My thoughts on Northern's Gas Tank Liner Kit..LONG WINDED!

[54Illinois]

Today I finished the gas tank fiasco. After flushing about 3 gallons of lacquer thinner w/marbles, I used the kit.

Sunday I washed the tank with the detergent aka looked like soap. I let the tank dry until today.

Today I rinsed the tank with the MKT solution. Heed all warnings! Fumes were pretty over powering and I had the 20 foot door open! I also noticed it ate away at the rubber plugs I had installed in the tank.

After draining the tank, I then applied the liner. I added a quart, and slowly moved it around the tank. Adding it into the tank, I used a yellow colored plastic oil funnel. Within about 15 minutes a thin film formed, and I kneaded the plastic funnel, but the blue liner would not crack.

My biggest worry was clogging the screen where the gas gets sucked into...not an issue. There just isn't enough liner in that can to slosh around and get it clogged. it moves fairly slow, and the screen is a 1/2 inch off the bottom of the tank.

Well the end result is so far I am pleased. I run my finger in the tank, and where before rust came off on my finger, now it is nice and smooth. I will add that the lacquer thinner really helped clean a lot of gunk.

I will follow up with the gas test later. I have spent about $100 on this tank resto so far.

[oldodge41]

Thanks for the review

[plyroadking]

Sounds like a good product, might have to do it to my tank while the engine is at the machine shop. I usually just throw a chain and random bolts in my tanks and shake them like a rattle can. It takes about a dozen fuel filter changes for the next two months till everything cleans up.

[JerseyHarold]

If you put the tank on saw horses and strap a random action sander to the bottom of it, would that give enough agitation to do any good?

[Don Coatney]

This is the best way to clean a tank. Forum member Billy Austin built this. Click on the picture to see it in action.

[Plymouthy Adams]

maybe you can arrange the use of a mechanical bull at some redneck bar and grille for an hour or so..

[seabee1950]

Getting ready to weld the holes in my tank,but before I did anything like that I wash it out with soap and water but before did that I used my shop Vac in the filler tube opening and got all the lose stuff out,I then changed it to blow in and used a spray bottle with soap&water mixed to test for leaks WOW looked like it was shot with a 12 gauge but it will weld and that should take care of it.

I have it setting out and have checked not smell of gas once its all welded and all the leaks are fixed I am going to put a plastic cover on the bottom.

[TodFitch]

Getting ready to weld the holes in my tank,but before I did anything like that I wash it out with soap and water but before did that I used my shop Vac in the filler tube opening and got all the lose stuff out,I then changed it to blow in and used a spray bottle with soap&water mixed to test for leaks WOW looked like it was shot with a 12 gauge but it will weld and that should take care of it.

I have it setting out and have checked not smell of gas once its all welded and all the leaks are fixed I am going to put a plastic cover on the bottom.

If you plan on getting an open flame or spark near that tank you are a less cautious man than I. At the very least fill it with inert gas first.

[BobT-47P15]

You might be able to use a fiberglass kit to cover holes .... the one from

O'Reilly (or maybe we got it at walmart) did not have a very big piece

of fiberglass cloth. Needed more. The tank of the 49 coupe had holes

in both the top and bottom.

[rockable]

I did this one time on a Porsche I restored. A couple years later, the "sealer" started to peel away from inside the filler neck. I was not happy.

As long as I can buy repro fuel tanks for $250, I will never go through that again.

http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=results/category_id=68/home_id=59/mode=cat/cat68.htm

I'd call Tanks, inc and check ebay. Surely, someone is making a workable replacement for a '54. Also, check out Mr. Bill's build thread "I'm Back". He mounted a tank in the trunk. There are a lot of ways to skin that cat but messing with a tank that keeps shedding pieces of rust or "sealer" is no fun. It keeps your carburetor screwed up.

Edited February 24, 2012 by rockable

[54Illinois]

I cannot find anyone that makes the 53-54 gas tanks. I have a $100 invested, if the liner keeps the rust from flaking I will be a happy man!

[Greg F]

I just bought a tank from tanksinc.com for my 47 P-15. It is really nice and works great. About $260 with shipping.

[54Illinois]

I just bought a tank from tanksinc.com for my 47 P-15. It is really nice and works great. About $260 with shipping.

Right, and that's where they end, no 53-54's.

[TodFitch]

Right, and that's where they end, no 53-54's.

Any chance that if you shipped them a sample they could make one up and add it to the list of products they carry?

[54Illinois]

I noticed rust flaking from the roof/top of the tank. Wonder if I need another quart?

[54Illinois]

I noticed rust flaking from the roof/top of the tank. Wonder if I need another quart?

I used my Ridgid Seesnake and saw the top of the tank was about 50% coated. I can only assume it is because the depression/shape did not let the sealer flow evenly.

Now I will have $135 invested.

[billymopar]

I just bought a tank from tanksinc.com for my 47 P-15. It is really nice and works great. About $260 with shipping.

howdy, new to forum but been hanging around for a while...wanted to know if you're still happy with the tank you bought from tanks inc? did it go in ok? what are you using for a sending unit? is the car stock? many many thanks for any info you can provide, i've got marginal tank and am looking at options

[Rusty O'Toole]

I sandblasted my tank through the filler hole and gauge sender hole. This was for a 66 Dodge. You could cut a hole in the top, sandblast, and weld the hole up before applying sealer.

Has anyone tried epoxy floor paint for sealer? It is supposed to be gas proof. I have used straight epoxy resin (Caswell brand sealer) and it worked great but kind of expensive.

[54Illinois]

Last night I mounted the gas tank, which turned out to be easy when I figured out the bolts reach down and tighten the straps.

Looking for a gasket for the sending unit, I decided to use Permatex Motoseal.

http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/automotive_gasketing/specialty_gasket_maker/MotoSeal_1_Ultimate_Gasket_Maker_Grey.htm

[Frank Elder]

I sandblasted my tank through the filler hole and gauge sender hole. This was for a 66 Dodge. You could cut a hole in the top' date=' sandblast, and weld the hole up before applying sealer.

Has anyone tried epoxy floor paint for sealer? It is supposed to be gas proof. I have used straight epoxy resin (Caswell brand sealer) and it worked great but kind of expensive.[/quote']

Rusty I think epoxy is great protection against gas spills, but not to be use in a total immersion situation..........

[Rusty O'Toole]

Rusty I think epoxy is great protection against gas spills, but not to be use in a total immersion situation..........

Caswell sells straight epoxy as a gas tank sealer. Works great but rather expensive.

[Frank Elder]

Give it a try on a piece of sheetmetal and leave it in a sealed container for a month or two.....maybe you are on to something.