysteries that I hope will be explained to me when I go to that big salvage yard in the sky!