rusty tank

Hello,

I am trying to find a solution to reusing my rusty Beach Car tank. It was left outside without a cap for years.All the internal surface is covered in rust.Big time.
I would prefer to use the same tank if possible. if not, does the tank look like a stock Mini or Elf tank?
I have heards about rust fighting liquids, plastification, shaking chains and bolts and all sorts of remedies. have you actually tried any of these solutions?
Are you hapy with the results?
I even thought about splitting the tank and welding it back together...

BOOM!
You will probably do more harm than good, The existing weld may be impossible to split in my estimation. You may be better and safer to source another tank if de rusting treatment doesn't work.
Sorry I don't know of anyone has tried these tank treatment kits.
Note the neck on these tanks are slightly different to the normal mini saloon tanks making these usuitable.

I haven't use this product yet, but I've heard good things about it. POR-15 Fuel System Restoration
They have international distribution, but I don't how hard it would be to get where you are. I know they have it in Germany and UK.

john this is the stuff to use http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8223&frostProductName=Car%20Tank%20Repair%20Kit but doesn't look like you can get it via airmail to greece

patlink wrote:john this is the stuff to use http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp?productID=8223&frostProductName=Car%20Tank%20Repair%20Kit but doesn't look like you can get it via airmail to greece

Yes, the same stuff as what I posted.

Welding an old petrol tank is dangerous and needs a specialist. If the rust is significant it may be too thin to weld anyway.

It looks like a stock Elf tank. You won't find a new one of those. Sourcing a good used one could be your best option but it won't be easy.

As far as I am aware, all the new tanks available are the later larger 7.5 gallon-capacity version, and as only Heritage tanks are available, they're very expensive (£140). On top of that you would have to get the filler neck extended. Not a happy choice for any of us, and especially for you, as I'm sure you want to keep that unique car as original as possible.

Elf/Hornet people, look after your tanks!

Any idea how much to ship a tank to you from the UK? I'm not going to need mine as it'll be too small. All I need is a filler neck in decent condition to make it look like the tank is in the original position.

I have a spare Elf/Hornet petrol tank which I'm happy to offer you but looking at the images, are you sure your existing tank has the modified cranked neck. I'm not too sure but the neck looks straight to me, as per the standard Mini. If you can post some "side on" close up images on the forum then I'm sure we can confirm if it's standard Mini or Elf/Hornet.

I'll take some more pics and upload the later.

I found a company that does a chemical treatment of tanks by dipping them in three different baths, thus de-rusting, cleaning and sealing the tank.

Elf Service wrote:I have a spare Elf/Hornet petrol tank which I'm happy to offer you but looking at the images, are you sure your existing tank has the modified cranked neck. I'm not too sure but the neck looks straight to me, as per the standard Mini. If you can post some "side on" close up images on the forum then I'm sure we can confirm if it's standard Mini or Elf/Hornet.

Yes, looks to me like a standard early mini saloon tank with the standard neck so should be easier to source a replacement if required. Remove the sender unit before you try any chemical treatments. The gasket and screws were available from Minispares quite recently.

Here are the photos of the neck.





have noticed a small plastic cylindrical filter at the end of the fuel pick up pipe? is that something you change? it would be very difficult to reach, remove and replace.

The tank looks like a standard early Mini unit.
Re the filter in the neck, either pull it back through the neck, or remove the fuel gauge sender unit and retrieve the filter through the inspection hole.

Regarding the filter on the pick-up pipe. I'm not sure you can remove this, also not sure if it is plastic. A friend found this filter blocked on his car. We tried forcing a welding rod up the pipe to knock it off without success. Perhaps the chemical cleaning process will clear yours and leave it undamaged. Suggest you check it is clear by blowing an airline through it before you fit it to the car and recommend you fit an inline filter between the tank and fuel pump. Keep up the good work.