My 49 gas tank

[stony]

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, let�s 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.

[stony]

First off, made a paper pattern, then cut the steel.� Cut the bottom out of the tank, leaving some for structural support.� This is what your tank looks like inside.� Going to drill and mig weld to the baffle, and braze the rest.� I think it should work out fine.� Sure could use Sqid today�

[stony]

So far so good, got it shaped pretty well.� 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.� Should work OK since the original was soldered together.

[stony]

So, one more problem!� Got the tank ready to Weld/braze and thought I should check out the gas line fitting.� Hmmm... seems to be plugged.� Got out a drill bit and it only went in 1/2 inch.� Clogged with something.� Cleaned it out with the bit, no problem.� Still plugged!� Seems it forms a kind of U and was plugged at both ends.� Needed to get a wire in there and unplug it.� Tried a welding rod, too stiff would not go around the corner.� Tried a length of mig wire, went in OK but not strong enough to punch through.� 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.� 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.� Since the rod was inside the tube I could slide it back and forth to punch through the plug.� Like a lot of things, just a matter of figuring it out.� The tank is ready, just going to wait until I get my tank sealing stuff to finish it, it�s not like I don�t have a hundred other things to do.� FYI here is what unplugging wire, and the tank pickup look like, it is right next to the drain plug.

[Gunslinger]

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.

[64CJ5]

What did you do to get rid of the gasoline vapors?

[stony]

I let it sit in the barn for 37 years

[mtnman37879]

 If you fill the tank with water then dump it out it will still smell like gas but it won't burn

[stony]

OK I give up.� Just ordered a new steel tank.� The bottom worked out OK, but the metal on the sides was just too far gone.� 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.