Cleaning a Gas Tank

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Nico O'Hara

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So. The only thing preventing me from progressing on my 1969 dart is my gross tank. I think I’m getting close using muriatic acid to break down the rust and shaking it around. Does anyone have any other ideas?
 
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In the days before tanks were readily available and reasonably cheap, I would dump a bag of marbles in the tank with the acid and periodically shake it around to help break up the rust and scale... and don't forget to neutralize it afterwards.
Alternatively, go to the dollar store and buy 5 gallons or so of vinegar and pour that into the tank, let it sit a day and turn it so another side is submerged, wait another day and keep repeating until all the surfaces have soaked. Does a great job on rust and isn't as nasty to work with as acid.
Or take it to a radiator shop, truck shop, or machine shop of your choice and have them boil it out.
Or just buy new, they're not that pricey (you didn't say what year yours is, so I sampled a '70 Dart, but all are similarly priced):
1970 DODGE DART 5.2L 318cid V8 Fuel Tank | RockAuto
1970-1971 Mopar A Body gas tank CR11D new steel tank Dart Demon Duster Valiant | eBay
 
Throw in 100, 1/4" nuts some vinegar And distilled water. Strap the tan onto a light single axle trailer and bounce it down the road on your next 2 to 3 hour trip.

Rinse Out when done, let it air dry out in the hot sun for a half a day. Throw in a quart of diesel fuel, slop it around for a final rinse and dump that out.

Diesel will coat the inside of the tank to keep it from rusting until you get it installed again.

Put some seafoam in with your gas fills to help pull out condensation and help keep rust back. Keep the tank full, the less air in there the less damage happens.

Good Luck
 
George Jets said:
Throw in 100, 1/4" nuts some vinegar And distilled water. Strap the tan onto a light single axle trailer and bounce it down the road on your next 2 to 3 hour trip.

Rinse Out when done, let it air dry out in the hot sun for a half a day. Throw in a quart of diesel fuel, slop it around for a final rinse and dump that out.

Diesel will coat the inside of the tank to keep it from rusting until you get it installed again.

Put some seafoam in with your gas fills to help pull out condensation and help keep rust back. Keep the tank full, the less air in there the less damage happens.

Good Luck
Click to expand...
Thank you so much
 
Professor Fate said:
In the days before tanks were readily available and reasonably cheap, I would dump a bag of marbles in the tank with the acid and periodically shake it around to help break up the rust and scale... and don't forget to neutralize it afterwards.
Alternatively, go to the dollar store and buy 5 gallons or so of vinegar and pour that into the tank, let it sit a day and turn it so another side is submerged, wait another day and keep repeating until all the surfaces have soaked. Does a great job on rust and isn't as nasty to work with as acid.
Or take it to a radiator shop, truck shop, or machine shop of your choice and have them boil it out.
Or just buy new, they're not that pricey (you didn't say what year yours is, so I sampled a '70 Dart, but all are similarly priced):
1970 DODGE DART 5.2L 318cid V8 Fuel Tank | RockAuto
1970-1971 Mopar A Body gas tank CR11D new steel tank Dart Demon Duster Valiant | eBay
Click to expand...
Thank you
 
That's one thing I like about the '76 D100 Truck, Dodge built them with a plastic gas tank.

No rust issues there.

☆☆☆☆☆
 
George Jets said:
That's one thing I like about the '76 D100 Truck, Dodge built them with a plastic gas tank.

No rust issues there.

☆☆☆☆☆
Click to expand...
Always wondered why nobody repops tanks in plastic, you'd think it would be easier and cheaper; only difference is you'd have to add a ground wire to the sending unit... or not- I guess the stock jumper would still do it's job.
 
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