Petrol Tank Holes

[sykes1]

Hi, I am currently restoring a 1968 2a lwb, having removed the petrol tank, i find i have a small hole on the front flat side, the tank has been empty for about 2 years , can this be safely welded, or is it a new tank job,the rest of the tank is in good order, its rusty where it is weathered ,this bus had another tank, but someone had it away before i bought it, and how does the petrol guage work, if i had the 2 tanks ? i have the pipes and a brass tap on the seat box,but empty space,
Cheers

[d@rk51d3]

Depending on the size of the hole, you could use the petrol tank repair putty, and/or give the inside a splash of redkote.

A new tank will start at around $350 and go upwards.

The military 2a's had a switch on a dash panel along with a map reading light, which switched the gauge from one tank to the other. Not sure about the civvy vehicles though.

[JDNSW]

As stated for the repair and the military fuel gauge switch - a simple two way switch to use the one gauge with two senders. The optional equipment parts book shows a switch linked to the fuel tap, but I have never seen one in real life.

John

[peterg1001]

Have a look at my website www.greenacre.biz, there's a good description of repairing a fuel tank on there.

Don't even think about welding, either electric or oxy. The tank is soldered together, and if you apply any heat at all the whole thing will fall apart.

To fix the hole in my tank, I cleaned it up (wire brush on an angle grinder), then put a 1mm steel plate over the hole, secured by Tek screws, with about 5mm of Septone Metal Tech between the tank and the plate.

I sealed the tank with a tank sealer kit from KBS coatings.

The refurbished tank should have another 50 years of life in it now.

Peter

[numpty]

I used RedKote on our two tanks and it's worked a treat. This stuff will even fill quite large (3mm) holes.

[korg20000bc]

Don't even think about welding, either electric or oxy. The tank is soldered together, and if you apply any heat at all the whole thing will fall apart.

Peter

You could fill the tank with water and then weld.

[d@rk51d3]

You could fill the tank with water and then weld.

You then run the risk of getting yourself airborne, as old fuel vapour realeses and ignites.

[korg20000bc]

I mean't doing it with a washed out and filled tank.

How is fuel vapour released from a water filled tank anyway?

[sykes1]

is the bracket around the petrol tank, soldered to the tank ?
i am going to attempt to patch this tank, if i can remove the outer bracket

[HBWC]

use the gas off an ehxust and weld