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I bought a non running 1978 c3 corvette about a month ago and I’ve been having trouble keeping it running and narrowed it down to the fuel since I did just about everything else. I decided to drop the tank and was greeted with all sorts of gunk. Should I just clean it out and keep the current tank and sending unit or just shell out for a new one. I am seeing tears from the black liner and big gashes which point me in the direction of buying a new one. But I wanted someone else’s opinion before purchasing.
If your car has mostly ORIGINAL PARTS, and you want to keep it that way, then call a few local radiator repair shops in your area. They have the chemical tanks and restoration process to for radiators and fuel tanks. I don’t know what they charge, but have used a shop in my area for radiator repairs, and the cost was very reasonable.
I thought 78 had a poly liner? That may already be a replacement tank? If not leaking maybe it is just silt?
i evaporusted my components and reused with new sock.
That tank looks replaceable IMO. The reproductions are good quality compared to other parts made for these cars, and cheap insurance for making sure the fuel stays where you want it. The sending unit is up to you if you think there’s too much corrosion on it to replace it. If it works I would just replace the pickup sock.
As for keeping the car running cleaning all the gunk out will certainly help, but have you checked your ignition timing?
Last edited by Piersonpie; Oct 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM.
The 78-82 tank is a hard rubber tank inside the steel tank. Not a flexible liner.
Condition of your tank looks unusuable.
Not replaceable or fixable.
I would bet the steel tank has some pinholes in it also.
Pictured tank was out of my 25 actual mile pace car.
I believe moisture got between the rubber tank and steel tank causing some pinholes.
I thought it was leaking gas but in looking into it I believe it was just rusty water as the rubber tank was leak free, but when I filled it with water the bottom did get very wet from condensation.
Replaced tank with non lined replacement.
For more pics do a search....
"78-82 fuel tank show and tell"
If your car has mostly ORIGINAL PARTS, and you want to keep it that way, then call a few local radiator repair shops in your area. They have the chemical tanks and restoration process to for radiators and fuel tanks. I don’t know what they charge, but have used a shop in my area for radiator repairs, and the cost was very reasonable.
I haven't seen a radiator repair shop in years, they all went out of business where I'm from.
Looking at your pics again is that grey area some kind of residue left from evaporated gas?
The rubber tank is pretty bulletproof if that grey area is something you can clean off.
I based my unfixable comment on the cracked corner showing in the pic, but that doesn't look to be in the rubber tank, just that grey area.
See if that grey will peel off.
Looking at your pics again is that grey area some kind of residue left from evaporated gas?
The rubber tank is pretty bulletproof if that grey area is something you can clean off.
I based my unfixable comment on the cracked corner showing in the pic, but that doesn't look to be in the rubber tank, just that grey area.
See if that grey will peel off.
That grey area is just residue. I wiped the tank down a bit. Here are some more photos of the two cracks. The first photo is a bit of a significant crack I can shove my fingers in it. And the second photo is just another crack that’s not as bad.
C3 corvette fuel tank
