Classic Alfa Forums

I finaly found time to get the fuel tank out of the sud today and it isnt pretty . Its had about 2 galloms of fuel sat in it for 20 yrs and as usual its turned to varnish. Ive taken the sender out and i think thats saveable with a little gentle cleaning and it still reads ok on a multimeter g . Externally the tank is fine with only a little surface corrosion. It seems ashame to chuck it away but the inside is a real mess Does anyone know of any specialist companies that maybe able to tackle it. . Cheers Lou.

I’ve just done two rusty leaky motorbike tanks with a sealer from eBay and both are holding up fine

Thanks Simon this isnt leaky or too rusty its full of stale petrol varnish crap. I did our Austin tank by chucking a pile of gravel and shaking it like a mad bitch. But that didnt have any baffles or small nooks and crannies like the sud tank does . Im thinking a chemical stripping company might be the way to go wher they just chuck it in a big tank of nasty stuff and all the goo will come out .

Petseal was a product i used to use, but i haven't done that job for quite a while.

I think Frost restoration did a version of it, but i bet Keith knows of a current product too?

Hi.

You may find a big steam cleaner will do it easily and they can sometimes be found very cheaply by people who advertise to clean patio's.

Have you tried caustic soda and seen what that will do ? After all the tank is steel.

Hi Junior j do have a small pressure washer but just a bit concerned of using it on the tank as I don't know how to dispose if whatever crap comes out and don't want but just going all over the patio

Last year ATP in Germany were selling new 33 fuel tanks for under a ton....I got one.
They are still available but now nearly £300!

Just suds used to use a firm in Preston to Chemically clean/refurb tanks.....I bought one off John, and it was ok.
Maybe worth calling him?

Dave

Hi Dave yeah i saw the tanks in germany but it seems theyve got greedy . I cant afford to pay that. Been onto a place in Telford this morning and they.ve quoted 60+ the vodka . Its called Envirostrip and they've done a load of work for the Car SOS GUYS . Im probably going to take it over next week . Ill report back when i see what kind if job they do of it .

I would have thought that for the initial stripping/cleaning process, any powder coater for example would have a suitable bath or two of the neccessary chemicals and neutralisers

Hi guys, like others have already said, our fuel tanks get chemically stripped and pressure tested. Not sure what they use, but they come back clean.
Sound like you have covered the bases now.
Glad the new tanks were mentioned as I was starting to think I had imagined the huge price hike
Good luck with the resto .

Who do you use Kegsti

I can ask at work tomorrow, but bare in mind we are in Northamptonshire.
Keith.

Funnily enough I traced some persistent bad running to my crudded up tank at the weekend.
I checked previous threads and found the ATP listing on eBay and was similarly disappointed at the hike in the price - the alfa tank is now the most expensive they list.
I’ll be cleaning out the tank myself next weekend with a solution of Oxalic acid (as found in rhubarb...) so that’s two sales ATP has lost by being greedy.

Thanks

Adam

Thanks Keith .

http://nargroup.com/

Hi Lou,
This is who we send our tanks and radiators to, but like I say, we are in Northampton, so quite a trek from you.

Thanks Keith. As you said Northampton is a bit if a trek . I'll see what kind of job ES do as they are only 50 mins from me but it's always good to have other options .

I agree, as Shrew said, hopefully, you only need to have someone who uses stripping chemicals to give it a good clean.
Good luck.
Keith.

Taking the tank to Envirostrip tomorrow . They'll need it for a week . I'll let you all know what kind of job they make of it

Caustic soda is great at cleaning the dried crud out of a tank. Did mine on the sprint after constant fuel pick up issues.

Hi gents, I have the opposite problem, my tank is good on the inside, but I want to strip the outside, shot blasting seems like it will damage the tank or potentially contaminate it?? Any top tips for getting the factory coating off?
Pete

An angle grinder and a wire wheel soon does the job I found.

If it has loads of under seal over it it may be worth a big sheet of polythene on the floor and stripping first with chemical stripper.
Block off all holes and then when clear of sticky stuff, abrasive wheels or a DA sander.
Be careful of sparks.

Thanks guys, I had a go with my grinder and wire brush, but was thinking of softening it some how.... when you say chemical stripper, we talking nitromors or something else specific?
Cheers

Yes, that sort of stuff. Gloves and goggles and a scraper should shift the worst.

Langlow is the stripper i would use, but not all suppliers will sell it, and are supposed not to anyone other than trade,

Very good, but nasty stuff!

Hey Shrew, I did a google search for "nasty strippers".
No sign of paint removal.

When i said you had to be in the trade to be able to buy it, i didn't state which line of business that trade was!