Technical Model A Gas tank: To seal or not to seal?

Hey guys, looking for some insight about sealing my stock model A tank. I've used the Prep & etch to clean it up, but now have arrived at an issue. The gas tank sealer is not available in CA. After doing some research, I've found out that our current gas is dissolving some gas tank sealers, and I don't want to run the risk of that happening.

Anybody have any positive information that could help me out? I would sure appreciate any feedback I can get!

Thanks Guys!

Josh Bauer

 

I too have thought about this issue before.. and come to the conclusion that a tank sealer does sound like a good idea.. except when i pulled a tank from a '40 pickup and the tank was clean bare metal inside.. i guess maybe they didn't bother from the factory?

 

If it does not leak and it is clean, why seal it. I have heard of a few problems with sealed tanks.

 

I don't know what year they stopped, but model A and early 30's Ford tanks were terne coated inside.

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Just my $.02
Referring to carter and terne coating. I agree it is.
The Model A in my avitar car has the original gas tank and it is still being used. the car was idol for for 50 years.
When the car was revived and rodedded the inside of the tank was not rusty. We just pulled the fuel line, poured some gas thru it, hooked up the fuel pump to it from the Merc engine used and ran it.
That was 11 years ago.
Also I believe the whole tank is coated because the outside, which has no paint left on it shows no rust at all.
Just providing my experience.
I would not coat it if it doesn't leak.
Good luck

 

Don't coat it.

 

What would you blokes do about a tank that is clean and rust free on the outside, but is rusty on the inside? Have a shop hot tank it? Mol***es?

 

Out side of the tank is in great shape, however the inside had small little rust spots. We used some of the etching chemical, and it really made a big difference cleaning it up. But now we are left wondering if we should seal it, because we etched it, or just not worry about it and go.

 

I sealed my 28 A tank with redkote and its been fine for 6 months, my tank had a few pinholes though, if your tank is fine I wouldnt bother. Some people say to flush some premix two stroke through, apparently the oil in that helps protect the bare steel.

 

If the tank is out of the car be sure you get whatever is in the tank out, I wouldn't coat it. Get one of the br*** screen filters that fit in the stock shutoff from Snyders and you should be fine. Bob

 

I didn't seal mine. I'm getting some **** in my fuel pump bowl (flathead fuel pump). Wish I sealed mine now.


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I won't ever use a gas tank sealer again!

On a trip to the nationals we spent more time on the side of the interstate replacing fuel filters..I believe the final count was 9 and we pulled the tank in the motel parking lot and found a shop and had it vatted.

I got a few spray bombs and painted the tank and reinstalled it...I never had another problem. HRP

 

I am with 28downunder, I have used Redkote in the past and have had no issues. My Dad used it to fix the leaky gas tank in his 1910 Overland over 7 years ago and it has held up great. Has anybody else had any luck with this product? I wouldn't coat it if it doesn't leak.

 

The local radiator shop I use swears by RedKote. He does a lot of vintage tractor tanks and says he's never heard of any problems with the stuff over many years.

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Put a new metal tank in our 32 about 5 years ago. Asked our local NAPA guy what he would do. Being an active pilot, he said if it has no rust inside, and it didn't, he would not seal it. Said he never seals his aircraft tanks. We didn't seal it and have no problems.

 

I had to seal the tank in our 31 back in 78, since I had to weld up holes I made in it for gauges etc when it was raced. I used the Fuller O'Brien fuel tank sloshing compound found at their paint stores back then. Drove the car all over, Ca to Mn 82/85 for nats with never a fuel problem. About 3 years ago I found if the car sat for a couple weeks I had to tear the carb (1850) apart and clean it to get the accelerator nozzles unplugged and the idle circuits working again. Got tired of this and put an aluminum fuel cell behind the back seat. The problem is the ****ty ethanol here in CA. It was eating the coating in the stock tank and plugging up the carb. The CA gas eats rubber fuel lines too, and I've had to replace all the vinyl small fuel lines on our weed eaters etc.Far as I know, for sure in my area you CAN NOT by non-ethanol gas in CA. at a roadside pump. You can buy race gas for local trips and $$$ or if you know somebody at a small airport you might be able to get av gas.

 

The last post made me think of this, but we've had E-10 and other ethanol blends here in Western Pa for well over 10 years, probably a bit longer, so the RedKote in use by local rad. shop has certainly seen E-blends longterm.

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