Does anybody have, or can someone lead me to a fuel tank for my 59 f100, I just wonder if a tank up to '61 or 62 are all the same. My tank is full of rust and keeps plugging the line and starving the pump for gas. Thanks guys & gals.

 

I had the same problem with my '59. Have you tried the fuel tank restore kit from POR? That's what I used to clean and seal the tank. Been done for about 6 months now. No more plugged fuel lines.

http://www.por15.com/product.asp?productid=316

 

Looks pretty promising, might have to do that on the '55's tank. $54 is a lot less than $189 for a new one. Was it a fairly easy process? Anything important to know that's not in the instructions?

Thanks for the info,

Ron

 

I am planning on removing the fuel tank from my '59, and installing one under the bed. If you need one, I can accelerate my plans, and we can work something out to get you my old one. It is the original tank and has had gas in it daily since new.

 

I'd recommend pouring a couple handsful of washed course crushed gravel, a 1/2 gal of water and a shot of dishwashing soap in the tank after taking it off the truck and removing the sender/pickup unit. Shake it and slosh it around as vigorously as you can for as long as your arms will hold out. Dump out the water and replace it with clean soapy water and repeat until the water comes out clean. dump out the gravel, rinse the tank out with hot clear water then with ~ a quart of methanol. set it out in the sun to dry. If you want a possibly cheaper alternative to the POR kit, go to the private aircraft service company at the closest airport and buy a quart of SLUSHING COMPOUND. Follow the directions on the can to seal your tank. If it's good for preventing corrosion in an airplane's tank it's good enough for our truck's.

 

thanks for the advice, i have a small airport just miles from the house, I ll check into that. My biggest concern is if i use a sealer will it plug the pickup tube line?
Wyoming, I may just take you up on that tank you have if all else fails. The last owner of my ford left it outside for YEARS with the fuel cap off the tank.
Thanks to everyone for the help, I appreciate it.

 

Steve, if you contact your local radiator shop, most will perform the clean and recoat for around $100. You need to varify that the pickup tube is clear before you take it home though. Somebody else on here over the last couple of months found out the hard way that the pickup tube can get plugged after a recoat. Good luck, John

 

I don't know about the 59 tank, but on most tanks the pickup and the gauge sender come out as a unit. If so, just leave it out until the sealer has dried. If not, I'd look for something to insert into it as a plug until after sealing, such as a length of plastic hose or rubber hose from the hardware store or auto supply the size of the inside of pickup tube. Slide enough length into the tube to be sure it comes out the end inside the tank, pull it out before the sealer dries, blow hard into the pickup tube to be sure a skin hasn't formed over the end. If you don't have a ready supply of crushed gravel, a handfull of hex nuts will work nearly as well.

 

thanks Jag red and Axracer for the advice as well as everyone else I appreciate it, glad I found this site. The local radiator shop wants $150.00 to put a sealer in the tank, thats too high for me, I may as well try to find a new tank. I am going to try to power wash it this week end and after it dries put a sealer in it from a web site listed earlier in this thread. I think it'll work out fine. This 59 of mine has an interesting history, bought new by a grandfather, who willed it to his g/son, who pulled the 292 engine out and had it totally rebuilt during this time he went in the service, unfortunately never came back. In the meantime the rebuilt motor was wrapped in a bunch of trash bags and sat in the bed of the truck for 15 years, thats when i found it, after some minor work, it fired up and runs very well, just bugs like the fuel tank is all it needs to be a daily driver. I even have the original 59 title, owners manual and all the docs. I paid $300. for it. The body is a little rough, but nothing major, what surprised me is the perfect floor boards, it does need front cab mounts, but in all a pretty decent ol 59! Thanks for all the help !

 

Steve-Cool story regarding the history of the truck. Mine went from Grandfather's farm to Dad to me.
Regarding plugging the pickup. The pickup is a tube that actually runs from the top of the tank down inside to the bottom. When you seal the tank you pour the sealer in and slosh it around to coat all the sides. Then set the tank in a position where any any sealer puddles away from the pickup.
Now I did this and still plugged the end of the tube. I had to play with a coat hander on the end of a drill to get it open. So next time I would leave a wire run down the tube and sticking out the other end. Once everything is dry, pull out the wire.

Lance

 

Great idea spitfire and thanks alot. By the way, if anyone out there needs info I purchased a factory issue service/repair manual from Ford, for the 59 series trucks, it covers everything even includes air brake systems, so if you need specs or info and I can help, just shout and I can send you some helpfull stuff!!

 

S

It only cost $75.00 to have my Petrol Tank dipped & the interior sealed/coated to take care of that problem & prevent it from happening again.
You just might wish to look into it yourself.

Cheers
Colonel Flashman
Red '58 Mercury M-100 Truck
Blue '58 Mercury M-100 Panel