Just a little success I thought I'd share.
I have a '79 TR7 in addition to the 250 and the two Stags. The TR7 is
getting close to being ready to go on the road and one of the things I
knew I had to do was change the gas tank. The original had several 16
penney nail size rust holes in it.
I had a tank from a '75 that I was planning on using. When I pulled the
tank out of the '75, the rubber hose from the fill cap to the tank was
held on with what appeared to be original hose clamps.there was nothing
metal inside the rubber....and so I thought that was the way it should
be.
In trying to remove the gas tank from the '79, I had a bear of a time
getting the filler hose to come between the body and let the tank come
out as easily as the '75 had come out. A lot of fuming, some walking
around the car, and some prying didn't appear to be doing any good. I
decided that since I still had the hose from the '75, I'd just cut the
hose and get the tank out. As I was cutting, I hit metal....tried to cut
lower down, still metal inside the rubber hose. It didn't look like I
would be able to cut the hose ( even though I had some holes cut in it
already ) so after some more prying, and some more fuming, I forced the
tank out. I removed the hose from the tank side and there was a metal
tube with what looked like a stainer on the end inside the rubber hose.
Since I ruined the rubber hose, I got it off and tried to put the old one
from the '75 onto the metal tube....it beat me! I figured I would just
get another one.
I was wondering though, why the difference between the two filler tubes.
I started to clean out the '75 tank, and found the strainer, caked full
of rust! Not good! There was so much rust in the tank I just figured
that for sure there would be no way that tank would be usable.
I took it the local radiator shop and talked to Skip. I knew it was Skip
because he had his name on his shirt. He looked inside the tank and
asked what year it was. When I told him, he said that if it was newer
that an '80, they wouldn't be able to do anything because newer tanks
have a coating inside to slow the rusting. The coating keeps radiator
shops from being able to clean them out because the chemicals will eat
right through those tanks.
He tried to clean out the tank, and it was successful..and cost $70. I
was happy, and ready to put the tank back in, but oh yeah, that rubber
hose. Since it was being a bear to get the old one on, I figured I would
just get a new one. I did some calling, and I found it wasn't going to
be easy to get the hose.....how much call does a supplier get for that
hose?
Turns out, one major player only sold one last year. Well to make a
painfully long story just slightly longer, I called the major player and
was told they didn't have any, and it would be at least three weeks
before they got anymore. I called them again and talked to a buddy I
know there who knew better then to trust his computer and walked into the
warehouse to check....he found one, and it is on the way to Georgia as we
speak!
Who knows, maybe I'll have the 7 ready for British Car week!
Hugh R. McAleer
Jonesboro, GA
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