Fuel Tank Restoration?

[Tonger]

I tried a search but have not found an answer so I thought I would post my question.

I have a vintage 100L tank that has a large series of dents in the bottom when the car was bottomed out in the past. In addition, there is a crease on the top side as well.

** Has anyone found a good source to cut the tank open and straighten/remove the dents? Resealing would involve re-welding and grinding to endure no leaks.

Thanks!

[mundo-kombi]

Obviously clean the tank out first, then you may have some success welding something like a slide hammer onto the centre of the dent and pulling the dent out. It may not be necessary to cut the tank open. Pull it out, don't push it out. After, cut your slider hammer, or bolt or whatever you've welded onto the tank and grind smooth. A bit of heat on the dent with a regular gas canister blow torch will encourage it to go back to it's original shape, but it may not be necessary. It may just pop back into shape.

And if you want to give it a good clean inside, fill it with loads of nuts, bolts and washers and shake the living daylights out of it. You're arms will give in before you get all the loose material off the inside of the tank, so you'll need to do it a few times. Swill out out with gas until it runs clean. When I did mine, I hung it from the roof timbers of the garage so that I didn't drop it once my arms inevitably gave in. After, coat the inside of the tank with any one of the proprietory products that are available for sealing the inside of tanks.

When welding a fuel tank fill it up to the very brim with water beforehand. Make thoroughly sure there are no gas vapours, which there won't be once it's been filled with water.