> Date: Mon, 1 Nov 93 08:31:06 -0800
> From: "TeriAnn Wakeman" <twakeman@apple.com>
> To: british-cars@autox.team.net
> Subject: BGT gets new petrol tank
> One interesting find though was the Moss motors roll of rubber that gets cut
>up
> and placed between the petrol tank & the body. Not only did it look first
> class, but it looked like the ideal replacement for those felt strips that
>are
> used to mount the TR3's petrol tank.
Another possibility is to follow AC Car's practice of putting a layer
undercoating between the tank's surface and the felt (hemp in the
Cobra's case) strip. This might be a good idea even with rubber strips
if there's a chance of moisture being trapped.
Actually it's kinda odd that AC went to this trouble considering the
complete lack of wetness protection everywhere else on the car.
Speaking of gas tanks, I also spent a good part of the weekend fiddling
with the snake's tank. After careful consideration I decided to go with
a soldered-on patch rather than trying one of various other options
available. Thanks to all of you who took the time to send me
suggestions, by the way.
The nature of the tank is what finally convinced me. It's constructed
of flat sheets soldered together into a rectangular "box". The sides
are very flexible and I was concerned about a plastic or fiberglass
patch cracking or working loose. In fact, I'm a little concerned with
how well the sealer presently inside tank will hold up to all this
flexing.
I'm sure the sealer inside the tank directly under the patch is now
"toast" but I did take some precautions to minimize the damage. First I
put Heat Fence around the patch as close to the work area as possible.
The patch I used was made of the thickest brass shim material I could
buy at a local hardware store and I completely tinned it first to
minimize the heating time while I was applying it. Since the entire
tank was already tinned, I didn't have to do a lot of preparatory heat
work there. And I used a 175 watt soldering iron rather than a propane
torch to apply the patch. Maybe the result wasn't exactly pretty but it
blended in better with the tinned tank's surface than any other type of
patch would have.
Putting the tank back in was the usual pain, especially re-installing
the seats, but I'm getting pretty good at it and I did add a bit to my
sworking vocabulary. While I was at it I made a couple of modifications
to ease future removal and installation. Hopefully this is something
the next owner will be grateful for rather than the present owner.
While I was at it I replace the steel line running from the tank to the
fuel pump; something I've been meaning to do for about 5 years now.
Yuck, what a mess under there.
About three weeks ago I ordered a Dowty washer/seal for the tank bottom
fitting from Frey Racing in Mountain View, but when I called to ask
about it last week it hadn't come in yet. Seems that Earl's had screwed
up and Frey had to re-order. In the mean time my home made neoprene
seal is holding up just fine. I may just leave it in for awhile.
It's suppose to warm up again mid week. Hopefully I can get bit more
roadster driving time in before it's time to put the hard top on.
Actually, it's pretty nice out today. Maybe I'll drive it into work
tomorrow.
Roland
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