welding body patches with fuel tank in vehicle |
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mike@iim
Member Joined: 26 Apr. 2017 Location: nj Status: Offline Points: 75 |
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Posted: 27 June 2017 at 2:26pm |
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my floors and mid section body work is done. Still have rear section bodywork to go. Having the jeep in drivable condition would be a huge time saver. so I'm looking for opinions on a bad idea. Installing the fuel tank. I'll admit I've welded body parts onto every vehicle I've owned and never once considered removing a fuel tank prior. Yes I know there is a risk but normal vehicles have sealed fuel systems. The tank is under the body it's a fairly minimal fire risk and one I'm willing to accept. The willys however is a whole other thing. Maybe it's the small size or the fact that the tank is sitting right on top with nothing but the seat to hide it but I'm more concerned by it.
What are the general opinions? I know the safest answer is to pull the tank and put it far far away but... in reality would you guys weld rear fender patches and things with tank still in place? Oh might weld btw if that makes a difference. My torch skills are not good when it comes to welding sheet metal. |
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48willys
Member Joined: 22 June 2007 Location: sw/ virginia Status: Online Points: 1332 |
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I kept mine drivable for most of the time,used a small lawn mower tank that I could quickly remove while I did welding/grinding. If you are talking about in\out of garage and around yard you could do the same thing, a boat tank with the disconnect would work even better.
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1946 cj2a #28680
1948 chevy 3800 thriftmaster 1946-50's cj2a-3a farm jeep 1993 yj, aka the yj7 |
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mike@iim
Member Joined: 26 Apr. 2017 Location: nj Status: Offline Points: 75 |
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I like the idea of quick disconnect. getting the tank out is still kind of a project but it has possibly. Probably better than the explosion hazard of sparks flying onto the tank. It's far from air tight. I can usually smell the fuel vapor if it sits on a hot day. Perfect for ignition of fuel from nearby sparks.
Way better than the soda bottle hanging from the window frame method I used to get it on the trailer. |
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Ol' Unreliable
Member Joined: 25 Sep. 2016 Location: CO Springs CO Status: Offline Points: 4226 |
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That right there is what I would call a clue. And I don't always pick up clues easily. Usually I trip over them and still can't pick 'em up. |
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There's a reason it's called Ol' Unreliable
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Mark W.
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Nov. 2014 Location: Silverton, OR Status: Offline Points: 7923 |
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How many millions of ciggs have been smoked while sitting on a Willys or Ford Jeep gas tank?
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Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized 1949 3A W/S 1957 CJ5 Frame Modified Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962 |
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m38mike
Member Joined: 23 Apr. 2007 Location: Colorado High Country Status: Offline Points: 3794 |
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Mike, if you can smell fumes from the tank, you need to remove it before you weld or grind near it. Don't let us send flowers to your widow saying "I told him so." Go buy a one gallon plastic gas can, drill a hole near the bottom of one side, then thread a brass fitting in it so you can attach a quick disconnect to it. Run a hose from your fuel pump up to the front fender and put the gas can there. some duct tape will hold it in place if you're just driving in and out of the garage.
This mod will also give you time to check out your gas tank to see why you are smelling fumes. Need a new sender gasket? Got pinhole leaks underneath? Check it out and fix that too. |
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M38Mike
46 CJ2A SAMCJ2A 4?-5? CJ2A/3A/M38 Jigsaw 51 M38 Green Jeanne 52 M38 Blue Mule, 51 M100 Blue Mule Tale 52 XM38EV1 Electro-Willys, 52 M100 Juice Box |
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mike@iim
Member Joined: 26 Apr. 2017 Location: nj Status: Offline Points: 75 |
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The tank was the first thing removed from the jeep before pulling it into the shop. It just makes me nervous seeing it sitting there in the welding shop. The tank has lived in the shed since but I'm at the point that I need it in to measure for seat fabrication and it would be far easier to drive jeep in and out of garage quickly. it's a small space so getting to things with ajeep in the wave comes a 20 minute adventure of pushing the jeep out. Pushing it back in. Another few weeks and body will be done but I know I have future plans and things that will need welding so I'm looking to minimize the pushing and pulling of a 2000 lb chunk of metal
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windyhill
Member Joined: 14 Mar. 2009 Location: North East PA Status: Offline Points: 1395 |
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We took a local boy in a ride on Air medical a while back who was working on an old tractor. Welding near a "empty fuel tank... it blew all the widows out of the shop and a hole in the roof! He wasn't in very good shape...might have taken a few min to remove the tank...
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'48 CJ2A
'53 CJ3B '59 CJ6 '65 CJ5 '67 CJ5 |
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mictat2214
Member Joined: 12 July 2014 Location: long island Status: Offline Points: 93 |
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Gasoline vapors = dynamite. Ka-Boom!
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Johnnygeep
Member Joined: 03 Nov. 2016 Location: Wentzville Status: Offline Points: 150 |
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Pulling the tank is the safest way. But you might think about this. Drain the tank. Run the engine to run out any gas in the tank and lines. Pour in two or three bottles of 50% isopropyl alcohol from the dollar store (or 70% if you can't find it). This will mix with any remaining traces of gas and make it pretty much not ignitable. You can drain this too or leave it until you refill with gas. There is water in the Isopropyl so I wouldn't leave it for very long. Put the gas cap on.
Then, somewhere along your gas line, like at a filter, tap in the spare fuel tank of choice. Remove the spare tank from the area when welding. This should provide a pretty safe welding environment. But remember safety, other things can ignite. Keep extinguishers nearby and leave an escape route.
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Johnnygeep
Member Joined: 03 Nov. 2016 Location: Wentzville Status: Offline Points: 150 |
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also, if you want to pull the tank, consider getting some car dollys. They are fairly cheap and let you move your vehicle around easily.
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SYLVANWILLYS
Member Joined: 27 May 2011 Location: Ewing, NJ Status: Offline Points: 284 |
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Assuming no active leaks/drips, then vapor leaks from the vented tank cap and from the sender unit/gasket on top of the tank would seem to be the main danger. Would putting water soaked rags over/around any such potential vapor leak points basically dilute the gasoline vapors so they could not ignite?
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minnow1193
Member Joined: 11 June 2014 Location: Tampa FL Status: Offline Points: 209 |
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Oops
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LesBerg
Member Joined: 09 Apr. 2014 Location: Athol, ID Status: Offline Points: 1554 |
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Yep. I finally removed my tank the second time I set it on fire... I'm not too bright some times |
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1948 CJ2A 157713 24" Stretch "Old Ironsides"
1st Armored Div 6th Infantry Reg 3rd Infantry Bn Headquarters Company #161 rubigo in quo speramus - "In Rust we Trust" |
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mike@iim
Member Joined: 26 Apr. 2017 Location: nj Status: Offline Points: 75 |
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I have the tank out while I finish the body. The boat tank quick connect idea sounds great, but I've been too busy to find matching quick connects. Once the heavy body work is done it will be fine. I replaced the gas cap and put a vent line from the fuel sender back to the carb and a shut off valve. Now that the tank doesn't smell like gas anymore and the fuel system is mostly sealed I'll just close the fuel valve let the engine suck the remaining fuel in and stall out for the remaining little stuff that needs to be welded here and there. It was mostly welding and cutting the body that had me concerned. The tank was just too close and too open and too leaky to risk it. It should be returning from the shed soon I hope.
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