151 Gas tank

[kwb]

Just found out D&L Bensinger has a few 151 gas tanks. He also has a few electric fuel pumps.

[rickf]

I had some gas tanks at the Gilbert show last year and got zero interest in them.

[kwb]

When I was looking for a tank I Had a heck of a time to locate one that wasn't rusted to hell.

[rickf]

Mine are like new.

[kwb]

rickf! What do you do to a in tank fuel pump with the surface rust on it. thanks

[rickf]

Are you talking about the actual pump itself? As long as the pump works I would just carefully sand and wire brush off the worst of the rust. Then go over it with a rust converter and call it done. If the tank is left full which it really should be when sitting for long periods the pump in under the gasoline and can't get moisture to rust. Also, the more gas in the tank the less room for moisture to accumulate and rust to form. Although I have not done my tank yet any tank I do for any old car I will coat the inside of the tank with some sort of tank coating. All metal tanks are bare metal, some are galvanized but not many and I think there have been issues with galvanized tanks and alcohol fuels. Alcohol will suck moisture out of the air so any gas tank nowadays is going to have moisture in it. A lot of places sell gas that is supposedly alcohol free but that has proven to be false in most cases. Unless you are buying the gas at an airport then you are probably getting alcohol, at least in the USA. I don't know about other countries. Alcohol, moisture and gasoline will form and acid when mixed in the right ratio, and that will attack the tank and the entire fuel system. This happens when you leave the tank almost empty and moisture is pulled out of the air as the tank naturally vents in and out with temperature changes. So, I will coat any tank I use anymore. When checking your tanks always look at the top of the inside of the tank since that is never submerged. That area is always open to the moisture.

[kwb]

Thanks for the info rickf! I located two pumps for spares. I pulled them apart cleaned them and used dry lube on the moving parts, they work fine. Just trying to get an idea on the rust removal on them. I bought a tank coating kit from Eastwood, it turned out very good. I spent three days cleaning it out before I put the coating in it. What a pain in the butt job that was, It's all about patience. I keep 3/4 or more fuel in it at all times to minimize the moisture problem and take it for a drive at least three times a week.

[far_shot]

Kind of related. My tank had the most rank gas in it I have ever smelled. Removed it, drained it, power washed it and stuck my leaf blower in the fill neck. Completely dry in 5 minutes. Cleaned the fuel level sensor so it works now and made/replaced all the topside gaskets

[m38inmaine]

I saw the tanks Bensinger had at the Gilbert PA show this weekend, very very rusty, saw Rick as well at the show, his tanks are good.

[rickf]

Well, Did not sell any tanks again this year. Always next year when there re even less of them available and I am pretty sure I will be asking a lot more for it by then. Had one guy that was interested but his buddy kept telling him "do you know how much it will cost to buy all those emissions sensors? They are 50.00 bucks each". I pointed out that most of them were vents, not sensors and also if the tank his buddy had was rotted out then even if he bought a NOS one for 600.00 he would still not get the extra parts. Mr. Mouth won and the guy did not get a damn good deal on a tank. I wish him luck in his quest.

[Hambone]

There was a rusty complete emission tank at our rally this weekend, needed a reseal, sold for $200.