Gas Tank Repair

[56sedandelivery]

So pulled the gas tank from my 56 SD. Looked in thru the float hole and looks amazingly good. No rust or varnish that I can see. So far so good. Somewhere along the way the bottom got crunched inward some. Not a big dent but enough to lose a bit. It does have a slight crease to it so probably cannot be just popped out. Question is can this be easily repaired and if so who would I look for to do it? Also repair manual references gas tank straps holding it in. There were no straps but two tabs in front and one in back securing it to car. Thanks

 

[Dobie Gillis]

Check with a radiator shop for the dent repair. Apparently wagons and SD's didn't have straps, just a couple of J-bolts at the rear of the tank.

https://buyacp.com/parts/fuel-tank-strap-j-bolt-set-9-75-fc-jb002/

 

[56sedandelivery]

Mine doesn't even have those. Just a couple tabs at the front and one in the rear. I will try and get a pic tomorrow.

 

[Bill Playfoot]

Trinity Street Rods in Flippin, Arkansas could fix it.

 

[Daves55Sedan]

I got a used '56 wagon gas tank for my '55 Courier that was crushed in at the bottom. I brought it home, put it on blocks and beat on it from the top thru the fuel send hole using a pipe and sledge hammer. It wouldn't even budge. I used it as it was for a number of years, but since the bottom was smashed in, the fuel sending unit float would bottom out before the gas tank was empty, while the guage showed a reading of half full, so you never knew if you had enough gas.
I might have been the first among many who were screaming for somebody to reproduce wagon gas tanks. When they finally offered them for '55/56 wagons, I jumped at the chance to get one immediately. Ordered directly from Spectre, but they sell to many repro parts suppliers and are exact reproductions of original tank.