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MG MG Y Type - Fuel Tank Renovation

After removing the tank and giving it a good shake to get rid of all the bits, I understand that there is a coating available to pour into the tank to protect the inner surfaces. Could anyone please give me the name of this product and where I could get hold of it if it is not generally available (UK)
A B Knowles

I used Eastwood products on both my 54 TF and my 67 TR4A. I have the tank off my 53 YB and plan on using the same products. www.eastwood.com. Thanks. Larry
Larry Brown

Check out the Links page at www.mgytypes.org and go to <Suppliers>, then select <Fuel Systems including Tank Restoration>. There is a link there to Bill Hirsch.

Alternately, you can buy Bill's stuff rebadged and heavily marked up from Moss Motors. The mark up will probably be more than buying direct from Bill though and having him ship you direct. Worth enquiring about. I have succesfully coated a number of tanks now for my self, and others with Bill's products and he has been more than helpful with queries. Highly recommended.

Paul
Paul Barrow

there is a american product called redcote easy to use and will also seal small rust holes just swish about to coat then drain excess making sure fuel pickup is clear, no idea of availability in UK but worth checking
r j snell

Bill Hirsch makes one of the best.

http://www.hirschauto.com/products.asp?dept=4

As Paul notes, Moss also sells Hirsch products under their own label, for about 20% more!

Eastwood also sells a good sealer compound.

http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=382&itemType=PRODUCT

And POR makes a good one as well...

http://www.imperialrestoration.com/faq_fuel_tank_sealer.php
Steve Simmons

Thanks for the above, but I can now answer my own question. I have just received a catalogue from Frost Auto Restoration in Rochdale. On their website ( www.frost.co.uk ) they have a step by step guide to sealing a petrol tank.
As their kit for this is nearly £50 and my tank isn't leaking (yet!) I'll give it a miss for now.
Tony
Tony Knowles

Tony

It isnt just leaking that you benefit from by sealing, you also benefit from the flush out of loose rust, and when you do the internal sealing you prevent further loose rust from forming and breaking off and clogging fuel lines and carburettor jet valves.

£50 is really quite a light price to pay for the benefits. Also, if you dont seal the inside, eventually it will rust out to the outside no matter how much you coat the outside of the tank.

If you have the tank off, I would urge you to do it.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Thanks for the advice Paul. The bit that worries me and I think has stopped me going ahead is all that I've read says quite categorically that after the initial cleaning, the inside of the tank must be absolutely dry before adding the sealant; and with only the Wife's hairdryer and a vacuum cleaner and nothing to look inside with, I could never be sure of meeting this requirement.
Perhaps it's not as difficult as I imagine - can anyone comment?
Tony Knowles

I had a quick look at the Frost products page Tony, and neither of their kits look similar to the ones sold by Bill Hirsch so it makes it difficult for me to judge them. What I would say though is drop Bill Hirsch a line and ask him how much an export kit with shipping and tracking would cost.

Reason I am suggesting this to you is not because the Frost stuff isnt any good - I dont know. What I can say with certainty is that the stuff Bill sells is self-drying and the total cycle only takes a couple of days using air drying in a warm ventilated environment. Bill's stuff really is worth the money and I recommend it to anyone and everyone, and is worth getting.

Before you get it though, is your tank solid - i.e. no rust holes? I plug all the out let holes up, then fill the tank with water before I start then seal all the pin holes that I find with JB Weld epoxy. The Bill Hirsch preparer kit will deal with any remaining water in the tank after you have emptied it out.

After doing the flush and seal you will be advised to fit a new sender unit but watch out for getting the screw bolts out of the tank as they have a nice (aka nasty) habit of shearing off the heads on you!

Paul
Paul Barrow

This thread was discussed between 29/03/2009 and 15/04/2009

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