Fuel cell mod
 

I have an after market fuel cell in my 72 Blazer, I bought it with it in it. When ever i need fuel I have to climb into the back, flip a hatch door open and fill it that way, total PITA for an old dude like me.
Well today i dropped the tank because im installing a new hitch receiver (Uhaul part #75914 and its burley). and want to weld a filler neck onto and run the hose up to the original neck so i don't have to climb in the bed to fill it every time. since i have it dropped I figured I might as well make sure the pump and everything looks good etc. Well when i pulled the pump and peered into the tank there is all this red s#it everywhere what seems like a sprayed in liner, not really a bladder so-to-speak but more of a liner and its coming loose on the sides and im sure its going to be harboring gas in between the folds where its peeling away from the walls.

Question:
1. How do i do this safely? My thinking is to fill it with water to the level where i want the filler welded on or even higher, drill the hole and gnarl it out to shape i want, then lower the level a bit and weld the filler neck pipe on?

2. That said, I think there will be a lot of water left in the tank between the fold where its peeling after i drain the water out, how do you dry the water out?

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

You've already answered your own question.
Why would you want to modify a fuel cell (which you shouldn't) if the liner has failed?
The tank is scrap, so now is your chance to replace it with a proper unit.

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

So what if i cut the top off, clean it out, reseal it and then weld it back on?

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

If you want to waste your time, yes you could, or you could do the right thing and get a new unit.
If you need to post here asking how to weld/fix a fuel cell that gets used on public roads, then be prepared for some backlash.

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

well, I've been a welder for over 30 years, Im well confident in my abilities, much more so than the hack that welded it in the first place :smoke: I might just put it back in the way it is, its worked just fine for 5 years.
Thanks for the help and advice man

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

Seems your talent is wasted working on a questionable fuel tank, when you could build a new tank with correct fill location. My least favorite job removing a fuel tank, if I never had to to it again it would be too soon.

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

LOL right? Anything "fuel" sux. I had to remove it to put my new trailer hitch receiver on, My tank is tight up against the frame rails so i had to remove it.
Got it all welded up and waiting for my fuel hose to attach the original filler neck to the one i just welded onto the tank.
This hitch receiver is BAD ASS.

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

Never, I fix everything lol

Re: Fuel cell mod
 

You need to learn that some things are not worth fixing.
If you're as skilled as you say you are, build a new tank and be done with it. It will fit perfectly and wont cause issues down the road with contaminents clogging up everything down stream.
I also fix everything, but I also know you can't make chicken soup from chicken $hit.
Been doing this many deacades, and have repaired a lot of "customer fixes".
This is the tank I built to give you some inspiration, so get out there and buy a sheet of 3/32" aluminum and get welding. Post some pics when you're done.