Most fuel tanks are plated/coated to resist rust. Welding will degrade or destroy that rust protection.
Most fuel tanks are plated/coated to resist rust. Welding will degrade or destroy that rust protection.
Back in ancient time I worked for VW when the T1 AC models were it
The tank had a small pocket on the bottom that would collect moisture and rust through
Remove tank , dump the gas into a safe container and remove from the vicinity. Flush with hot water and remove.
With the fuel sender and fill cap, apply a lighted torch to the sender opening, No boom, got a couple.
Turn the tank over and proceed to braze . Never though of soldering
I will wash with a 1/2 a bottle or dawn dishwashing soap
A few times, fill with dry ice, 2 or 3 pounds shouldwork.or I will be on the east coast...fast
Just 6 spot welds to set new Ford mount onto my Alfa Romeo tank, then solder the rest of the gaps.. cannot find anyone in Sacramento to do the work
I personally don't like the idea of dry ice. Gasoline floats on water and if you fill the tank to the top, you will force any liquid out. If you use HOT water, you will force it from the "pores" in the metal as well - gasoline boils at around 150F, give or take.
Dry ice would seem to want to keep any fuel in the tank, still in the tank, because it's cold and will prevent evaporation. At that point you're keeping your fingers crossed that you don't waft air in there. (You can't trust the visible gas cloud - that is largely water vapor, not CO2)
Having had an oil pan "pop" while welding on it after flushing the oil out with carb cleaner, and forgetting to flush out the carb cleaner.... once it "pops", you can safely change your underwear and get to welding, because you will have very effectively removed flammable vapors.
Water and soap out,let dry in sun, then dry ice
Put argon in the tank if you plan to use flame or an arc on it. Even though I am a weldor I would seriously consider epoxy for this job.
tack weld then solder. Done it many times. As for prep. Just hot water and dawn or other kitchen soap before dawn was available.
On YouTube, seen visors of making paper fuses,about foot long, stuff on end in tank, light, a fast trot away
Sometimes woosh.. Sometimes not
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