Some 40 plus years ago, three brothers that had just recently finished high
school bought a service station that was equipped with three service bays,
that were "pits" like in the fast oil change stations you see today. They
had a car come into the bay that was leaking gasoline. One of the boys was
trying to fix the leak, while the other was using an acetylene torch in the
opposite end of the pit on another car. When the (FUMES) and not the liquid
drifted to where the torch was burning there was a flash burn that only the
vapors burned. It lasted about as long as you can blink. the car did not
blow up and burn. The result was the whole station was involved in that
flash burn. There were the two brothers that were in the bottom of the pit
that were inhaling the fumes, and the flash entered into their lungs where
the insides of their lungs as well as their entire bodied were charred. Not
enough to kill them instantly, but enough that they lasted two weeks before
dying.
The third brother was standing outside by the bay doors and had his entire
clothing burned from him. He was the only survivor, the oldest, and he
probably still has nightmares about that disaster. I would think twice
about experimenting with a torch around a fuel tank. I would even have my
fears around someone that says, HE CAN DO IT. Good luck, and have a safe
trip.
-----Original Message-----
From: HUBBARD, Charles <chubbard@shl.com>
To: Steve Harvey <stevenh@execpc.com>; datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
<datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, September 13, 1999 12:20 PM
Subject: RE: Fuel tank blues
>Steve,
>
>My wife is an environmental engineering consultant with considerable
>experience removing 6,000 gallon gasoline tanks for disposal. You can
weld
>on the tank if you flush the tank and insert dry ice. Before doing this,
she
>suggests that you call the local fire department for advice on how to
>proceed. Welding shops should also know this trick but make sure that the
>tank is clean and that the welder knows what he is doing.
>
>Charlie Hubbard
>1964 SPL310
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Steve Harvey [mailto:stevenh@execpc.com]
>Sent: Monday, September 13, 1999 4:27 AM
>To: datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
>Subject: Fuel tank blues
>
>
>Hello All:
>Spent Sunday removing the fuel tank on the 2000. I'm planning on
>switching out the tanks from the 1600 to the 2000. The 1600 tank was
>boiled and coated several years ago and should be in like new condition
>internally. Then I can take the 2000 tank to the local radiator/fuel
>tank repair shop and get the leak fixed. I'll then put that rebuilt tank
>into the 1600. Are you following me on this? The only problem I see is
>that the 1600 tank threads on one of the fuel lines at the tank have
>been cross threaded. I could cut it off and weld on a new fitting but I
>value my life to much to start welding on a fuel tank, even if it's
>filled with water, Maybe I should take that one in to and have the
>experts repair it. Does anyone know the thread sizes for the two
>fittings? One takes a 1/2" wrench and the other a 9/16" wrench . I
>assume that they are metric tapered pipe threads. Any help out there on
>this one?
>Steve Harvey
>Milwaukee
>
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