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Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? #1200976 03/21/12 07:31 PM 03/21/12 07:31 PM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,152 Colorado C CuriousYella70 OP super stock
CuriousYella70 OP super stock C Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,152 Colorado	I just got a new gas tank for my 70 Duster. What do you guy's do? Do you leave them natural or do you paint them? If you paint them, what color do you paint them? Thanks guys!

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: CuriousYella70] #1200977 03/21/12 07:55 PM 03/21/12 07:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 592 california M Mr D21 mopar
Mr D21 mopar M Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 592 california	Since they originally came natural and you bought a new one - why would you paint it ??

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: Mr D21] #1200978 03/21/12 07:59 PM 03/21/12 07:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,369 Iowa burdar Owen's Dad
burdar Owen's Dad Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 7,369 Iowa	No way would I paint a brand new tank.

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: burdar] #1200979 03/21/12 11:08 PM 03/21/12 11:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,304 WI RestoRick top fuel
RestoRick top fuel Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,304 WI	RPM

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: RestoRick] #1200980 03/22/12 10:42 AM 03/22/12 10:42 AM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,152 Colorado C CuriousYella70 OP super stock
CuriousYella70 OP super stock C Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,152 Colorado	I wasn't 100% on whether or not tanks were left natural or if they were painted. Clearly, they are left natural looking lol. Thanks for the help - I appreciate it!

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: RestoRick] #1200981 03/22/12 11:36 AM 03/22/12 11:36 AM
Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,060 Ball Ground GA T TrueTripleX super stock
TrueTripleX super stock T Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 1,060 Ball Ground GA	Quote: RPM Out of curiosity, what would you paint this with? I have a older, but solid tank that could use some cosmetic help before it goes back on the car. Any suggestions Rick as to how to dress it up?

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: TrueTripleX] #1200982 03/22/12 12:21 PM 03/22/12 12:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,304 WI RestoRick top fuel
RestoRick top fuel Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,304 WI	You can't paint over RPM. (I don't think that's what you meant, but in case anyone does ) A fine metallic silver paint is one option. Another suggestion would be the PPG Vibrance Collection's "Liquid Metal". I haven't seen it in person, but it looks like it would have that bright tin look. The most authentic look, would be to have the tank tin plated. Rick

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: RestoRick] #1200983 03/22/12 12:31 PM 03/22/12 12:31 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada D DPelletier I Live Here
DPelletier I Live Here D Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada	Quote: The most authentic look, would be to have the tank tin plated. Rick Well sort of; although the tanks are originally formed (stamped) out of galvanized sheet, having it zinc plated now would mean using a hot dip galvanized process (like a boat trailer for eg.) which has quite a different look from regular galvazized sheet. It's a moot point; unless you have a car that there is no replacement tank for, it'd be cost prohibitive to perform any hot zinc coating process. Dave 1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack 1974 'Cuda 2008 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Ram 3500 Diesel 2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel 2003 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Durango Limited [url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: DPelletier] #1200984 03/22/12 03:26 PM 03/22/12 03:26 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,304 WI RestoRick top fuel
RestoRick top fuel Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,304 WI	In the context of the conversation... the most authentic available for his situation of refurbishing his existing tank.... tin plating looks pretty close to the original coating. There's at least one company I'm aware of that will strip & tin plate your original tank. It's been awhile since I had one done, so I don't know where the cost comes out compared to buying a repro tank. It's more for the person who wants to keep the original tank for originality sake or has a tank that's not reproduced.

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: RestoRick] #1200985 03/22/12 03:58 PM 03/22/12 03:58 PM
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada D DPelletier I Live Here
DPelletier I Live Here D Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 15,134 Kelowna, B.C. Canada	Quote: In the context of the conversation... the most authentic available for his situation of refurbishing his existing tank.... tin plating looks pretty close to the original coating. There's at least one company I'm aware of that will strip & tin plate your original tank. It's been awhile since I had one done, so I don't know where the cost comes out compared to buying a repro tank. It's more for the person who wants to keep the original tank for originality sake or has a tank that's not reproduced. Nobody in western Canada does that and the hot dipping process here is prohibitively expensive (and looks wrong). If there is someone that does actual tin coating for a reasonable price, then I stand corrected and that would be an option.....though for most of us getting a new spectra tank is the way to go, both for looks and $$$$ Dave 1970 Super Bee 440 Six Pack 1974 'Cuda 2008 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Ram 3500 Diesel 2004.5 Ram 2500 Diesel 2003 Ram 3500 Diesel 2006 Durango Limited [url] http://1970superbee.piczo.com [/url]

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: DPelletier] #1200986 03/22/12 04:21 PM 03/22/12 04:21 PM
Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,152 Colorado C CuriousYella70 OP super stock
CuriousYella70 OP super stock C Joined: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,152 Colorado	http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-68-69-70-D...=item27b70bf9bc That's the one I purchased for my 70 Duster. It's not a perfect restoration but wanted something better then my original - which is dented and was painted at some point so when gas hits it, it tends to bubble up and look horrible. When i got it in, there are a few small scrapes on it and that's why I asked about painting or protecting the original zinc finish.

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: CuriousYella70] #1200987 03/22/12 04:48 PM 03/22/12 04:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 409 PEI Canada chromedome426 mopar
chromedome426 mopar Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 409 PEI Canada	Has anyone ever tried spraying clear coat on a new tank to keep it from rusting? Would it even stick to the bare metal?

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: chromedome426] #1200988 03/22/12 07:00 PM 03/22/12 07:00 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,438 Dandridge TN D Dabee master
Dabee master D Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,438 Dandridge TN	Quote: Has anyone ever tried spraying clear coat on a new tank to keep it from rusting? Would it even stick to the bare metal? Yes, I clear coated the new tank I installed in my 69 Bee with POR 15 clear. That was 21 years ago and the tank still looks new.

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? [Re: RestoRick] #1200989 03/23/12 12:03 AM 03/23/12 12:03 AM
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,655 Cut and Shoot, TX kentj340 top fuel
kentj340 top fuel Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,655 Cut and Shoot, TX	Quote: The most authentic look, would be to have the tank tin plated. Gas tanks were and are made of terne sheet, which is cold rolled steel sheet hot dipped in an alloy of lead-tin. Originally it was 80% lead, 20% tin, the recipe for solder. More recently the lead has been replaced with zinc, in a ratio of 50% zinc, 50% tin, according to Wikipedia. But ASTM A308, "Standard Specification for Steel Sheet, Terne (Lead-Tin Alloy) Coated by the Hot-Dip Process" still exists. It says, "This specification covers sheet steel in coils and cut lengths coated with lead-tin alloy by the hot-dip process. This material is commonly known as terne and is used where ease of solderability and a degree of corrosion resistance are desirable. It is especially suitable where resistance to gasoline is required." I'll bet Chrysler Corp gas tanks were made of 80% lead-tin in the muscle car days. More recently the Canadian gas tank maker Spectra says they are using Ni-terne sheet, which is steel sheet flash coated with nickel before hot dipping in terne metal, but they don't say what alloy of lead-tin (or zinc) is in the terne metal. I believe most all the new repro tanks available on eBay, Quanta, etc. are made by Spectra. As far as appearance, the original tanks were bright, bare metal, just like the new repro tanks. But over time, any alloy of lead-tin (or zinc) will darken with exposure to the atmosphere, so a preservative like RPM before installation makes sense to keep the bright bare metal look. You can help brighten old lead or lead-tin by using a polishing powder wetted with vinegar on, for example, gas filler tubes. But don't do this on spangled galvanized or zinc coated steel - it destroys the spangled appearance making all the spangles the same metal color, rather than different shades of silver/gray. If the galvanized is not spangled, or you don't care about the spangles, this method will uniformly brighten it. Then, of course, it will darken again, if you don't put some kind of preservative on it. If you don't see two dolphins, you need a vacation.

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