Discussions board for the classic MG MGA.
I am looking for some advise on a sealer for my "new" gas tank! Should I use a sealer or not? This is a new tank from Moss, I am about to install and then try to start up my MGA! I just about completed my rebuild on my brakes and almost ready to "GO"! Does anybody have any suggestions on the Yes or No, or what kinda sealer is best... thnx
I would not use any kind of epoxy sealer on a new tank.
I have read that a good and cheap rust-preventative is to mix up a 50%/50% mix of Rustoleum rusty metal primer and thinner, slosh the tank with it and then pour out the excess.
I wanted to do this on my tank, but I had old sealer in there that I couldn't get out, so there was no point.
JIM
According to Moss, these tanks are assembled using zinc coated steel and do not require sealing.
I will not be sealing the Moss tank I have.
-Cheers
Bruce
Wow! Great info from both of you!! I'm not kidding! I realize that my tank is over
6yrs old, closer to 7yrs. I don't know how long Moss has been creating tanks with zinc, but both of you have put me on the trail to investigate. So if it's too old I can use Bruce's idea, if not then in she goes! I don't know about some of you'all, but I have been saving this car for my retirement days!! ...and they have arrived! Now I've got money and time!
thnx
I have the original fuel tank on my car, 385,000 miles in 53 years. Sometime during restoration work, 1977-1986, I rinsed out the tank and installed slushing compound per supplier's instructions. On the road again in 1986, I'm pretty sure that within 10 years the liner had been washed completely away by 10% alcohol in the "modern" motor fuel. I never had any problem with the liner material, but others have reported it coming off in sheets and clogging up the fuel system. Modern compounds may be more resistant to modern fuel formulations (maybe). There is bare metal inside my tank now (as for the past 10 years).
My recommendation is to leave it bare, drive the car and run fuel through it regularly to keep it clean and washed out. If you must store the car seasonally, fill the tank before storage. Do not leave it sit long periods with partial fill of fuel, as this promotes condensation and rust inside the tank.
If there is nothing wrong with the tank leave it. If you believe that sealing it would keep it from rusting later you might be in for trouble down the road. You never know what the oil companies will add to their mix that might mess up the sealer. In the mid 70's the gas companies added alcohol which broke down the sealer. The sealers now have changes their formals to stop this. That's why the old stuff came off in sheets. (I had the proplem with my 30 Model A and it clogged up my fuel lines and carb) I've resealed quite a few early cars gas tanks. (Oldest has been an 06 thru the 30's) The MGA and B tanks have their baffles spot welded to the bottom of the tank with the holes up about an inch. This makes it hard to keep from puddling the sealer. But with work you can avoid this. I'd wait till there's trouble
Thanks to the forum and ALL those great insights!! I'm going to buy A beer for ALL you guy's!!!(and 5 straws)HA! I will be installing that fuel cell and working my way towards the next adventure... thnx!
