How to clean out a gas tank?

[smoking66]

Well I'm just starting my project. I'm going to drop my gas tank soon and I know it needs a good cleaning on the inside. I heard the best way to clean out the gas tank is to put some small rocks or nuts and bolts in there and shake it around, then use soap and water. Anybody have a better way? Once i get the tank clean what do i recoat it with on the inside?

[mopar0166]

Just buy new, I was going to do the same thing, but after reading the posts on the forums here, i decided the 200 dollars was worth it.  Used that time to redo my dash. Look on ebay   

[rick@laysons]

You can also take your gas tank to a radiator shop and have it boiled out just like they would a radiator. 

[smoking66]

I called about 6 radiator repair shops in my area and all of them said they would not do gas tanks... so i was just going to do it myself, but a buddy at work said his neighbor does gas tanks and radiators so ill make a call to him i guess.

[BigBlackDodge]

I length of heavy chain helps also. They used to sell a kit for redoing a tank,came with the cleaner, an etcher and the sealant itself. I had good results with it.......but I only had a few pin-holes to deal with.

http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?number=S7Q&dept=12

BBD

[The70RT]

Muriatic acid if it isn't too thin. Then a solution and water & baking soda to neutralize the acid. Phosphoric acid will neutralize it but is hard to find. You can also get a tank sealer to cover the rust up with out removing it all.

[smoking66]

I length of heavy chain helps also. They used to sell a kit for redoing a tank,came with the cleaner, an etcher and the sealant itself. I had good results with it.......but I only had a few pin-holes to deal with.

http://www.por15.com/prodinfo.asp?number=S7Q&dept=12

BBD

Thanks i been looking for a sealant but no auto shops have them around here.

[ChargersETC..ETC..]

Diesel     or  Sand   works sometimes.
 

[GeneralLeeTESH]

Spend the $$$ and get a new SS one from Year one ! Well worth it !!!

[tatrick2me]

Eastwood has a cleaning and lining kit for gas tanks. I've it two times and it does a good job. But be sure the very first thing you do after you dump the old gas is to flush the tank with water a couple of times. Close all openings but the filler hole and place the tank in such a way that the filler hole
[tube installed] is the highest point of the tank. Then run it over with water two times. This is the only way for you to clear the vapors out of the tank. If you don't degas the tank you run the risk of blowing yourself up. 

[Dodge Don]

I would recommend getting a new tank altogether. They aren't that expensive and it is much better than trying to get an old one useable again. 

[Winged 1]

 
Go with new, and don't look back....

Eric

[69*F5*SE]

Yeah, why go to all the extra trouble. Just by a new one.     Ted

[WingCharger]

Some tractor restorers I know take a gas tank, fill it with bolts, nuts, and whatever else they got, add water, and chain it to the center of therear tire on a work tractor for a week. Cleans em out good.

[tatrick2me]

There are new tanks all over ebay for 139 to 159. Back when they cost 250 it wasn't worth it to buy one. But the way the price has dropped I agree its better to buy a new one than to even mess with an old one.

[E5 Charger]

$400 for use 1974 owners.

[tatrick2me]

I saw 5 differnt sellers on ebay tonight with 74 tanks for 169. Search mopar b body

[W4ATL]

Buy a new one. I ordered one from http://www.gastanks.com/ but you can do an Internet search for the best price. If you clean the old one you it most likely will develop some small leaks that will annoy you.

[E5 Charger]

tatrick2me, do you have a link? I couldn't find any.