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@^%$ new gas tank STILL leaks!

moparedtn

I got your Staff Member riiiight heeeere...
FBBO Gold Member
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Awww, crap.
Reproduction gas tank blues here. Despite my repeated efforts, the sending unit leaks.
I'm going to have to pull the new tank AGAIN.
Yes, I even re-used the original Mopar locking ring on it. Used Permatex on the gasket, too.
Hell with this.
Is there more than one manufacturer of the repop gas tanks and if so, which one is supposedly the "good" one? Actually debating finding an original and cleaning it up...:BangHead:
I know new Mopar locking rings are out there, but does anyone have original sending unit
GASKETS?
 
Did you try a new gasket between the sending unit and the tank?
Also make sure the locking ring is engaged all the way around. They can get cocked and leak, as I found out.
http://www.megapartsusa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=102-SUG&cat=193
http://www.megapartsusa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=102-LRSS&cat=193

Sometimes the wrench helps, too.
http://www.megapartsusa.com/proddetail.asp?prod=160-LRW
I think if I can just get a hold of a proper thickness original gasket (or repro of same material and thickness, not these thin repro ones everyone sells) and use an OEM lock ring, I'll be in business.
Damn thing has over half a tank of gas in it right now, though. Reckon I'll have to burn that off before dropping the tank.
I've done it before with a half tank in it. Gas weighs more than you think...:mad:
 
Should be able to do with the tank in place. May be a PITA, but should be doable.
If not, siphon out the gas.
 
Should be able to do with the tank in place. May be a PITA, but should be doable.
If not, siphon out the gas.
Thought about it, looked at it, thought better of it. :D
Yes to siphon idea.
Just gotta get a GOOD gasket and ring!:thumbsup:
Oh, and hope the problem isn't this reproduction tank.....:eek:
 
with the lock ring out take a hammer and punch hammer down on the retainer locks so it will grab the ring tighter you should be in business
 
Well, I managed to get about 7 gallons siphoned out before it stopped working, so I set about pulling the tank.
Wound up wearing quite a bit of it, as there appeared to be another 4 gallons or so in there.:mad:
The sending unit looks like hell. I don't know if I even want to try to clean up things and try again or just scrap the whole damn mess...
 
Who's tank are you using?? So I know what NOT to buy...Thanks in advance.
 
Sorry, no advice. Just went through some fuel and vent issues. Improved ground fixed the gauge, and don't buy a tank or anything related from Mopar Ed in the Central Valley. I ended up with a 70 tank in my 69 due to his lack of customer service and no concept of time.
 
Who's tank are you using?? So I know what NOT to buy...Thanks in advance.
You know, I went digging for records of its' purchase and couldn't find it.
I know it was one of those "Asian country of origin" ones, not a fancy stainless or other high-dollar one.
The finish of the tank itself doesn't look too bad right now, but...
I have purchased an original Mopar locking ring from a fellow FBBO member right here and I have a new (non-Mopar) gasket on the way as well; apparently a Mopar branded gasket is made of unobtainium.
Suffice to say, this time it's all getting a serious working over.
I'm not doing this again.
 
Sorry, no advice. Just went through some fuel and vent issues. Improved ground fixed the gauge, and don't buy a tank or anything related from Mopar Ed in the Central Valley. I ended up with a 70 tank in my 69 due to his lack of customer service and no concept of time.
Disclaimer:
He ain't talking about me!! :eek:
Yeah, I have one of those cute little Mopar grounding clips that supposedly cures gauge issues, but I don't know if it actually helped any.
As a matter of fact, last time I was under there before this time, I had inadvertently knocked the clip off one side, yet magically my gauge was reading somewhat accurately anyways. Go figure.
All told, I think I just dealt with something like 11-12 gallons of what turned out to be rather yellowed, rancid gas (burns like hell on contact with skin and especially EYES! Don't ask...) and the gauge was reading like 5/8, so that's fairly close.
 
I would not even try any type of sealant on the rubber.
I'm wondering if that wasn't a problem this last time.
I know it is obvious, but the rubber should do the trick.
I've never had one leak with good (nitrile ?) rubber and a tight, proper lock on the ring.
 
Best of luck to you .
Thanky kindly.
BTW, this tank is of the "natural steel with zinc plating" variety. I would STRONGLY urge anyone else looking to buy a new tank to at least get one made of NITERNE steel, if not stainless (yeah, stainless is $$$).
As you'll see, mine is not weathering well for its' relatively young age...
 
I would not even try any type of sealant on the rubber.
I'm wondering if that wasn't a problem this last time.
I know it is obvious, but the rubber should do the trick.
I've never had one leak with good (nitrile ?) rubber and a tight, proper lock on the ring.
Probably sound advice. This gasket was trashed for some reason. I did use RTV black on it and that looks to have stood up great against the gas, but I don't see why anyone should HAVE to if everything is correct. The factory sure didn't.
 
WP_20160601_007.jpg

Well, since I'm waiting on a new Mopar locking ring and an aftermarket gasket, it's prep time.
First things first - grab the brass drift and hammer (usually used when swapping my gun sights) so there's NO SPARKS!
Tap, tap, tap...

Well, that came apart rather easily. Everything doesn't look that bad, short of the gasket:
WP_20160601_002.jpg
Ground strap intact, sending unit looks purty, locking ring shined up and checked true.

WP_20160601_003.jpg
Inside of tank doesn't look terrible. I rinsed it out real well. I DON'T like this "zinc plated" crap, though. This is definitely a "ten year tank" from the looks of it.

WP_20160601_008.jpg

Polished up the gasket surface of the sending unit using open-web emory cloth. This unit is definitely stainless, came out great.

WP_20160601_010.jpg

Gasket mating surface of the tank, all cleaned up with emory. Looks fine to me.
RTV black looked fine and cleaned off perfectly; I didn't see any signs of swelling.
Any bending of the tabs that might occur will happen when I'm test-fitting everything with the new ring and washer when they get here.

WP_20160601_011.jpg

Wow, the bottom of the tank is looking pretty gnarly for it being a fairly new replacement - on a car that's only been driven a few hundred miles especially.
A lot of that is discoloration where the gas was running down it, but there's actually some surface corrosion happening already!
Again - DON'T BUY A "NATURAL STEEL" tank!
I'm taking Awesome! cleanser and some Nev'r Dull to this bad boy, trying not to use any scouring/scrubbing methods that'll scratch it worse (and give corrosion even more opportunity!).
Yes, Awesome! is the brand name; they sell it dirt cheap at most "dollar" type stores and Big Lots. This stuff will take the hide off a rhino, BUT - USE IN ONLY WELL VENTILATED AREAS!!
I can't stress that enough - the fumes from this stuff is ROUGH on your lungs. Don't get it in your eyes, either - but it is a fantastic cleaner for a bunch of uses. Use it like those purple cleaners.
Nev'r Dull has been around forever. It's a metal polish, typically used for polished brass and such. It's great at removing discoloration and corrosion and is very mild.

WP_20160601_012.jpg

There we go, all cleaned up without resorting to scouring/scratching it up.
Notice the thing is losing its' zinc already?
Like I said, "ten year tank".

Ok, standing by for parts to arrive. More later.
 
Look no further than the right panel on this page and call Laysons. They are a sponsor of the site and they have quality tanks. The sending units are imports but mine has been working well for a couple of years.
DSCN0068.JPG
New rear end 007.JPG
 
Look no further than the right panel on this page and call Laysons. They are a sponsor of the site and they have quality tanks. The sending units are imports but mine has been working well for a couple of years.View attachment 341027 View attachment 341028
Oh, I'm sure of it Dave - but Homey's budget is shot for now.
This one will do until greener (non-medical-bill) days arrive. :)
Appreciate it, though. I'm well aware of Layson's. They do good stuff.
 
Giving some thought to actually painting the tank.
Somebody PLEASE talk me out of it!
 
MOPARMITCH has a bunch of OEM gas tank rings, the aftermarket ones always leak.
 
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