[DeTomaso] pre L Pantera aluminum gas tank

Thomas Tornblom thomas at hax.se
Fri Sep 18 09:07:03 EDT 2015


FYI:

Late model cars also have aluminum tanks.

Not sure when they switched back, but my 1984 GT 5 (#9321) has that. It 
is also sprayed with a fairly thin layer of some type of yellowish coating.

Thomas

Den 2015-09-18 14:51, cengles at cox.net skrev:
> Dear Robert,
>
>
>
>                 Ah, fitment issues with a pre L push button and parts
> meant for later L model Panteras.
>
>                I happen to know that a friend and his son discovered
> that a real problem does exist.  IIRC, they had a leaky late model gas
> tank and a non functioning pre L with an aluminum gas tank.  The plan
> was to put the pre L tank in the L Pantera.  The tanks are not the same
> and it was not a simple "bolt in" swap.   I suspect that if the exercise
> was done in reverse, i.e. late model L tank installed in an early pre L
> Pantera, then there would be a PITA fitment issue.
>
>                 IMHO, I would pull the tank, remove the fiberglass and
> have it cleaned and repaired and bolted back in.   I just did this with
> my late '74 Pantera.  The removal was duck soup *after* removal of the
> drive train.   IIRC, a new tank was at or north of $1000.   Repairs were
> $450.....and aluminum is easier to weld, work with and repair than steel.
>
>
>                              Warmest regards, Chuck Engles
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 12:38 AM, Robert Stroj wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>>
>> thanks for all suggestions!
>>
>> One thing I am not sure about; would later steel tank (or SS replica
>> sold by
>> vendors) fit directly into my early 71 car or would I need to do any
>> modifications to make it fit?
>>
>> I will probably try to somehow firs locate the hole without taking the
>> tank
>> (and engine) out of the car, although this might be impossible since
>> there
>> is a protection shield and then fiberglass in place...all squeezed really
>> close to my 180 degree headers.
>>
>>
>> The point is that leak is really, really small as it only makes corner of
>> fiberglass wet, but is not enough to make a drop.
>>
>> I guess I will monitor it carefully and then go through trouble of
>> getting
>> the tank out, removing the fiberglass and then inspecting carefully
>> the tank
>> to find out what is actually wrong.
>>
>>
>> All the best, Robert
>>
>>
>> From: Julian Kift [mailto:julian_kift at hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday,
>> September 17, 2015 8:32 AM
>> To: Jack Deryke; npdrs at maui.net; De Tomaso List
>> Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] DeTomaso Digest, Vol 135, Issue 16
>>
>>
>> As it is an aluminum tank, it is less likely the leak is from
>> corrosion, so
>> maybe a seam or as my steel tank did a contact wear point. My steel tank
>> wore through on the shoulder where it narrows and was touching the inner
>> fender. It would weep and smell of gas in the garage the next morning
>> after
>> filling the tank more than 3/4 full. I was fortunately able to remove the
>> tank strap and move the tank over enough to be able to sand and effect a
>> bondo repair (the stuff specifically for gas tanks) until the next
>> time the
>> engine was out.
>>  Julian
>>
>> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:21:54 -0400
>> To: npdrs at maui.net; detomaso at poca.com
>> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] DeTomaso Digest, Vol 135, Issue 16
>> From: detomaso at poca.com
>>
>> Early tanks were indeed aluminum, and the geniuses at the DOT forced
>> Ford to
>> wrap the aluminum with fiberglas as 'protection' against cracking. It
>> is one
>> layer thick and likely has long ago debonded. I would remove ALL the
>> useless
>> fiberglas so the actual leak can be located. Then since it seems small,
>> Devcon or Bondo are both totally fuel-proof when cured- even the witches
>> brew we're sold as "gasoline" these days. A pinhole in our tank was fixed
>> with Bondo 15 years ago and still no leaks. Of course, TIG welding can
>> also
>> be done. Std steel tanks can replace it as well but early tanks are
>> different shape than later ones. See the write-up in your Newsletter a
>> few
>> years ago on what Ted Mitchell had to go thru to adapt an early tank to a
>> later car. Good luck- J DeRyke
>>       -----Original Message-----
>> From: Robert Stroj <npdrs at maui.net>
>> To: detomaso <detomaso at poca.com>
>> Sent: Wed, Sep 16, 2015 5:42 pm
>> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] DeTomaso Digest, Vol 135, Issue 16
>>   Hello,
>>  I got early 71 car and my fuel tank looks as it is wrapped in
>> fiberglass and
>> painted black. I tried with the magnet and actual tank is
>> non-magnetic; is it aluminum?
>> Problem is that it must have a tiny leak as I see
>> one corner on the bottom
>> always being wet, but it is not enough to actually
>> make the fuel drip.
>> Are there any suggestions on best way to deal with this
>> problem?
>> I understand one needs to take the motor out to get to the tank?
>> Is
>> there a good way to repair/reseal my tank or is the best option to
>> replace it
>> with new one?
>> What is best option/where to buy a replacement tank that would
>> fit in stock
>> location.  Thanks,
>> Robert
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-- 
Real life:   Thomas Törnblom             Email:	   thomas at hax.se
Snail mail:  Banvallsvägen 14            Phone:    +46 18 32 31 18
              S - 754 40 Uppsala, Sweden  Mobile:   +46 76 209 8320





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