Fuel Tank-Squarebody?

[Factory Guy]

Getting ready to put a new fuel tank in the Old Truck (on the Drivers side, only at this time). Ordered it from Rock Auto and it showed up in days.

I was shocked how quickly it showed up unlike all the horror stories I have been hearing about it taking weeks to get the tank and weeks to get the sender. So my question, the gas tank on this side is near empty of fuel, so dropping it won't be a problem. I saw one post where a guy used 3m (2229-pic below) isolating strips to insulate the tank from the straps. I guess they use these in professional plumbing jobs with copper pipe to protect it from touching the concrete it is imbedded in.

My guess after 50 years of the gas tank being in the truck the fuel tank strap isolators (like tar strips) will be shot.

Anybody else got comments?

[44th Miss Inf]

I just use roofing tar paper. It looks to be what was used originally

[kglowacky]

I used bicycle tubes and cut them in half then sliced them into strips

[cadillac_al]

I have done both of the above methods. That Scotch stuff sounds interesting. I don't know what it looks like but it just might be the best option.

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by 44th Miss Inf

I just use roofing tar paper. It looks to be what was used originally

Roofing felt.

[Dead Parrot]

Good bet on the old tar strips being bad. That is where my tank rusted out. Guessing the mostly tar-less strips started holding water at the rust out spot. The hole did rust from the outside. The rest of the tank was still in good condition.

I used some strips of neoprene door mat as I was out of roofing felt and didn't want to buy a new roll just for cutting a few inches of tank stripping.

[old Rusty C10]

its been a while since i did a tank on one of these but i have had to do three on my 1998 within the last two years. Make sure you insulate the tank well wherever the strap touches the tank, even if you have that plastic tank guard. they are making tanks cheap in china and they wear a pin hope with the friction . I put a couple of layers around the tank and sprayed the bottom with undercoat

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Good bet on the old tar strips being bad. That is where my tank rusted out. Guessing the mostly tar-less strips started holding water at the rust out spot. The hole did rust from the outside. The rest of the tank was still in good condition.

I used some strips of neoprene door mat as I was out of roofing felt and didn't want to buy a new roll just for cutting a few inches of tank stripping.

Every tank I've replaced the area under the straps is rusted . I assume it a combination of dampness and the grit grinding the galvanized coating off.

I use the roofing ice shield . Stays stuck to the tank so no grit gets between the tank and insulator .

[pound41]

I was thinking of going with the sticky plastic/vinyl that they sell at Home Depot or Lowes.
You use it to line the threshold of a door or window, would take a few layers but it does have adhesive and is not crazy expensive

[sick472]

It's a big toss-up in my opinion. Felt-like materials soak up water, BUT also dry out easy...Rubber-like or tar-like materials don't soak up water, BUT can trap it. I redid both of my tanks on my K20 a couple years ago and did the following

Thoroughly cleaned the exterior, lightly scuffed, self-etch primed (the old reusable tank and the new one), then painted the tanks with a few heavy coats. I used rubber sheeting (about 1/10th inch thick) to put between the straps and the tank.

My thinking is that the heavy coats of paint and rubber strips will minimize rubbing and corrosion that ultimately causes the tank galvanized coating to disappear and allow rust to take ahold.