Anyone know why or where I can buy one? I've looked almost everywhere. They make them for up to 51 then start at 55. What's up with that?! Will another year fit? Appreciate any help. Its for a friend. Thanks NRM
I just saw one at Bob Drake but its $325. I'll keep looking but at least they have one if he has to get it. Any other options?
Not likely. Bob Drake doesn't manufacture them, they are a reseller. They should be available from all the usual suspects. The trick is to try and avoid high shipping charges, since the reproduction tanks are pretty much all made by the same outfit afaik. Taiwan. The quality seems pretty good at least, thick steel.
Nobody makes one for my '65 Bonneville either so don't feel bad. It had a tiny leak which I think I stopped with some JB Tank Weld. Good luck....
Bob Drake has them in stock as of last week. I had one on order since winter, but they weren't going to have them till late summer, so I had mine cleaned and recoated, then cancelled my order.
I think you answered the question of why many parts are not reproduced. The investment to produce low demand items is a harder to recover with fewer consumers there for creating a higher cost for the consumer. You have the opportunity to buy a new one for $325 and are still looking. I'm not trying to bash you , just trying to point out how we humans think .
A brand new tank is a smart purchase,I found a new tank for my '54 Ranch Wagon after I blew a lot of money on the original trying to patch it 3 times. Do it once and be done. HRP
I am lucky I have an actual radiator shop in the next town or three over. He does repairs to older gas tanks.
Yup on both accounts. The next post is usually complaints about how a cheaper one couldn't be found and now Bob Drake is out of stock for months.
Lol. Thanks for the replies guys. I'm just trying to help a friend. It's not my car.....yet. It doesn't hurt to look for another day to see if there is a quality part to save a few bucks, not a lot of bucks though as quality is important of course. It's just odd to me that availability of parts for 52-54 Fords is that much lower than other years immediately before or after. There are plenty of 52-54 Fords out there IMO. Anyway thanks for the help.
It's about an hour from you, if your friend has the original but it needs work then the "go-to" place in our region is Roger's Radiators in Malden. Family owned and run since 1972. They have done the tank, radiator and heater cores on every old car and bike I've owned for the past 15 years, pretty big operation. A lot of CL ads for old rides reference Roger's. Old school radiator shops are a dying breed, not sure if you have one in your area. They can rebuild anything. Downside is that it's about $300 to hot tank, clean, braze, pressure test and paint a car's gas tank, so it may be better to get a new one after all. http://www.rograd.com Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
A new tank is a smart investment-can save many future issues. I used to have old tanks fixed but no more--all new tanks on every build.
Kanter auto parts has a pretty big selection of tanks. I bought one for my 50 Chev wagon and 51 Dodge there. They cover just about every year Ford from 33 up. Now whether they are in stock is another question! Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
One more thing to add, if a gas tank was cosmetic and not hidden it would be a lot easier to justify the expense in many people's minds. I know one thing for sure, the cost of a new gas tank is worth not being on the side of the road dealing with fuel supply issues or wasting money on a tow home in my mind. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
For many years the 52-54 Fords were the red headed step children in the Ford line up,I have been a fan of the body style ever since I was a teenager and I can ***ure you there are a lot more parts being made for them than there was a shot 10 to 15 years ago. When I was building the wagon no one made patch panels,you ether found a decent car and cut it up or you did like me and roll up your sleeve,buy a 4x8 sheet of steel and start beating & banging,shrinking & stretching. I for one am thankful Tom Hoskins started the '54 Ford Club of America in 1986 and through his hard work & perseverance small company's started taking these car serious and began offering a few parts,Dennis Carpenter now offers many of the parts we need today and EMS has stepped up and making a lot of sheet metal for these cars. I also credit the HAMB and Jeff's 52-59 social group for a renewed interest in these cars which at one time could be purchased for a song but they too have increased in popularity in recent years. Getting back to the gas tanks,why would another company want to do the investment it would take to build another 52-54 P***enger gas tank when there is already one on the market.HRP
I betcha if you cut out the spare tire well: a 64 or later, Mustang tank would work, on 52-56 CARS, inlet . ( Always hated look of offset tank and spare tire hang-down.) spout hides in middle behind license plate, Mustang is in middle of car, top of Mustang tank is flat and is bottom of trunk. Bottom is not hard to look at.. sounds easy, and available.
$325 How much is a carburetor? A fuel Pump? New Lines? Filters? A Tow? Miracle Cleaners? A Chain? Lumber or straps for the handy dandy rusty tank spinner shaker thing? Radiator shop fees? Miracle Liner?Personal time and labor? And after all this fails...spending the $325 anyway.
When I was young , 50 years ago my family and I had 54 and 56 fords at the same time and I recall ? we changed tanks from a 54 to a 56. Now more newer times I needed anew tank for my 57 Lincoln and bought a new 56 ford tank . Fit perfect and only 2 gallons less. Tanks Inc. At the time was 235. delivered
Wire a bucket under the gas tank and drive around until the bucket gets full and pour it back into the tank. Repeat as needed. Just tell your friend to get off his wallet and buy a new tank or park the car until he can afford one. Sometime's saving a dime costs a dollar.
Have you checked Kanter auto products? I'm pretty sure they carry them for $359 a new sender unit is an additional $71. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
If you have been in our 1952-59 Ford Social Group you may have seen this easy and cheaper solution as this has always been an issue with the 1952-54 tanks : https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1955-gas-tank-in-a-54.985110/
The stainless tanks were selling at close to $400 check out this deal! http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-Ford-P...d=230589145658&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850
I worked at a shop that had a big yard crane with coffee cans on the leaking hydraulics. That's exactly what we did lol That's not going to matter too much for your carb. Just get the sender too. You can use the in tank pump or not.
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