rust repair around gas tank door

[big83chevy4x4]

i have a big rust hole near my gas tank door and i have some sheet metal i want to weld in to fix the hole /forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif i dont really want to weld around the gas tank (might go boom).

the tank is not even a year old, new gas cap, fill pipe has no holes. would it be safe to fix this?
i don't have the time to pull the tank, but may pull the fill tube and cap the tank. what could i cap the tank with? do i even need to pull the fill pipe? need advice /forums/images/graemlins/1zhelp.gif

 

[ryoken]

pull the fill tube. damp rag stuffed in tank. tuck either a welding blanket or wet towel around the tank. make note of fuel lines. extinguisher or garden hose, etc, etc..

you should be fine, i've seen and done much hairier stuff in body shops. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[biobry]

Make sure that "damp rag" isnot soaked in gasoline! LOL Good luck on your repair job, ryoken has got you fixed up. /forums/images/graemlins/k5.gif
Bryan

 

[beater_k20]

quit being a pu$$y! i cut the spring hangers off of my 82 C10, and never touched the gas tank. im still here to tell about it. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

 

[gm4x]

Did you weld last night, or was that the northern lights I saw?? /forums/images/graemlins/weld.gif /forums/images/graemlins/yikes.gif

Seriously...call me whatever, but I'd rather not take "chances". Gasoline vapors aren't something I'd exactly trust. I'd drop the tank. Probably be a good time to clean it & connections (gauge), as well as replace hoses. When in doubt, err on the side of saftey. It's not worth "finding out" if you should have dropped it.
Just my .02 /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

 

[beater_k20]

my reply was in complete sarcasm. no i did not drop my tank, and i probably should have. looking back, i got VERY lucky. just a stupid young wrench idea to cut some corners.

 

[big83chevy4x4]

i just replaced the tank in janurary, so all the connection and hoses are new. i think i will through a wet blanket over the tank. its just around the door, a good 18" away from the tank /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif