zgeezer Posted February 6, 2005 Share Posted February 6, 2005 I just pulled a 240sx gas tank and I believe that with a little trim here and there that it may fit under my Z. However, is there any procedure to safely cut and weld gas tanks? g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted February 6, 2005 Share Posted February 6, 2005 I've always done a purge of the tank with the garden hose for a good hour or so before attempting any welding on it... so far so good. A little dish soap tends to cut the petrolium quite well and get's rid of the residue... Just make sure you rinse it well afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted February 6, 2005 Share Posted February 6, 2005 I ran water through mine for about 10 minutes then ran the exhaust from my pickup into it before actually cutting or welding. Everything turned out OK for me but I take no responsibility for what might happen. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted February 6, 2005 Share Posted February 6, 2005 I've welded about a dozen or so gas and diesel tanks including modifying my stock Monte SS gas tank to accept -10AN pickup and return lines so I could run Alcohol in without installing a fuel cell. Run exhaust from your car through it, it works better since then you don't have water in your tank afterwards. You take the filler cap off, connect the hose, and make sure the vent is working properly, run exhaust through it for a minute or two and then check the LEL. To check LEL, take a lighter and strike it next to the vent where the exhaust is coming out, it won't light, but if it did it would be a flare with no chance of explosion. Weld as usual. If you leave alot of water in the tank there is a chance that it will quench the weld and make it brittle and also it will make for a porous weld due to steam trying to escape while welding once the tank heats up. After welding pressure test with air and spray soap and water to check for leaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jolane Posted February 6, 2005 Share Posted February 6, 2005 You may want to check out http://www.millermotorsports.com/mboard This topic was discussed the other day as well by a number of very experienced welders. Having welded on a tank before, filled with water, it is very nerve racking! Safety is the most important, or course! Good luck. Joshua Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHO-Z Posted February 7, 2005 Share Posted February 7, 2005 I have always done the soapy water for about 30 minutes shaking constanly. I have then refilled the tank with water to just below where I want to weld, reducing the volume of possible gases in the tank. Had no problem with this methold. But it is always dangerous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Magnum Rockwilder Posted February 7, 2005 Share Posted February 7, 2005 Clean it as well as possible, then purge it with Argon, Nitrogen, CO2, or Helium while you weld... automotive exhaust will work in a pinch. There's no cleaning method thorough enough to get all the gas out of the pores in the metal, so purging is a necessary step to keep flammable gas pockets from forming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaparral2f Posted February 7, 2005 Share Posted February 7, 2005 When i have had to weld on a gas tank, I take it to my friendly radiator shop and let them boil it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xander Posted February 7, 2005 Share Posted February 7, 2005 clean it out with water and before you weld it hold a match to one of the openings (I am not kidding here). The little fuel that might still be there will just burn away. And NO it will not explode. I have done this lots of times. It's better to have a controlled burn than having it suprise you when you start welding. PS: I still have all my eyebrows too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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