Fixing a holy fuel tank

[240L31]

I used jb weld for some pin holes years ago. So far it holds up fine!

 

[AliK]

I used jb weld for some pin holes years ago. So far it holds up fine!

That’s great to hear, thanks for letting me know. It wasn’t my preferred way to deal with it but the more people I speak to the more confidence I get about it! [emoji106]

 

[jonbills]

Agreed on the welding, it’s just how people referred to it when we were speaking. I couldn’t quite understand how you weld cold until they explained what they meant

REAL cold welding is amazing.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

That seems like a practical and decent 'repair' Ali.

 

[AliK]

That seems like a practical and decent 'repair' Ali.

Thanks Rob. Would be watching it closely for a while.

 

[Matt Berry]

I had issues with my fuel tank, so I gave it to a mate and he knocked me one up in aluminium with internal baffles for £700, which going by the cost of the pro alloy tank I think was a well worth it cost

 

[AliK]

Wow! That is a beautiful thing and weight saving too! [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]

Well gang, I was about to paint the top and put her in her place (tank, not wife) and decided to ensure all the welds were rust free and also getting rid of anything that looked like bubbling below the under-seal.

Then this appeared!

Interestingly, ALL the big rust has been next to the driver’s side wheel where the 260z doesn’t have the protective curved plate that a 240 has. Why on earth did they think it was a good idea to delete something so simple on the “improved” car!?

I know for sure this is the last of it and my wire brush is very aggressive. But my wife is now insisting (and Z girlfriends on WhatsApp too) that I sell it for repair and buy a new one.

I’m still determined to fix.

Wife says take it as an early Christmas present.

Head says go for it.

Heart says fix it, it’ll be fine!

What to do!?

 

[Alphabettispaghetti]

get a new one you ninny.

 

[jonbills]

fix it, it'll be fine.
my 260 has a curved plate protecting the tank on the drivers side.

 

[AliK]

fix it, it'll be fine.
my 260 has a curved plate protecting the tank on the drivers side.

Yours is the earlier 260 though and much closer to a 240 in evolution. Mine is less of a hairy ape (shame it’s driven by one though)!

I have to agree - a part of me says it will be fine under all that steel stick and chassis paint etc for at least a few years if nothing else.

I am tempted to send it to the brummy bloke in the winter to cut and weld new metal onto the troubled parts. [emoji848]

 

[AliK]

fix it, it'll be fine.
my 260 has a curved plate protecting the tank on the drivers side.

Second thought JB, may I trouble you for some dimensions of your plate please? I will be making one and it would be good to make something that looks close to original.

 

[Rob Gaskin]

Fix it anyway now you've gone this far with it. It'll sell better as a usable tank if you decide to buy a new one.

If you block the breathers it will always be under suction so won't leak.

 

[jonbills]

Yours is the earlier 260 though and much closer to a 240 in evolution. Mine is less of a hairy ape (shame it’s driven by one though)!

I have to agree - a part of me says it will be fine under all that steel stick and chassis paint etc for at least a few years if nothing else.

I am tempted to send it to the brummy bloke in the winter to cut and weld new metal onto the troubled parts. [emoji848]

I'll have a look

 

[AliK]

Fix it anyway now you've gone this far with it. It'll sell better as a usable tank if you decide to buy a new one.

If you block the breathers it will always be under suction so won't leak.

Thanks a good plan Rob. I fixed it last night and put the rust treatment stuff over the rest to be read for painting and water leak test today! With a slightly clearer head this morning, I think you’re right. Lobe the breather idea, but I may forego that one

@jon - much appreciated chap but no hurry.

 

[MaximG]

curved plate protecting the tank on the drivers side.

These were available on eBay as a repro part and I was tempted to buy one. I've now had a look and they seems to have disappeared which is a shame. I think it might be a what market had them thing again. When restoring my car I didn't find any evidence that my car ever had one i.e. no holes.

 

[MaximG]

Ok found this but the other one was cheaper.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheel-Ho...624866?hash=item1cece6ad22:g:-ekAAOSwx79eyLr0

 

[AliK]

Thank you sir! That is awfully kind of you! [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]


Added to favourites for a future purchase i am going to try to CAD it first and if I can’t make a good enough one then I’m definitely buying that one!

Given what I found, this is one of those things that is an absolute MUST in my books now. The rest of the fuel tank is lovely metal under the paint - the bits splashed and grit blasted by the right side wheel is where all the rust action is.

 

[MaximG]

Thank you sir! That is awfully kind of you! [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]


Added to favourites for a future purchase i am going to try to CAD it first and if I can’t make a good enough one then I’m definitely buying that one!

Given what I found, this is one of those things that is an absolute MUST in my books now. The rest of the fuel tank is lovely metal under the paint - the bits splashed and grit blasted by the right side wheel is where all the rust action is.

Think it’s also a safety thing re tyre blow outs. Stops shredded tyre from reaching the filler neck.

 

[AliK]

Think it’s also a safety thing re tyre blow outs. Stops shredded tyre from reaching the filler neck.

Well MG, having spent yesterday, taking things back to metal in that corner and dealing with rust / sandblasting caused by the rear right wheel, I am defo going to put one on the car. With time not on my side, I am rethinking making one so I will likely use your link to purchase one.


Having test fitted the fuel tank last night, I can see how the two holes on the welded / flat seam part of the tank are useful for lifting it into place. In fact, it did make me wonder how they did it at the factory as it’s a super fiddly job getting the hoses through and bolting the blessed thing on.

Yes things are finally going back on the car, I need to update my thread at some point.

 

[Turn & Burn]

Yours is the earlier 260 though and much closer to a 240 in evolution. Mine is less of a hairy ape (shame it’s driven by one though)!

I have to agree - a part of me says it will be fine under all that steel stick and chassis paint etc for at least a few years if nothing else.

I am tempted to send it to the brummy bloke in the winter to cut and weld new metal onto the troubled parts. [emoji848]

Mines the last of the 260z and also has one. Possibly already rusted off on yours?