Hot Rods Will this Model A gas tank leak?

A few weeks back I posted a question about remedying a broken steering-column mount on my '28 AV8 rpu. I got a few answers about simply replacing the mount with a new one, but my bracket seems rather permanently attached to the gas tank.

So I V'd the broken parts (cast iron) and TIG'd them together with pure nickel rod (the gas tank was boiled out and sealed 20 years ago; it's never had gas in it). The weld was easy and looked good, but I saw a few solder spatters on the floor (and my shoe).

Surely Ford did not use only solder to attach the column mount to the gas tank. Is there any possibility that the solder was used to seal something, like a rivet, meaning I might now have a leaking tank?

 

It's a common place for leaks. Solder was used to fix them. My guess is you have a leak.

 

I'll try to not be fresh. . . . Put gas in the tank and you will get your answer

 

The mount is riveted to the tank and sealed with solder. Seal up the tank so you can add about 2 pounds air pressure and test for leaks. Easier to repair now before you add gas. The strain on those mounts would crack the tank thats why Ford switch to dash rail mounts.

 

I'd also be wary of what was used to seal the tank 20 yrs ago.. The "new ethanol" gas might "attack" it.
Bracket is rivited and soldered in place, late 30(I believe) Ford came out with a dash rail mounted column support. Do a search on FordBarn for pics and attaching info on an earlier car.
Paul in CT

 

I sealed the tank on my stock 29 A about 22 years ago and the ethanol in the gas caused it to lift and I had chunks floating around in the tank. Kept plugging the shut off valve and I finally ended up fishing pieces of the sealer out with a set of mechanics fingers, had to do it several times to get it all. Older sealers don't work with ethanol.

 

If it looks rusty inside the tank, I think you should consider mounting a fuel tank elsewhere. Those tanks are bad for getting pinhole leaks. If you have seen one cut apart, you will see that there are baffles all over the place inside. If you do manage to clean out the insides with acid, putting a gas tank/liner sloshing compound inside is an iffy proposition because no matter how you turn the tank around to get that stuff into every nook and cranny, you are not about to get it all over and you can't see inside. Gas will get between it and the metal and you will have a mess.

 

It's a common place for a gas tank leak on a Model A. Most people will grab the steering wheel and use it to pull themselve's into the car. Over time the solder can fail and cause a leak.

 

I believe the column mount on my 28 was only soldered to the bottom of the tank.