Fuel tank removal

1

1929 Leatherback

Member
I have a 1929 Leatherback, the fuel tank has some of that gummy stuff at the bottom, no rust just that gummy crud. I was trying to remove the tank to clean it, but it appears to me like the filler neck is soldered to the cowling. Has anyone every seen this before?
 
Interesting question, I don't know enough to give you any advice, but Id like to learn the answer.
 
Could this be a Briggs Body where the tank is separate from the cowl? The filler neck goes through the cowl gas tank hole and perhaps someone "sealed" around the neck and opening?
Just a wild guess here gents... a stab in the dark... a rampant speculation....



rampant speculation
 
The gas tank IS the cowling for the front of the car just past the firewall and up to the body (to which it is bolted). Unscrew these and get inside and under the dash and remove ALL the securing bolts and the clamps. The gas tank will then lift out up and out in front of the windshield. If you are doing a full restoration you will want to replace the 'gas tank cowl welting' that is exposed around the gas tank (should be painted to match the body color as I remember to match original factory release. Take the time to clean and seal the gas tank correctly. Post some questions on the forum if you need info doing that. If you do not have a 'restoration' manual you should get one. Remember, much of the joy of this hobby is working on the cars and finding the great satisfaction that comes with that effort. Good luck and enjoy.
 
To bring everyone up to speed on the 4 door bodies, the gas tank is not the same as those used on Ford manufactured bodies. It does not make up the upper cowl. This photo shows the body with gas tank removed.
 

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40-A Twins said:
To bring everyone up to speed on the 4 door bodies, the gas tank is not the same as those used on Ford manufactured bodies. It does not make up the upper cowl. This photo shows the body with gas tank removed.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting. I learned something new today.
 
All these different stamping dies for body variations are interesting to me. The bean counters must have felt that the production runs would be big enough to pay for the tooling. The indented firewalls in the late 31's is another "short" run, when they were surely already tooling up for the '32s.
 
40-A Twin's Picture shows that the tank is obviously separate, just that mine is soldered in place at the filler neck.

I think my plan going forward will be to leave the tank in there, and just dump about 5 gallons of lacquer thinner in it and drain it out a few times and see it if I can clean that crud out with this method.
 
Leatherback,

Owning a '28 Leatherback & '29 Cabriolet I know only too well the project of dropping the tank. That said, I like your lacquer thinner idea. Always start simple working your way towards difficult ($$).

That is a standard '28-29 gas tank, installed under the cowling. At the time of assembly a square weather proofing pad was put on the top of the tank with a hole for the gas inlet. This was to prevent water & weather getting on to the top of the tank causing an interior leak.

While the 'solder' you are seeing might be this pad, after 80 years anything is possible.

jb
 
In The Book " How to restore your Mobel a Vol 9" There is a very good article on how to remove the the gas tank in a 28-29 Brigg's Fordor or a Cabriolet.

It is well worth buying that book if you have one of these cars , and it is a totally different method from the other Model A bodystyles .

Good luck with the Lacquer thinner cleaning and let us know how it works , but be careful you dont want to spill any on the paint !!
 
There is also a nice article in the January/February 2011 issue of The Restorer including photos describing the removal of the gas tank from a fordor sedan I found it very helpful when I did mine on my 28 leatherback. The felt pad mentioned in post #9 was making the tank difficult to drop down. I have a copy of the article. Supergnat
 
40-A Twins said:
To bring everyone up to speed on the 4 door bodies, the gas tank is not the same as those used on Ford manufactured bodies. It does not make up the upper cowl. This photo shows the body with gas tank removed.
Click to expand...

Thank you........ The picture explains it all to those not fimiliar with the Briggs
body. :)
 
I agree with the previous posters who mentioned that the sealing pad around the filler neck between the cowl and the tank can tend to keep them stuck together. Is the narrow firewall filler panel removed? Are you sure you've got all the other bolts removed - there's 2 or 3 kind of hidden in the area immediately above the instrument panel.
 
I will check to make sure I have all the screws and bolts out, and I will also give the white vinegar also. I really do appreciate all the help I have gotten here.

Thanks everyone!!!
 
I used acetone to wash the gum out of the gas tank. I drained it, strained it, and put it back in the tank several times, sloushing it around each time. Be careful—acetone will ruin paint.

W. Michael
 
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