Technical are 40 chevy gas tanks galvanized?

I cut a section out of an old tank I have, to use to for patching some rust .cant tell if this is galvanized or not. grinds to shiny easily. didnt want to weld it if it is. thanks

 

Not sure if it was galvanized....most likely tinned.

 

I was under the impression that the galvanizing of gas tanks really didn't start until the sixty's. HRP

 

Me too....I think it was tinned before that. Unless it was replaced at some point with one made with galvanized metal.

 

I've seen 50s tanks that were galvanized...

 

In 1932 Ford advertised TERNE coated tanks back then. It was coated sheet metal that came from the steel mill and sold to stamp fuel tanks out.

 

so if it is tinned is it safe to weld on? thanks

 

It's terne plate, don't know if you can weld it. But if you do you will burn off the coating and invite rust.

Better to tin it and solder it, solder is rust proof. Galvanized is easy to solder. You can patch a tank, or even build a new one, using ordinary galvanized steel as used for making duct work.

 

not patching a gas tank. I have been told many times, welding galvanized gives off a toxic gas.

 

Id worry less about galvanized and more about welding on fuel tanks. If you know how to do safely, more power to ya.

 

The old terne metal coating was 80% lead and 20% tin

 

Nothing to do with the galvanized question at hand but brought back a memory of a guy that said he could weld up some pin holes in the tank of my dads '60 Porsche roadster. Ran water through it for about an hour, drained it and went to weld it up. BOOM! Knocked the whiskers right off his face and everybody's ears rang for a couple days. That, was exciting.

 

Gotta keep air flowing through it fast while you weld. Can't take chances that even the slightest fuel fumes start gathering.

 

I AM NOT WELDING A FUEL TANK!!

using metal to patch some rust in a hood for a friend.I welded some of it with no problems.

 

It sure will. That is another reason I suggest soldering.

 

There was a long thread on here a few years back on welding tanks...dozens of tricks suggested, some from experience, some from theory, but the best tip came from an experienced garage owner. Approximate quote:
"Have the new guy do it. On the other side of the parking lot."
Soldering is an excellent idea. For big job needing lots of heat, revert to the past and use an old copper heated well clear of the tank. For small stuff, you can do a surprising amount on sheetmetal with one of the higher rated Weller soldering guns!

 

my mistake, missed that part, I've welded galvanized, the fumes are disgusting, need to stay away from them, do it outside if you can. Soaking the galvanized in acid will remove it, again bad fumes so soak it outside.

 

I've seen that thread, still can't bring myself to do it. I guess I've been lucky enough to build stuff with available repo tanks, the cost of a new tank seemed worth it.