Leaking gas tank

[03to02]

Hello,

Car I just bought has a gas tank leak that appears to be coming from the seam joint.  it looks like JB weld was used to repair the seam.  The inside of tank had been red coated/sealed by PO.  The rest of the tank looks fine other than it’s caved in below the suspect area.  Is this tank salvageable or should I just buy a new one?  Thought about wire wheeling the jb welded area to investigate more but concerned of sparks (I plan on washing/rinsing inside with soap and letting tank dry first).  Draining the gas from tank was no fun so I want to get this right the first time. TIA.

JC

 

 

 

Edited December 3, 2023 by 03to02

[Mikesmalaga72]

Imho replace the tank. You may have more bucks attempting to repair than buying either good used or reproduced one. 

[Rodolfo Lasparri]

That looks like a pretty rough seam and certainly not an easy area to repair. For longevity if it were me - I’d just replace it with a good used one or buy a new one. 

[jimk]

Seam was peeled apart to try to locate the leak.  Seam leakage migrates along the outside of the seam and will appear at a point that is not the actual leak point.  Lining a tank to fix a leaking seam is difficult because the inner crevice can have rust that doesn't get removed from the lining preparation.

 

As others said, give up on this tank.

[Mark92131]

My original tank was full of pinholes.  MVP to the rescue!  Fitment was great.  Shop around for best price.

 

Mark92131

 

Manufacturer of Vintage Car Parts,MVP,BMW2002,BMW,bmwclassiccars,bmwclassic,bmw2002classic,bmw02club,mvpvintageparts,recreate a legacy

WWW.MVPVINTAGEPARTS.COM

---

Manufacturer of Vintage Car Parts,MVP,BMW2002,BMW,bmwclassiccars,bmwclassic,bmw2002classic,bmw02club,mvpvintageparts,recreate a legacy

 

[tech71]

Yuuk! That tanks shot, get a replacement or box it up and send off to : 

Moyer Fuel Tank Renu - antique gas tank repair restoration, classic car gas tanks GASTANK

WWW.GAS-TANK.COM

---

NO RUST gas tanks, no tank too old, lifetime warranty on the repair and restoration of old gas tanks classic or antique GASTANKS

A new MVP tank is the way I would go

Edited December 3, 2023 by tech71

[slowbert]

Do you really want to be sitting at a stop light with a full tank of gas and nervously wonder if the whole car will go up in flames?

 

The $450 you spend on a brand new, squeaky clean gas tank is worth your piece of mind.

[tech71]

3 hours ago, 03to02 said:

The inside of tank had been red coated/sealed by PO.

He screwed that up big time

[03to02]

Ok, I was leaning towards a new tank but just wanted to get a consensus here.

Thanks for all the quick replies!

JC

[Mikesmalaga72]

1 hour ago, 03to02 said:

Ok, I was leaning towards a new tank but just wanted to get a consensus here.

Thanks for all the quick replies!

JC

Generally observe the following key areas :

In case you did not know, there are a couple differences on the fuel tanks early round tail light car vs later square tail light cars...Tii injected/and carburated as well as trunk floor bolt hole locations and length of the fuel sender early 200 mm is for 46 liter early cars vs 223mm for 51 liter late cars. 

Looks like you have a very early tank 1st series.....the filler neck looks very short so look into that as the mid year cars have longer ones.

Edited December 3, 2023 by Mikesmalaga72

[03to02]

I have a ‘72 2002.  The sender looked pretty clean along with gasoline drained from tank (looked like pink lemonade with barely any flakes or rust bits).  Thanks for pointing out the differences in tanks.

JC

[Mikesmalaga72]

Maybe someone in the want ads might have a decent used or nos one never hurts to try. You also need some sort of a screen on the bottom of that sender maybe rattling around in the tank. 

 

[slowbert]

There are things in life you might consider buying used. And other things that you really should only buy new. 

 

Underwear and gas tanks fall in the latter category. 

Edited December 4, 2023 by slowbert

[Mike Self]

The way that tank is stove in and the joining flange is boogered up as a result, I'd go for a good used tank (no rust around the flange) or new.   Just make sure the tank you buy (new or used) matches the rubber filler neck (early cars have long rubber necks, later ones--like your 72--have short ones).

 

Were it just a hole (like from road debris) a good radiator shop could solder it up  Mine was fixed with a copper penny soldered over the hole where a piece of sharp metal poked a hole in it on the interstate.  That was around 1983 or 84 and the tank's still on the car--no leaks.   But with the flange damage on yours...it would take a very skilled radiator guy to fix--and they're getting harder and harder to find.

 

mike

 

 

[TobyB]

For once, I agree with everyone above-

that's been hacked, and not worth messing with.

 

Me, 'good used' would be fine, but I don't mind doing things

twice to save $400.

 

t