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Author Topic: Remedy for rust in gas tank?  (Read 3896 times)

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Offline Henrius

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Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« on: August 25, 2014, 08:28:26 AM »
After 16 years, I got my Pinto back on the road. Of course I emptied the old gas and put new gas in. I also got a new carbaurator.


When I started the car the other day, it would not idle. A mechanic disassembled the carb, and said there were very fine rust particles that had clogged some orifices. These were apparently fine enough that they made it through a new fine-mesh fuel filter!


My gas tank is probably better than any in the junkyard, because the car has been garaged almost all its life. Does anyone make any new Pinto gas tanks? I have heard that tanks can be cut apart, rust neutralized, and seams rewelded. I would like to save this for a last resort!
1973 Pinto Runabout with upgraded 2.0 liter & 4 speed, and factory sunroof. My first car, now restored, and better than it was when it rolled off the assembly line!

Offline DBSS1234

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2014, 08:34:19 AM »

Offline Henrius

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2014, 09:46:15 AM »
Thanks for this. Wonder why E-bay note up top says this tank WILL NOT fit my 1973 Runabout?
1973 Pinto Runabout with upgraded 2.0 liter & 4 speed, and factory sunroof. My first car, now restored, and better than it was when it rolled off the assembly line!

Offline Henrius

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2014, 12:27:11 PM »
Thanks for this. Wonder why E-bay note up top says this tank WILL NOT fit my 1973 Runabout?

I just called Spectra and they deny this is the model for the Pinto. Don't know why it came up in my Amazon search, just like for you. Think it is just for the Mustang II.

Fortunately, a radiator shop said they can clean the rust out of mine then coat the inside.
1973 Pinto Runabout with upgraded 2.0 liter & 4 speed, and factory sunroof. My first car, now restored, and better than it was when it rolled off the assembly line!

Offline pintolovr

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2014, 12:46:12 PM »
I remove and drain my tank. I removed the sending unit and rinse the tank out with water. I then let it dry and put a section of chain in it and shake the sh__ out of it. I then rinse again with water, let dry, put a new ring gasket on the sending unit. Put tank back in and i've had no trouble. I have done this with 2 cars.
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Offline amc49

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2014, 02:40:07 AM »
A whole lot of nuts and bolts thrown in there will clean things too. Just make sure you get them all out. With using ethanol in fuel now there will always be some trouble from it, why the OEMs have gone to plastic tanks.

Don't even think of running the small OEM filter screwed into the carb, no way is it big enough for todays' fuel issues. And as noted it often passes the finer rust dust right through like filter is not even there. I patch in a much bigger inline filter in the uploop of fuel line coming from pump to carb. I've even had two inline before. Try to get paper filter media rather than the plastic stuff which passes bigger particles through it, with clear filter case you can tell what's in it.

Offline 82expghost

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2014, 10:56:45 PM »
for motorcycle gas tanks we always use vineger, it eats rust
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Offline cannonball

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2014, 06:34:49 AM »
pull the tank, ratchet strap it to a regular cenet mixer fill it with pebbles/small stones let it spin for a 1/2 hr adding detergent and water, it cleans them up real mint,,,,,,,,,

Offline amc49

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2014, 12:44:28 PM »
Yeah, and then the perfect meal for the d-mn ethanol. I literally hate that stuff.

Offline Henrius

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2014, 09:06:35 PM »
Interesting that so many of you have had trouble with rust.


My aftermarket filter was clear plastic with some sort of mesh element. I can see how paper would be more likely to catch any rust particles.


Maybe rust from the tank is also what has been causing fuel problems on my 1972 Newport. Seems like fuel is more of a problem now than it was 40 years ago when the cars were built!
1973 Pinto Runabout with upgraded 2.0 liter & 4 speed, and factory sunroof. My first car, now restored, and better than it was when it rolled off the assembly line!

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2014, 09:27:27 PM »
This skunk p*** they call fuel is horrible, hate this garbage.. >:( >:(
Art
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Offline bbobcat75

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2014, 07:31:50 AM »
RUN A INLINE FUEL FILTER BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE FUEL PUMP!! WILL HELP CATCH ANY THING BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE PUMP AND CARB! PLUS THEY ARE CHEAP, SO I CHANGE THEM EVERY OIL CHANGE!  JUST MY 2 CENTS - BUY THE CLEAR PLASTIC ONES YOU WILL BE SURPRISED HOW YELLOW THEY GET AFTER ONLY A COUPLE OF MONTHS!!
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Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2014, 07:48:58 AM »
I always run a filter before the pump and one after the pump.
Art
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Offline bbobcat75

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2014, 07:54:29 AM »
DOESNT EASTWOOD SELL A GAS TANK KIT??
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Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #14 on: August 28, 2014, 07:56:56 AM »
Art
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Offline bbobcat75

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #15 on: August 28, 2014, 08:40:32 AM »
THAT MAY BE WORTH A SHOT!?!?!
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Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #16 on: August 28, 2014, 09:45:07 AM »
I would think so..
Art
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Offline Henrius

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2014, 12:55:56 PM »
I always run a filter before the pump and one after the pump.

OK, I will think about doing this. What are your fuel filter recommendation s?

Someone mentioned a paper element filter. Could I have some brand and model recommendation s?
1973 Pinto Runabout with upgraded 2.0 liter & 4 speed, and factory sunroof. My first car, now restored, and better than it was when it rolled off the assembly line!

Offline 74 PintoWagon

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Re: Remedy for rust in gas tank?
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2014, 01:52:09 PM »
OK, I will think about doing this. What are your fuel filter recommendation s?

Someone mentioned a paper element filter. Could I have some brand and model recommendation s?
Well, they come in different sizes and styles so what fits the easiest in your plumbing. I kinda like these for a street carb deal, you can see the crud and you can take them apart to clean them, just a plain inline filter, for injectors you'll need one for fuel injection.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Valmar-Marine-Universal-in-line-fuel-filter/_/N-275c?itemIdentifier=294531_0_0_
Art
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