69 gas tank hole

kamara · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 3:47 pm Post subject: 69 gas tank hole

I have just been working on my 69 bug (my first beetle) that I have had home for about a week now. All fuel lines and filters, new interstate battery installed and I find a fuel tank leak. Turns out it's a small hole 1/2 an inch rear of where the fuel supply comes out at the bottom of the tank. jb weld didn't hold, I'm going to try the gas tank repair putty tomorrow. I hear welding is not a good idea, what are my options? New tanks are $120? Don't really want to spend that much. Thanks.
_________________
"Spirit is the journey - body is the bus
I am the driver - from dust to dust." J. Clegg

- President of CCvdub (Tallahassee's VW Club)
([email protected])

73 Type2 Riviera, 74 Type2 Westy, 69 Type1 Standard, 72 Type4 412 Variant

gt1953 · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 4:08 pm Post subject:

You can band aid it however eventually you will replace the tank.
_________________
Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

demon1018 · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 4:19 pm Post subject:

is it a rust hole?

volksworld · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 4:42 pm Post subject:

yes,they all do that...its the lowest point in the tank so any water in the fuel sits there and rusts it out...in N.Y. radiator shops would boil them out and solder up the bottom...but i tried to have a tank soldered here in N.C. and they refused...don't know if its illegal or the shops were afraid

kamara · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject:

Yes, a rust pinhole. I tried the screw and jb weld method, but the surrounding metal caved and ripped around the screw, so now the hole is the size of this.....O
I'll try the gas tank putty repair thing and see how much a local welder will charge to weld it up.
_________________
"Spirit is the journey - body is the bus
I am the driver - from dust to dust." J. Clegg

- President of CCvdub (Tallahassee's VW Club)
([email protected])

73 Type2 Riviera, 74 Type2 Westy, 69 Type1 Standard, 72 Type4 412 Variant

kamara · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 7:18 pm Post subject:

Does anybody know the quality of the new tanks? Are there different manufacturers or all made from the same place?
_________________
"Spirit is the journey - body is the bus
I am the driver - from dust to dust." J. Clegg

- President of CCvdub (Tallahassee's VW Club)
([email protected])

73 Type2 Riviera, 74 Type2 Westy, 69 Type1 Standard, 72 Type4 412 Variant

goober · Samba Member Joined: May 03, 2003 Posts: 1183

If you've got one pin-hole you've probably got more.

But if I wanted to save my tank I'd wash the empty tank out with soap and hot-water then cap all the holes with plastic bags/rubberbands/tape then fill the tank FULL of water.

I'd then cautiously grind the rusted area to good metal then solder over the hole(s) preferably using a large electric soldering iron. Is it worth the dangerous effort? Probably not. I've got a shed full of old tanks I've saved from just such occasions. When time came to repair or replace my tank(s) I've mostly opted-out for new ones. Why fight the laws of nature anymore than you have to?

Edited to note: I've successfully soldered gas tanks in the past. But unless you're extremely cautious, confident in your skills, know what you're doing, you're probably better off buying a new one.

jwold · Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 10:10 pm Post subject:

Wolfsburg west tanks are excellent quality. Cost is minimal compared with all the time you'll spend trying to salvage this old one. Not to mention the peace of mind you'll have knowing your fuel line will be mostly rust-crap-free and you won't have ten gallons of fuel leaking out when one of those holes opens up after going over a big bump. Just get a new tank.

demon1018 · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 4:18 pm Post subject:

yea if there is one hole ,there are more, you can weld it up. i weld sumps in race car tanks all the time but i ussually clean them out real good . then let them air out in the sun for a good week just to be sure. but your just gonna have another leak sooner or later and be sucking rust down the fuel line... just replace and be done

Mikedrevguy · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 5:18 pm Post subject:

I've used the metal putty on a gas tank before. Held solidly. (And that was with a hole the size of a pinky finger. )
Good luck.
_________________
74 1303 (RevBug): plan for German Look
76 914 with 2260
79 VW Iltis
69 Bwajaja
"The wise speak because they have something to say; while the foolish speak because they have to say something." Plato

Illigitimi non-Carborundum!!

Hyperspace · Posted: Mon May 26, 2014 11:47 pm Post subject:

Check samba classifieds and get a solid tank. That thing is just a liability once its rusts through.
_________________
If you can't fix it with a hammer, it is an electrical fault.

Photo's http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Hyperspace&show_results=summary

fred69vert · Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 10:52 am Post subject:

I agree on replacing the tank. Think about it. It holds a highly voliatile and flammable liquid....just a spark can touch its vapors off. How much is your car worth?
Gasoline is one thing I don't mess with. It's like the plastic fuel filter in the engine bay.....gas leak and the car's on fire.
_________________
I'm not losing my hair, it's just retired and relocating further south.

1969 VW convertible, "Heidi"

kamara · Posted: Thu May 29, 2014 6:40 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tips and info. I used the steel putty , making sure to sand back to metal 2" all around and inside too. I really packed it in and smoothed out the area inside the tank too. Sanded and painted the outside of entire tank with high gloss - several coats. It holds gas w/o leaking for now. I'll save up for the WW tank, but need to get the beetle running this weekend and sort out the 'bugs' (haha) as it is new to me.
The putty dries hard and light - I put a glob to the side and it took a good 5 hits with a hammer against an anvil to break. I am optimistic about it holding.
_________________
"Spirit is the journey - body is the bus
I am the driver - from dust to dust." J. Clegg

- President of CCvdub (Tallahassee's VW Club)
([email protected])

73 Type2 Riviera, 74 Type2 Westy, 69 Type1 Standard, 72 Type4 412 Variant

kamara · Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2014 4:34 pm Post subject:

Update: '69 beetle gas tank repair.
Haha! That lasted about 6 weeks sitting in my driveway before it started dripping gas again. I kept just a gallon or so in it so I could start and run the engine every other day. I need to sort out electrical issues and front brakes before driving it anyway.
Saving for the new tank it is then!
_________________
"Spirit is the journey - body is the bus
I am the driver - from dust to dust." J. Clegg

- President of CCvdub (Tallahassee's VW Club)
([email protected])

73 Type2 Riviera, 74 Type2 Westy, 69 Type1 Standard, 72 Type4 412 Variant


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

Forum Index -> Beetle - Late Model/Super - 1968-up		Share:
		Print View

	Forum Index -> Beetle - Late Model/Super - 1968-up	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page 1 of 1