Fuel Tanks

[julian]

Guys

I currently have two fuel tanks for my S2 fulvia coupe.

As one of the tanks has a poor base but good top and the other has a good base but poor top, my questions are, can the tanks be easily split, are they bonded or welded along the seam and has anyone completed a similar repair?

Any advise much apprecatied.

Thanks

Julian

[Paul de Raymond Leclercq]

Fulvia tanks are a real pain.

Welding up old petrol tanks can be an even bigger pain . or no pain at all (fatal if not done properly).

The tanks were made in two halves an welded at the joining seam.

I see no reason why an expert should not be able to do what you suggest although if I had the money, I would have a replacement made in aluminium, altogether a better solution.

And yes, I did weld the tank that is in my modified car (I had to add extra inlets and outlets) but it had been empty for five years, which is a reasonable sort of interval before attempting welding a petrol tank: even steam cleaning is not enough. Petrol is sufficiently volatile, and steel sufficiently porous to present considerable danger. I once welded an empty motorbike tank with oxy-acetylene. I had argon blowing through it, but the stink of petrol from the hot metal was extraordinary.

If you intend to do it yourself, my advice is a) don't and b) if you ignore this, keep argon or CO2 flowing at a good rate into the tank before and during welding.

Paul

[Julian]

Thanks Paul,

To be honest I wouldn’t be very happy welding the tanks. My thoughts were more along the lines of splitting the tanks along the seams and then ‘bonding’ them back together with an industrial fuel proof adhesive. However if the tanks are currently welded it sounds like splitting them would be a real pain and more trouble than it’s worth.

Again, Many Thanks

Julian

[Paul de Raymond Leclercq]

Yes, well I say order an aluminium tank if you can afford it and say "goodbye" to problems forever.

All the best

Paul

[Peter]

Julian,

I have alloy tanks. 80l for competition use. L-shapped and an exact copy of the munari one. Drop me an email if you would like more info.
Regards, Peter