Welding floor pan and rocker

[sgr60]

I'm getting ready to put in a floor pan patch and new rocker on the truck. I'm still in the measuring/planning stage at this point, and I noticed how close the fuel tank is to the area that I'm going to be working in.

With the tank right under the seat, it makes me nervous to be welding (and also grinding/cutting) right above it. Since this is a a very common repair, I imagine I'm not the first to have this concern. What have you all done to mitigate the risk? I suppose the tank could be removed entirely, but short of that, what's the safest way to work in that area?

[rs74]

Probably just a safe bet to remove the tank and plug the lines off until you are done. It would be a shame for it to go up in flames and then say "Man, I should have removed that tank.

I went to school with a guy who had taken his very nice 427 short bed step side to a local garage to have some work done to it. The tank was setting in the bed of the truck with fuel in it. The owner of the shop grabbed that tank and pulled it across that bed towards him and it must have been static but it ignited and burned the truck and shop down. No Joke. Just be careful.

[Gregski]

yup remove the tank, I would also keep it outside and not in the building you will be welding in, it's the fumes that will get you even if the tank is empty, it takes months to air one completely out

[sgr60]

So you think take both tanks out then? With fumes being the issue, I'm not sure I trust the other thank then either...

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by sgr60

So you think take both tanks out then? With fumes being the issue, I'm not sure I trust the other thank then either...

absolutely, just to be sure, and have a properly rated fire extinguisher (cheap insurance) on stand by

though I have seen muffler shops weld on trucks with 25 gallons of fuel in them, I would not take the chance myself

[sgr60]

Fire extinguisher I've got for sure - no question there. All the welding I've done had been off of vehicles in the past (and mostly outside), so it's the hazard of the truck itself that's new for me on this one.

[rich weyand]

What you don't want is an EMPTY tank. You cannot get an explosive mixture with gasoline in a tank with fuel in it. The mixture is way too rich to ignite. Empty the tank, however, and a little remaining fuel can turn it into a bomb.

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by sgr60

Fire extinguisher I've got for sure - no question there. All the welding I've done had been off of vehicles in the past (and mostly outside), so it's the hazard of the truck itself that's new for me on this one.

check this guys video out he does just that, he is very talented, check out his tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP_NsXmyn5M