Cabin fever project #167.............

Clean out the gas tank of the '49 F3.
This truck has been off the road since 1968 and the tank was pretty nasty. So today's inside winter project was to expel all the evil spirits.
It was dry inside and the mineral scale, rust and varnish was scaly and loose, So I took a box of multi-sized kid's marbles and poured 'em in. I shook the ever living daylights out the tank for about 20 minutes in my cellar, staggered around a bit to catch my breath and dump out some crud, then twirled and spun it again for ten more minutes.
Here are some photos of the pile of crap that was evicted. There is about A POUND of stuff there. Yes, I counted the marbles before and after
92 marbles - I didn't lose any - although my very patient wife had to turn up the TV upstairs because this task makes a heck of a racket. She probably thinks I lost mine many years ago....
I have my work clothes in the washing machine now - the stink of that old gas varnish is terrible.
Next step, take the tank to the car wash with a bottle of Dawn dish soap and put the pressure washer to it. Last step, I bought a quart of 'Bill Hirsch Alcohol/Ethanol Resistant Tank Sealer' and I'll slush that around after the water dries out.
My goal is not to clog up the carb or fuel filter on the trip to the Pennsylvania Truckstock this coming September.
Tom
p.s. - I can rent out the marbles to anyone interested - they did an awesome job in that baffled tank.

 

There are times I am concerned for your sanity. Then I remember you've parked it outside, under a tarp, and I feel better.

Another cleaning option would be to buy a few gallons of E85 fuel and slosh it around the tank - with the marbles. The corn juice - I'm told - is a dandy tank solvent.

 

Tom,
Well done! Are you sure that you want to coat the tank, there are a lot stories of problems with coating the inside of tanks.

 

Hey Bill,

I guess I haven't heard of any problems with using the coatings, so I'm all ears to listen before I do it.
This tank has some internal corrosion, not too bad - and the outside is strong and in good shape. I want to ensure that more rust particles aren't going to break free and clog the filter or worse...block a carb jet or float needle.

Any input - pro & con is welcomed on using this type of tank sealer.
Tom

 

Good job Tom! Did you have ear protection on?

You should sell marbles to old car and truck restorers. If they are new marbles that you found on a shelf you could call them NOS. Put Ford or Chevy or Dodge, or IH on them to widen your market and put Tootsie rolls in each shipment. Or in your case a Bit of Honey!

 

I can appreciate what you are going through. I did the same thing, except after the marbles I put some carb cleaner in the tank and let it soak. Then used a hot pressure washer. I was sure it was like new. In the end I should have saved my time and money because I ended up buying a new tank. . My advice would be to just get a new tank. The quality is very good .

 

What!? No! My ears are still ringing!
I was shaking & swinging that tank around like those costumed dudes who stand outside an intersection for Liberty Tax Service with silly arrow signs.

If I were to do it again, I'd put in foam earplugs, and use a dust mask. In my marble rental kit, I'll include some of each.
Better yet, it would be easier to bounce the tank full of marbles on a rope behind a boat for about five miles.

.

 

$280 for a new tank.

 

What happened to your old tank after all that work, I'm curious.

 

Hey Tom,
All this talk about dirty gas tanks has me thinking about
pristine white snow piled up in certain Maine front yards.....
So... Are we doing a contest this year? Or has it all melted already?

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

I used the POR tank sealant 5 years ago and have been satisfied with the results . Following the directions - especially about drying the surfaces before applying the sealer - would seem to be critical.

 

folgers crystals?

 

seems 3/8 or maybe 1/2 nuts would work if one din't have all his marbles.
I opted for a new tank too.
Its good to be concerned aboot chit in tank, I was cautioned from a couple sources about this.
Greg

 

Wow, that's a lot of crud. Just imagine the infinite number of fuel filters you would've had to use to get that out!

 

I have heard stories of guys putting that sharp type small gravel that's used for driveways in old gas tanks then leaving them in the backs of pickups and driving around the bumpy gravel roads, seems like it would work though it may require a couple weeks to get enough travel time.. Looks like you got a lot of rust out.