Gas tank prep?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey, FL
Gas tank prep?
I just pulled the bladder out of the 76. I cut off the top part to use as a gasket for the new sending unit and threw the rest away. Looking at the inside and outside of the tank, well it looks almost brand new. I want to reinstall it without the bladder. My question is, do I have to seal or use anything on or inside the tank, or just clean it up and use it as is? Thanks
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey, FL
Originally Posted by brian76
I just pulled the bladder out of the 76. I cut off the top part to use as a gasket for the new sending unit and threw the rest away. Looking at the inside and outside of the tank, well it looks almost brand new. I want to reinstall it without the bladder. My question is, do I have to seal or use anything on or inside the tank, or just clean it up and use it as is? Thanks
Pro
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 505
Likes: 8
From: Houston Tx.
Obviously, the only place it will leak is a pin hole or the seam. Put a small amount of gasoline or carb cleaner or some other solvent and roll the tank on edge and look for leaks. The seam should be sealed because it is required by federal safety regulations. The 1976 service manual says "The bladder has been installed for added protection in the event of a rear end collision."
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 423
Likes: 3
From: New Port Richey, FL
Originally Posted by 76vette1
Obviously, the only place it will leak is a pin hole or the seam. Put a small amount of gasoline or carb cleaner or some other solvent and roll the tank on edge and look for leaks. The seam should be sealed because it is required by federal safety regulations. The 1976 service manual says "The bladder has been installed for added protection in the event of a rear end collision."
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
There's no bladder in mine & it did spring a leak from a pinhole in the bottom. There are treatments to line the tank, but I think it was Fedx who told me that a good one (& cheap) can be got from ship's chandlers. It's called something like MarineTec (MarineTex?) and is used for the gas tanks on boats. Kreme works well in m/cycle gas tanks but is expensive & doing something the size of a Vette's tank would be very expensive. I don't know what's available in the US, but a quick search on the Net should bring up some options. On the outside of mine I gave it a good clean & sprayed it with something called TankTone (I think - I'm forgetting all the names!!). Eastwoods sold it & it's a silver colored paint containing zinc that prevents corrosion. It's almost like spraying a damp powder over the tank but it sticks well & mine still looks nice after 3 or 4 years.
I know a new tank for an '81 isn't available & I'm not sure if a new bladder is available (are they the same as earlier? Anybody?), but I'd recommend fitting a bladder back in yours, even after you've treated it (a belt & braces approach). There's not a lot of protection back there for the gas tank & if somebody slams into the back of you things can get very nasty very quickly (ferocity of a gas tank going up in flames is scary).
I know a new tank for an '81 isn't available & I'm not sure if a new bladder is available (are they the same as earlier? Anybody?), but I'd recommend fitting a bladder back in yours, even after you've treated it (a belt & braces approach). There's not a lot of protection back there for the gas tank & if somebody slams into the back of you things can get very nasty very quickly (ferocity of a gas tank going up in flames is scary).
