I've had tanks leak after dropping them and installing a new sending unit or pump ,they seem to develop seam leaks or a rust pit you loosened in the process decides to leak as soon as you put it all back together..
Had poor luck trying to patch leaky tanks too,and I tried all the usual parts store epoxies and bondo,fiberglass cloth & resin,etc..not worth your time or effort..welding or brazing a used tank is very dangerous even if its been washed out good,and often you create more leaks trying to repair an old tank...|
The only repair I've seen done and last on a fuel tank was done by an older guy who taught me & my older brother a lot about mechanics and repairing things..
My brother had a old VW Beetle with a leaky gas tank,it was one pinhole right on the bottom..
The guy took some emery cloth and scuffed it down to bare metal,and used a old "wheat" copper penny (one made before they started using zinc ),and he took a big timber spike and clamped it with vise grips,then he heated up the penny ,sitting on the head of the spike,fluxed it good and tinned it with a big blob of 50/50 solder,and carefully pressed it against the tank where the leak was..
We were scared,putting a glowing red spike & penny against a leaking gas tank and hearing it go HiSSSSSSS was more than a bit terrifying,
...but the old man just held it firm for a minute--let go,and ta-da,the leak had stopped..my brother drove that Bug for at least a year or so and it never leaked again..
For under $100 a new gas tank is worth it,and I'm as "frugal" as can be when it comes to buying anything new..some things just aren't worth your time dicking around trying to fix,and no one likes dropping a fuel tank twice,especially on newer trucks..
MTS makes plastic tanks for square bodies and though they cost about $75 more,you'll never have to mess with it again..once & done..
Had poor luck trying to patch leaky tanks too,and I tried all the usual parts store epoxies and bondo,fiberglass cloth & resin,etc..not worth your time or effort..welding or brazing a used tank is very dangerous even if its been washed out good,and often you create more leaks trying to repair an old tank...|
The only repair I've seen done and last on a fuel tank was done by an older guy who taught me & my older brother a lot about mechanics and repairing things..
My brother had a old VW Beetle with a leaky gas tank,it was one pinhole right on the bottom..
The guy took some emery cloth and scuffed it down to bare metal,and used a old "wheat" copper penny (one made before they started using zinc ),and he took a big timber spike and clamped it with vise grips,then he heated up the penny ,sitting on the head of the spike,fluxed it good and tinned it with a big blob of 50/50 solder,and carefully pressed it against the tank where the leak was..
We were scared,putting a glowing red spike & penny against a leaking gas tank and hearing it go HiSSSSSSS was more than a bit terrifying,
...but the old man just held it firm for a minute--let go,and ta-da,the leak had stopped..my brother drove that Bug for at least a year or so and it never leaked again..For under $100 a new gas tank is worth it,and I'm as "frugal" as can be when it comes to buying anything new..some things just aren't worth your time dicking around trying to fix,and no one likes dropping a fuel tank twice,especially on newer trucks..
MTS makes plastic tanks for square bodies and though they cost about $75 more,you'll never have to mess with it again..once & done..
