New Gas Tank For My '51 Dodge D39??

[RobertKB]

I am restoring a 1951 Canadian Dodge D39 business coupe. These cars were based on the Plymouth and had Dodge trim to make them look a bit different, but basically a Plymouth. I recently pulled the tank and took it to the local radiator shop that also does gas tanks. Tank bottom was OK but the corners in the upper part all had pinholes in them. Strange kind of damage for a gas tank and no, the car was not upside down when found. LOL

I did a search of the forum about gas tanks and came up with Tanks Inc but they have no tanks listed between 1948 and 1963. Does anyone know of any other manufacturers who might make a new tank for the 1949 -1952 Plymouths?? I would prefer new even though my tank is salvageable according to the owner of the shop who has done hundreds of these old gas tanks. He says that besides using a liner inside he has a product he can first put on the outside to seal the pinholes before using a liner on the inside. This of course would be done after dipping the tank in acic and doing all the other preparation work required by the manufacturers of the liners. This guy really knows what he is talking about and is the only rad shop in town that likes to work on the old stuff. He is a car guy through and through.

So really two questions. Anyone know of a source for a new 1951 Plymouth gas tank? Anyone heard of the external liner used before the internal liner is applied? He showed me a can of the product and has used it before with excellent results.

Thanks for any and all help and advice,

Robert

[Young Ed]

Seabee1950 are you reading this thread? Plymouthy CB and myself have been talking about a new tank for his 50 in the chat area. So far no one has found a direct reproduction but Tim found some similar vintage Ford and Chevy tanks that are very close in dimension.

[knuckleharley]

Tank bottom was OK but the corners in the upper part all had pinholes in them. Strange kind of damage for a gas tank and no, the car was not upside down when found. LOL

 

 

That's pretty common. Condensation gets on the top of the tank,and if the car isn't driven it never gets "sloshed down" to mix with the gas.

[JerseyHarold]

I had my '52 gas tank done by Gas Tank Renu and, as I recall, they used a baked-on exterior sealer first and then did the inside of the tank.  Going with the local guy would probably be the quickest and easiest route; adapting another tank can be tricky and time-consuming.

[55 Fargo]

Robert I would forget about that tank, I will ask around here to see if anyone has anything.

I would be inclined to look at tanks that are similar size dimension and use a brand new tank and have no issues.

Phone Norm at Mid Canada Suspension, he is extremely knowledgeable on sourcing old Mopar parts, if he doesn't already have on of these 1-204-475-3399

[RobertKB]

Fred, thanks for the info and phone number. I will give him a call today and post results on the forum.

[meadowbrook]

For what it's worth, my 1950 D34's gas tank was pretty corroded, so I modified a 1975 Jeep CJ5 gas tank (bought new) by relocating its fill port and made a metal 'zigzag' pipe to allow the original fill pipe of the Dodge to mate up with it.

 

Not the best setup, but works. I can send pix if anyone is interested. But I think Bernbaum has gas tanks again?

[msawdey44]

My sense is that gas tanks for 6-cylinder Mopars from 49-52 are pretty interchangeable. I had to replace the one in my '50 Wayfarer and found one for a '49 Chrysler six that was identical. I did have to use the filler pipe from the Dodge, since the Chrysler pipe was a bit different, probably due to the different shape/size of the rear fender.

[50 coupe]

Doubt you will find a new direct replacement. I used a Tanks Inc. for a 49 Ford. Fit easily enough but did have to make my own filler neck using part of the original and some tail pipe bends and filler neck hose. The filler port on the tank was an inch or two from the original location and a bit of a different angle but not anything crazy. I did have to cut a new hole in the trunk to get to the sending unit location and filler neck clearance for the bends near the tank. There was enough room above and to the rear of the tank to fit in my electric fuel pump.

Edited October 7, 2013 by 50 coupe

[JerseyHarold]

IIRC, all second-series 1949 through 1952 Chrysler product cars used the same gas tank.   We're talking millions of vehicles sold.  There must be enough of a demand for a correct, repro tank.  Has anyonre approached an aftermarket manufacturer to see if they'll make one? 

[Plymouthy Adams]

As reported here on the forum and discussed on chat a couple times just recently...the only tank listed as a newly made substitute is so far out of whack as being a direct fit and no where near cosmetically correct, however, there are a number of suitable subs from other makers for the era that can be easily adapted in my opinion...I have physically seen some of these in person at swap meets..thus my opinion that with a bit of modification they would be very acceptable and look right at home beneath be body..and at a cost of approx. 1/2 that of the funky thing being made..

[meadowbrook]

Can someone make a list of more available fuel tanks can can easily be retrofitted for our Mopars?

 

I mentioned before and can add pics, but my 50 Meadowbrook's tank was egg shell thin and packed with sludge and who knows what. I searched fas and wide and found that a mid 70's Jeep CJ5 tank is a simple box shape and its 12V sender seems to work fine with my car's 6 V system.

 

As far as modifications, I had to have the filler port closed off and another one placed closer to where it is on the original tank, and then had to create a 'zig-zag' with some exhaust fittings and have it welded to match the fill pipe. I had to shorten the fill pipe too so it does not stick out too far beyond the fender. And finally had to create a couple of spacers between it and the car's body and make up new straps to retain it.

 

I also have to fill the tank slowly because the 'zigzag' seems to backup the fuel as I fill it. It depends on the particular station's pump pressure or fill rate.

 

So, certainly not a great setup but aside from the fill pipe shortening, no cutting on the car and it seems to be very reliable.