When I did motorcycle tanks, and a couple car ones, I'd take them to the local radiator shop and they'd dip it in their caustic soda tank for like, 30 bucks. Worked really well, and then it was all clean and ready to seal and paint.
I work at a radiator shop and we power flush them with hot soapy water (removes fumes and scaley deposits) then we dry them and acid etch 'em and line them.We can also sand blast the outside and dp90 it and line the outside with external tank liner. Dan
My local radiator shop won't cook tanks anymore, smell and danger. Why not fill it with the mol***as and water and let it sit for a week. I've tried it on some stuff lately and can't believe how well it works. I'm thinking the M and W would kill the fumes that you could solder a leak too.