Too long/ didn’t read: Dropped the driver side tank on my 1986 c20. Was cleaning it up and found a small rusted out section. About the size of a pencil eraser. Do I get a complete new tank or try to patch it?
This weekend’s project started out well. After a week of rain and letting things dry out a bit, I crawled under the 1986 c20 on Friday evening and power washed sand and dirt and dirt dober nests off the under side. I was pleasantly pleased with how little rust there was. I mean, there was plenty, but not what I was expecting.
Saturday morning, I took the kids to my mothers house and I did some chores for her. My dad passed away in April, so she’s always happy for me to do a little here and there. I came home to an empty house, as my wife had a day planned with her bestie.
Now to the truck tank.
I sprayed the bolts on the gas tank mounts with some penetrant and got my tools and things ready. I crawled under the truck and removed the exhaust shield that was in the way of my ratchet.
The first bolt for the tank strap was the toughest sucker I’ve encountered in a while. I was wishing for an air ratchet or an impact wrench. I was looking for a cheater pipe that would fit but the space wasn’t allowing it. So I decided to move to some other bolts. If they were all going to be like this, I was going to need a new plan. These other bolts were pleasant. So I loosened them just enough, as to not get the remainders in a bind. I used some more juices on the stubborn bolt and went to have a beer and rest my arms and neck. It finally became easiER and I managed to turn it with a lot of cussing and heavy grunting. Neighbors probably were wondering what was going on. Lol.
I wiggled the tank out of its position and used my giant pry screwdriver to help get the stud of the strap out of the frame hole it was hung on. As it dropped, I was able to disconnect the hoses from the hard lines running to the passenger side. The rats were kind enough to chew through the electrical lines, so that wasn’t an issue. Yet.
I used my leaf blower to blow the dirt off and sprayed down the sending unit area with some lube juice.
Then I masked up and put on some goggles and crawled under the truck with an old electric drill equipped with a wire brush wheel. I had a neck gaiter leftover from my COVID times and looked like a mercenaries from a video game. I wriggled and slid all under the cab and bed. Brushing off much more dirt than rust, but both. I had to come up for air a couple times and realized my hair was now a matted mess full of dirt, rust and sweat. Yuck!
After I was pleased with my job I started slapping on the rust converter. I went with a watery,pre diluted version that I’m sure I overpaid for, but seemed idiot proof. I slathered it all over any spot my brush would fit. I felt like Van Gogh or maybe pollack as I completed my masterpiece. I only dropped a little of the nasty stuff on my forearm and got to feel it sting a little. The smell was a cross between the sickly sweet smell of fresh roadkill and an old banana. Magnifique.
I come from out of the shadows into the daylight to get after the gas tank.
I work the hoses off the filler neck and replace the neck back in its spot, holding it on with the gas cap tightened down. I’m sure I’ll forget that detail and be looking for that part later on. I get a hammer and screwdriver and take off the sending unit ring. It disintegrates. Great. Luckily it was nearly opened and I used 2 screwdrivers to turn the ring the rest of the way. I pull the sending unit out. Yeah. That thing was shot. Good! Just as I suspected. This isn’t going to be a waste. I place the rotten unit in the back of the truck to hang out and I drag the tank to a comfy chair so I can sit and scrape.
I get a wire brush and get to scraping. I opt for the manual way so I don’t hurt something on accident. Top of the tank cleaned up nice. The side opposite the strap bolt holes did too. At this point I was debating to take the straps off or just roll with it. I decided to roll as therust that was present didn’t see too bad.
I’m getting pretty much done and I come to the last section of what would be the forward most, bottom left corner of the tank. What’s this? Could it be? No. It is!! A hole!! Son @7 @ 81@#!!
Well now here’s the dilemma. My hundredish dollar project of a new sending unit and fuel pump and lines, could now become a 2 or 3 hundred dollar project depending on how detailed I’m getting.
Should I solder the hole and pray? JB weld like YouTube seems to be a fan of? Or just bite the bullet and go with new stuff?
I’ve looked at and it looks like they have everything in stock. $100 tank. And straps and sending unit and lines if I need them. And selector valve and etc etc etc. all I see is dollar signs and I’m not trying to make a show car here. Lol. But I do want to drive the thing.
I’m just looking for advice and maybe some comfort. Lol. If y’all know of a place that has half price parts, that would be helpful too.
Thanks! Have a good one!
Edit: grammar.
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