Fuel Tank Purchase

Russ/40 said:
Not reproduced. Far away but a good source.

Berts 800-321-1931
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So what do people do when that source is no longer? Can they be rebuilted some where?
Yes, he has what I need, just got to confirm what I have, there seems to be two different ones for a '31.
Since I have a Budd Cab(steel) with fuel shut-off on an indented firewall, would that be Late '31?
Thanks
 
Indented firewall with the shut off under the hood is the late 1931 fuel tank. Usually found with the Budd Body. I have been buying good 30 - 31 fuel tanks at the swap meets from $30 to $50. Soon, the supply will dry up. I have been buying the fuel tanks only for my home projects, not for resale.
 
Yes, That would be considered a "Late 31"... What ever you do, Dont send yours to a "So Called" Restoration shop in Elizabethton Tenn. You might not get it back, or it will be 6-8 months later, and maybe not the one you sent..
 
I was at a Model A swap meet two years ago near Chicago. Someone had a very very nice '30 early '31 gas tank for a hundred bucks.

I looked it over, didn't really need it, then walked on down the line of vendors. The more I thought about it the more I thought 'I had better buy that' and in the 5 minutes I was away from that vendors table someone else thought the same thing and it was sold and gone:o
 
Basically we’re down to cutting them open properly and fixing them
There are several reasons they are not reproduced including liability to the mfg
 
rfitzpatrick said:
Where do you guys buy fuel tank for a '31--
Thanks
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Too bad you didn't post a week earlier as I have a 31 Fuel tank and in Florida but we're moving to the Gulf Coast of Alabama in a few weeks. Unfortunately the Fuel tank is packed at the back of a trailer and inaccessible now.
 
I'm very concerned now. Just how many parts are only available now that must be replaced by finding an original? I just assumed fuel tanks were still being manufactured. My PicUp was stopping at idle, noticed the fuel bowl was slow to fill. Removed the fuel line and blew compressed air back into the tank -- it cleared out quite a bit, afraid to drive it now -- looked into tank and see patches of rust -- I don't know where/what else there is. Now is it possible my choke valve, the one I put when I start engine -- vibraited to a closed posistion, and in my panic I didn't notice? Anyway - Thanks
 
No one has ever reproduced the various model A tanks as far as I am aware. Ford used special equipment to weld them together and they are a part of the structure of the cowl in some cases and have to look original and fit well to make the cars look right.

If it's steel and not too badly corroded, it is repairable. Fuel tanks can be welded by folks that know how to prep them for such repairs. It's only dangerous if they are not properly prepped. Ford made millions of them so they are still out there. The ones with the indented firewall are the ones with the lowest production figures so you have reason to be concerned about the one you have but it can be repaired by a person who specializes in such repairs. Finding a good repairman is difficult but not impossible. I repair my own but I don't repair them for others. There is no way to guarantee results on a 90+ year old fuel vessel.
 
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There have been a few people that have had good luck filling the tank with Rust911 or Evaporust. As long as your tank hasn't been sealed previously and the sealer is failing or it leaks, you could do this without pulling the tank and be good for years to come.


https://www.rust911.com/ one gallon of concentrate makes 16 gallons so for $60 it might be worth a shot before you buy one from Berts and have it shipped cross country. That stuff also won't attack any terne plating that might be still in the tank.
 
Think outside the box. Put a Speedway 11 gallon tank in a trunk located in the bed of your truck. No one will know the difference as 6v fuel pumps are available.
 
Depending on how much rust there is, before I got a different tank I would go the EvapoRust method, flush it good, install a "pencil" filter in the tank and another one before the carb. Also ck the screen filter in the carb for cleanliness. FWIW
Paul in CT
 
Anyone with this set-up (late '31) with the glass fuel bowl in the engine compartment: With you engine running, is there an air-space seen in your fuel bowl? I've an extra fuel-bowl, looks like the tank feeds into the center, while the engine draws from the top(on mine). Is this the way it's supposed to be? I'm seeing this fuel bowl not fill to the top as engine operation, yet it runs. Why is that? Shouldn't my fuel bowl be completely full, no visable airspace at the top? This was why I thought I have excessive rust in my tank, plz help me understand?
Thanks Guys --
 
Check your gas cap. You may have rust plugging the little vent hole. Take the cap off and open the petcock and see if the glass bowl fills up.
 
As I recall there is always some air at the top of my glass bowls. Cars are both running well at the moment. Your results may vary. (mine too.)
 
When the supply dries up, there will be someone who will start building them. The price will be high, and then a second company will start producing and as the supply goes up, the price will come down. Capitalism works. Meanwhile, a tank is repairable.
 
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