Suggestions for new fuel tanks?

[67 Wickens]

Does anyone have any ideas on where to get fuel tanks? I pulled mine out today and man are they rusty inside... I'm not sure how the thing was running. I see alot of you have the round either Stainless or Aluminum tanks. Where can I pick up a pair? Does anyone on this site make them?

Thanks as always.

[boatguy222]

Imco makes the round stainless tanks, I think they will make you any shape you want for the right amount of money.LOL
Russell made some good tanks back in the day, used tanks show up on ebay or craig's list a couple of time a year.
BTW, does anybody know what happened to Ozzie at Russell?

[socal_wrench]

There is a company in Corona Right off the 91 Fwy Called Areo Fuel Tanks.
They made the tanks for our Sanger years ago.
I don't have the Number but they should be listed in 411

[67 Wickens]

I've been watching ebay, haven't seen much come across lately. I'll check this Aero place off of the 91. Thanks everyone.

[lebel409]

I had a pair made at Imco in San Dimas.

The originals were 5x7 oblong, with a cutout in the gunwales to accomodate the filler neck. I have tall gunwales and tall stringers (4) so there isn't much room to put a tank in.

Imco measured, made a mock up, a couple of weeks later they were ready and fit like a glove. They came with brackets to mount to the stringer, AN 10 fuel outlet, and a breather connection at the front.

Being that these are fit to the interior of the boat and much shallower I think the CG of the boat will be improved.

Price was close to $800, but a quality product.

[RiverRacer]

They are $796 to be exact!.:D

[AquaCraft]

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/attachment.php?attachmentid=267&d=1210178778Does anyone have any ideas on where to get fuel tanks? I pulled mine out today and man are they rusty inside... I'm not sure how the thing was running. I see alot of you have the round either Stainless or Aluminum tanks. Where can I pick up a pair? Does anyone on this site make them?

Thanks as always.

Hi Mike,

My '66 AquaCraft/Wickens Whirlwind had the original steel saddle tanks when I bought it. This boat was a total resto and I knew the tanks had sat with fuel and condesation for 20 years. After removing them and finding no serious issues other than internal rust; I loaded them with about 3 lbs. of brass fittings (hear no sparks) and shook the s@#$ out of them. Each one produced several cups of dried out nasty rust and old fuel varnish. (The tanks were TOTALLY dry when I did this.) I found a shop that specializes in restoring fuel tanks for vintage cars, planes and boats; their information is below. This shop cut access holes in the tanks, sandblasted them inside and out, pressure tested them, applied a space age metal surface application inside that is alleged to last and a rust proof black plastic coating on the outside and then oven baked them. For my ski boat application, this worked out as I carpeted the part of the tanks that show (above). If I did it again, I would have them leave-off the outside finish as it looks like undercoating and was tough to carpet. The total cost was $470.00 and they bolted-right back in with no issues to date.

Los Angeles Gas Tank Renu-USA
Mac’s Radiator Service, Inc.
9665 Alondra Blvd.
Bellflower, California 90706
(562) 920-1871
Bruce Balfour
www.macsradiator.com

[Wannabe]

I found this place on the internet and purchased four tanks from them. Great prices and great quality. I added lots of extra baffles, etc. They still came in nice and cheap. Tough and durable too! I will use them again.
They also stated that they will do stacked tanks.
http://www.coyote-gear.com/
Definitely worth a look.

[RiverRacer]

Nice dune buggy tanks!..:cool:

[hm66Howard]

I found this place on the internet and purchased four tanks from them. Great prices and great quality. I added lots of extra baffles, etc. They still came in nice and cheap. Tough and durable too! I will use them again.
They also stated that they will do stacked tanks.
http://www.coyote-gear.com/
Definitely worth a look.Coyote quoted me $448 for two 8 X 48" tanks INCLUDING shipping. Sounds like a pretty good deal worth checking out. :D

[BradP]

Does anyone have any ideas on where to get fuel tanks? I pulled mine out today and man are they rusty inside... I'm not sure how the thing was running. I see alot of you have the round either Stainless or Aluminum tanks. Where can I pick up a pair? Does anyone on this site make them?

Thanks as always.


Are they rusty or dirty?

It might just be varnish from the gas evaporating repeatedly over the years, pour some parts dip in one and swish it around before you buy new ones.

[pwderman]

I stole a sbc powered Guasti one time because of rusty steel tanks.It would complety plug the fuel filter in about 5 min. I found out later the guy had cleaned out his tanks with solvent and hosed them out with water, he then proceeded to put them on the lawn to dry in the sun..:eek::eek: Needless to say he created a giant rust breeder..:( when I got it we pulled the tanks and took them to a radiator shop and had them boiled out. After that we took what they called sloshing compound put it in the tanks rolled them around and let it dry. I had the boat for a couple of years before I sold it and never had another problem with rust.

I'm not trying to queer Art's deal on the tanks just trying to point out like Brad there's more than one way to approach problems like this. Myself I'd go with the aluminum tanks now, back then I was so broke I could'nt pay attention.

I think I paid $500 for the boat complete. Even in the sixties that was cheap...:D

[RiverRacer]

I stole a sbc powered Guasti one time because of rusty steel tanks.It would complety plug the fuel filter in about 5 min. I found out later the guy had cleaned out his tanks with solvent and hosed them out with water, he then proceeded to put them on the lawn to dry in the sun..:eek::eek: Needless to say he created a giant rust breeder..:( when I got it we pulled the tanks and took them to a radiator shop and had them boiled out. After that we took what they called sloshing compound put it in the tanks rolled them around and let it dry. I had the boat for a couple of years before I sold it and never had another problem with rust.

I'm not trying to queer Art's deal on the tanks just trying to point out like Brad there's more than one way to approach problems like this. Myself I'd go with the aluminum tanks now, back then I was so broke I could'nt pay attention.

I think I paid $500 for the boat complete. Even in the sixties that was cheap...:D

Wouldn't have that problem with stainless tanks, regular steel tanks don't belong in a boat!...

[67 Wickens]

Thanks everyone for the advice...

[pwderman]

Wouldn't have that problem with stainless tanks, regular steel tanks don't belong in a boat!...

110% correct there Art...:eek: :D

[Nattylightmike]

If you buy the tanks from IMCO make sure you clean them out before you install them or you will have filters full of buffing pad and polish. I know this because I didn't even think about it, and I learned the hard way out in the middle of the lake.

[rivergames]

If you are not in a hurry, there is usually a set of tanks once a month that people are selling. You will save hundreds

[Norseman]

Found these on Ebay.

No connection to the seller

Item number: 290228121034

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/IMCO-Stainless-Stacked-Fuel-Tanks-v-drive-jet-dragboat_W0QQitemZ290228121034QQihZ019QQcategoryZ5 0442QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem