My Willys 3A and 3B Community

3A, 3B, DJ Technical Knowledge Base => "Original"-- Technical Questions, Answers, Observations => Topic started by: stony on August 30, 2018, 01:00:20 PM

Title: My 49 gas tank
Post by: stony on August 30, 2018, 01:00:20 PM: So boys and girls, another first time ever project. When I pulled my gas tank, it was an uh oh moment. The bottom and sides had about a pound of JB Weld smeared on it. Most was flaking off. When I peeled it off and looked inside, it was like a stary stary night. The whole bottom was pitted and rotted through. At first thought it was time for a new tank. Then hmmm, it is just a flat piece of sheet steel, letï¿½s see if I can replace it. Just happened to have some steel the right thickness that I got about 25 years ago that was not rusted at all (miracle), so here goes. This is what I started with.
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: stony on August 30, 2018, 01:06:23 PM: First off, made a paper pattern, then cut the steel.ï¿½ Cut the bottom out of the tank, leaving some for structural support.ï¿½ This is what your tank looks like inside.ï¿½ Going to drill and mig weld to the baffle, and braze the rest.ï¿½ I think it should work out fine.ï¿½ Sure could use Sqid todayï¿½ ;)
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: stony on August 30, 2018, 03:33:31 PM: So far so good, got it shaped pretty well.ï¿½ Plan now is to drill a series of holes and tack Weld the sheet to the tank on the edges, then go back Roll the edges and braze.ï¿½ Should work OK since the original was soldered together.
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: stony on August 30, 2018, 06:41:37 PM: So, one more problem!ï¿½ Got the tank ready to Weld/braze and thought I should check out the gas line fitting.ï¿½ Hmmm... seems to be plugged.ï¿½ Got out a drill bit and it only went in 1/2 inch.ï¿½ Clogged with something.ï¿½ Cleaned it out with the bit, no problem.ï¿½ Still plugged!ï¿½ Seems it forms a kind of U and was plugged at both ends.ï¿½ Needed to get a wire in there and unplug it.ï¿½ Tried a welding rod, too stiff would not go around the corner.ï¿½ Tried a length of mig wire, went in OK but not strong enough to punch through.ï¿½ After fighting it for an hour and a half took an idea from my rc aircraft days where the control rods slide through a nylon tube.ï¿½ Found a tube, fed the welding rod into it and with the rod inside the tube was able to feed it through to the plug.ï¿½ Since the rod was inside the tube I could slide it back and forth to punch through the plug.ï¿½ Like a lot of things, just a matter of figuring it out.ï¿½ The tank is ready, just going to wait until I get my tank sealing stuff to finish it, itï¿½s not like I donï¿½t have a hundred other things to do.ï¿½ FYI here is what unplugging wire, and the tank pickup look like, it is right next to the drain plug.
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: Gunslinger on September 03, 2018, 09:38:58 AM: You sir are a brave soul, in my world this destination would not have been worth the journey, I bought a new tank... Just sayin.
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: 64CJ5 on September 03, 2018, 07:31:25 PM: What did you do to get rid of the gasoline vapors?
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: stony on September 03, 2018, 10:24:27 PM: I let it sit in the barn for 37 years ;)
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: mtnman37879 on September 03, 2018, 11:04:39 PM: If you fill the tank with water then dump it out it will still smell like gas but it won't burn
Title: Re: My 49 gas tank
Post by: stony on September 07, 2018, 09:31:43 AM: OK I give up.ï¿½ Just ordered a new steel tank.ï¿½ The bottom worked out OK, but the metal on the sides was just too far gone.ï¿½ Oh well, I gave it a try, and I did learn some about brazing. :'(
Oops, out of stock for a mont(, looks like plastic tank for me.