More Fuel Tank Info

[grey beard]

When I dropped my fuel tank out of the truck, I found more than a shovel full of sand and dirt with a lot of rust. I dumped all this out, flushed it with water, and added a dozen 5/8-inch x 3 bolts to roll around and help clean things out. Hauled this around in the back of my van with a gallon of soapy wapter inside, wrapped in plastic, for a month, then flushed it with Xylene to get all the water out. Looked nice and clean, so I pakinted it and installed my new JCW sender.

Tapped the lock ring into place with a hammer and screw driver, just like always.Imagine my surprise when I picked the tank up to install it and heard lots of dirt rolling around inside.

Here's the tickler - these tanks get lots of dirt accumulation over sixty-plus years of use, but they rust on the inside top of the tank, from condensation. Beat on mine for twenty minutes with a dead blow hammer (gently) and poured out yet another cup full or two of solid rust particles. Reinstalled the half dozen bolts and this time turned it upside down to clean - now I really think it's clean. Prolly' good I can't see inside the thing, or I'd scrap it. Anyhow, it's cleaner than it was, and it's now installed, for better or worse.

I think if I ever have any more fuel tank problems with a Pilothouse, I will go to a junk yard and buy a Dodge van tank - they're black plastic and they 're long and narrow. I'll get one with the straps and brackets and mount it in the stock location. Worst that could happen is a work-around necessary for the filler neck. JMHO