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Bl88dy Fuel Tank

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 11:27
by john 215
Hi,
Went out in the garage this morning and noticed a strong smell of fuel [:0] Looked underneath to find a puddle of petrol [:(!] (at how much a gallon [V] ) Bl88dy fuel tank leaking from under one of the straps [:(!] Wanted to MOT it next weekend so looks like i will be up Bobsport mid week to top up Robs retirement fund!! and get a new tank, strap,sender unit, ect.Just when you are making progress things bite you in the ar5e [B)]
Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)
Image
1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6 WILL BE ON THE ROAD VERY SOON!
Read My Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/ ... hp/John215

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 14:05
by Dave Dyer
John you can repair the tank!

I had a small hole in mine and repaired it with metal filler and that was 16 years ago and its still sound!!

Just empty the tank, let it dry out, undo the strap its leaking behind from one end and bend it down, clean the area and apply the filler, job done.

Dave

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 16:42
by paul w
Bad news John,but at least you aint gotta' remove that axle eh?!
Bob dont need money to retire,but Simon wants some holiday funds!

See ya. Paul


Image

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 16:48
by Underdog
Too bad John. If you were over here, Woody Cooper keeps reconditioned ones on hand. Mine just had some light surface rust so I sandblasted, epoxy primed & painted it. Since it had been sitting for several years, I figured a good idea to remove the pickup and fuel pump fixtures for a look see. Every thing looked fine, tank nice & clean ect. So wouldn't you know, now the sending unit seal is leaking!! Sometimes it's best to let sleeping dogs lie.

72 MGB BRG
80 TR8 Persian Aqua
If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 18:39
by busheytrader
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by john 215</i>

Hi,
Went out in the garage this morning and noticed a strong smell of fuel [:0] Looked underneath to find a puddle of petrol [:(!] (at how much a gallon [V] ) Bl88dy fuel tank leaking from under one of the straps [:(!] Wanted to MOT it next weekend so looks like i will be up Bobsport mid week to top up Robs retirement fund!! and get a new tank, strap,sender unit, ect.Just when you are making progress things bite you in the ar5e [B)]
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Exactly the same thing happened to me last year. I'd been suffering from brown silt in the 2 x fuel filters for a couple of years and loads of other wedges had already had their tanks replaced.

I thought about refurbishing the tank but had a quick prod with a screwdriver to see what I had left to play with. (It's only one pinhole after all!) 90 seconds later and there were 5 holes big enough to stick a finger through, all around the front corners and rusted from the inside out.

So it was off the Bobsport for a new tank with all the trimmings. How's the rest of your tank?

Cheers,


Adam

TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AllyCat 5 Spokes. No Door Stickers.

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 19:52
by john 215
Hi,
Removed tank this afternoon, about an hour and a bit to do,dropped the axle ,not completely off just removed the top links. The filler neck securing screw were rusted solid looked like pop rivets [xx(] so drilled them out. Have removed tanks before and left the neck in place but that was at work on a ramp, not on my back at home!!and i dont 'do struggle' [;)]
The tank must have had 1/2 a gallon of water in it [:0] I remenber doing several TR7 before with the same problem, i think it may come in down through the filler cap if a locking cap fitted [?] Mine had one fitted when i got it and the ones i done years ago did as well thats why i put a standard one back on. Just a theroy but you know what water is like for finding the smallest gap, or BL**DY PETROL for that matter!!!!
Adam and Dave the rest of the tank is poor and owing to the amount of H20 present its of to Bobsport prob Thursday [V]
I hope that Simon sends me and Paul W a post card and brings us back a stick of rock [;)] from his hols we are contributing too!!
Shame you cant get Stainless ones but then you would only replace them once and that would be no good for buisnees.
Cheers John


LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)
Image
1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6 WILL BE ON THE ROAD VERY SOON!
Read My Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/ ... hp/John215

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 20:23
by Rich in Vancouver
Don't feel bad John. Here in Canada new tanks are not generally available, only by mail order from the US or the UK, and then they are horribly expensive.
I have been working on a tank that I got from Launie here on the forum. I had a new lower front piece welded in then rinsed it with muriatic acid followed by a special degreasing detergent, followed by MEK, then sealed it with a sloshing sealer. that stuff leaves a membrane on the inside of the tank, sealing any bits of rust away from the fuel. Last night I fibreglassed the repaired area, just for insurance, and later today I will start painting the outside with rustproof paint.
Fun and Games! I am just glad I am able to do this stuff myself or I would be in the poor house!

Good luck with your tank!

Cheers,
Rich

1975 TR7 ACL764U
Image

Posted: 30 Mar 2008 22:51
by john 215
Hi Rich,
Good Point Well Put [:)] At least i get to put a nut on the inside left hand upper roll over bar mounting bracket.Could'nt get to it last month when i fitted roll over bar as tank was in the way so i guess ever cloud has a silver linning [;)]
cheers John.

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)
Image
1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6 WILL BE ON THE ROAD VERY SOON!
Read My Blog http://www.waringstowntr7s.co.uk/blogs/ ... hp/John215

Posted: 31 Mar 2008 16:31
by busheytrader
Hopefully it won't need replacing for another 25+ years........

I asked Simon what treatment I could apply to slow down the rotting process. He said to give it several coats of waxoyl on the outside only. Even though I coated just the top half, it still jumped all over the place like a greased piglet whilst I tried to fit it.[:0] I sprayed the bottom half thoroughly afterwards.

Another tip from Simon was to fully inspect the chassis rails whilst the tank and axle were dropped. Many 7's are having serious rust problems on the top of the rails now due to all the accumulated crap that's trapped up there. Loads of dry dust fell off mine after lots of poking about but luckily none of it was rust. Half a gallon of waxoyl took its place though.

Cheers,

Adam

TR7 V8 DHC Jaguar Solent Blue. 9.35cr Range Rover V8, Holley 390cfm, JWR Dual Port, 214 Cam, Lumention, Tubular Manifolds, Single Pipe Exh, 3.08 Rear, 200lb Spax & Solid Bushes, Anti- Dive, Granada Vented Discs & Calipers, 4 Speed Rear Cylinders, Uprated Master Cylinder & Servo, AllyCat 5 Spokes. No Door Stickers.