speaking of TR7 petrol tanks, anyone got any idea if they are still
available as new, when I changed the tank on my drophead I bought a new one
which I managed after some calling round. I was told it was the last one
they had, but I always think getting a new one beats cleaning and repairing
old ones at lenght, 'cause that was what I first tried with the old one and
I gave up after three month cause it just would start all over again.
Gernot
> ----------
> From: vitesse@juno.com[SMTP:vitesse@juno.com]
> Reply To: vitesse@juno.com
> Sent: Friday, February 12, 1999 5:44 AM
> To: triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: GAS TANK FYI - LONG!!!
>
>
> 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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