1961 Mk2 3.8 Restoration
#42
#43
I was surprised at how good the outside looked when I got the tank out. That sender looks like it was replaced "recently". I peered around the inside with a flashlight - THAT is where the rust is. I don't feel like I can capture that with a camera unfortunately. I also noticed a dent in the bottom, right around the drain plug. I may post that in the next day or so. You think a previous owner might have bottomed out on the gas tank? Or maybe some amateur put a jack under there?
#44
#45
#46
This s the fuel pick-up pipe and is fixed. There should be a close fitting gauze metal filter around it which is attached to the drain plug which is in turn sealed with a washer. Sometimes, the pipe can be offset to the centre of the opening which makes re-assembly of the drain bung a little awkward!
#47
Well, I did a couple of short sessions with the metal wash last night and I learned a couple of things:
- Removing this rust is a heckuva workout
- The metal wash removes a lot of rust
- There's still a lot of rust left
I think, in future, I'm going to restrict myself to one, maybe 2 20-minute session per day until the water runs "clean". Otherwise I don't think I will be able to do a proper job. I have 2 social gatherings this weekend so progress is going to be slow.
- Removing this rust is a heckuva workout
- The metal wash removes a lot of rust
- There's still a lot of rust left
I think, in future, I'm going to restrict myself to one, maybe 2 20-minute session per day until the water runs "clean". Otherwise I don't think I will be able to do a proper job. I have 2 social gatherings this weekend so progress is going to be slow.
#48
After a week of shake/rattle/rolling metal wash and a bunch of nuts to get the rust off I inspected in the hole for the fuels sender and the drain plug. I could see where some rust had been removed but not nearly as much as I was expecting - :P
So I'm taking a different tack. I put a gallon of Evapo-rust in the tank yesterday and stated turning it every so often. I'll try this for a bit. If it removes most of the rust then I'll move forward with the preservation steps.
So I'm taking a different tack. I put a gallon of Evapo-rust in the tank yesterday and stated turning it every so often. I'll try this for a bit. If it removes most of the rust then I'll move forward with the preservation steps.
#49
#50
You may be right. Maybe it's time to move on...
Thank you for your support Chuck!
#51
#53
#54
There looks like there's a seam that runs all the way around the tank. Wouldn't it be nice if we could un-bolt that to gain access to all the internal baffles instead of drilling holes like Jeff's shop did?
In any case I'm sure my tank is in a ton-load better shape than it was. Even if I only put gas in it right now I don't think I would have much trouble for several years.
Still... I'm down this rabbit-hole... And the Red Queen(the rust) is not yet dead - haha
Last edited by gene61jag; 08-23-2016 at 09:14 AM.
#55
Are you keeping the incandescent-bulb lights? Or are you converting to LED?
#56
#57
I believe the Evapo-rust is doing its job. I'm seeing a lot of grayish metal where I had seen dark rust. A couple of more days with this stuff in the tank and I think it will be time to move on to the next step.
#58
#59
LOL - Exactly!
Today may be the right day to buy my rebuild parts then(gaskets, washers, etc.). While they are in transit I'll finish the tank cleaning & sealing.
I tried to bend the dent on the bottom of the tank with the tools I have and the metal didn't budge. I didn't beat it too hard since I didn't want to mess up the drain plug threads. I might have a pro look at it some time in the future. For now it will be part of my car's "endearing charm". I don't think it's going to affect capacity much(a cup/200mL maybe).
Today may be the right day to buy my rebuild parts then(gaskets, washers, etc.). While they are in transit I'll finish the tank cleaning & sealing.
I tried to bend the dent on the bottom of the tank with the tools I have and the metal didn't budge. I didn't beat it too hard since I didn't want to mess up the drain plug threads. I might have a pro look at it some time in the future. For now it will be part of my car's "endearing charm". I don't think it's going to affect capacity much(a cup/200mL maybe).
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csbush (08-25-2016)
#60
One step back, 2 steps forward?
So... For a couple of weeks I had been running chemicals through my fuel tank and occasionally scraping it with a long pry-bar. One time while I was sloshing chemicals around I found a pinhole leak (Grrr, yes, a leak!). So I checked the inside and it still looked like there was a LOT of rust left in the area of the pinhole. I have sealer, and thought that it might seal one, maybe two, small leaks. But I thought that, after I removed all the rust from the tank, I'd be stuck with Swiss cheese to try to seal. Poot. What to do?
I doubled down. I've wasted enough time; I'm moving forward. I said the car-restorer's prayer ("It's only money") and the next day after seeing the leak I ordered a new gas tank, all my rear suspension buffers, and a pair of shock absorbers. IMO all this should have been here by Labor Day weekend but apparently UPS and I have a different idea of what "3-day shipping" is. Everything arrived Tuesday :P
Today after work I dove in, removing the tires, the old shock absorbers, and breaking a lot of the nuts free. I liberally sprayed PB Blaster on everything that I'll be removing over the next few days. Some pics of today's progress:
I doubled down. I've wasted enough time; I'm moving forward. I said the car-restorer's prayer ("It's only money") and the next day after seeing the leak I ordered a new gas tank, all my rear suspension buffers, and a pair of shock absorbers. IMO all this should have been here by Labor Day weekend but apparently UPS and I have a different idea of what "3-day shipping" is. Everything arrived Tuesday :P
Today after work I dove in, removing the tires, the old shock absorbers, and breaking a lot of the nuts free. I liberally sprayed PB Blaster on everything that I'll be removing over the next few days. Some pics of today's progress: