Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do?

Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/21/12 11:31 PM

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!

Posted By: Mr D21

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/21/12 11:55 PM

Since they originally came natural and you bought a new one - why would you paint it ??

Posted By: burdar

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/21/12 11:59 PM

No way would I paint a brand new tank.

Posted By: RestoRick

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 03:08 AM

RPM

Posted By: CuriousYella70

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 02:42 PM

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!

Posted By: TrueTripleX

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 03:36 PM

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?

Posted By: RestoRick

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 04:21 PM

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

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 04:31 PM

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

Posted By: RestoRick

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 07:26 PM

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.

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 07:58 PM

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

Posted By: CuriousYella70

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 08:21 PM

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.

Posted By: chromedome426

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 08:48 PM

Has anyone ever tried spraying clear coat on a new tank to keep it from rusting? Would it even stick to the bare metal?

Posted By: Dabee

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/22/12 11:00 PM

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.

Posted By: kentj340

Re: Gas Tanks - To Paint or Not to Paint? What do you do? - 03/23/12 04:03 AM

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.