Re: [Amc-list] gas tank is bad

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

Tom, I wrote that 58-62 gas tanks are ALL the same regardless of model (and most likely 56-57 as well, but can't check those). 63 AMERICAN is the same as 58-62 (naturally, since 63 American is a continuation of the 62). 63-66 CLASSIC and AMBO use the same tank, but it's NOT the same as the 62 and earlier, and later tanks are different also.

As far as finding a new tank or a suitable replacement, you can almost forget it. Thebest choice I found -- get a Chryco Diplomat/Aspen/Volare/Fifth Avenue tank (http://www.quantaproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CR-1B). That comes the closest in dimensions to fitting. It will fit where the Rambler tank was, but may hang down a bit more in the back. You will have to seal the old filler neck hole (easy -- rivets or screws, a piece of galvanized, and some epoxy do the trick), and will have to mount a new neck in the right place. That's a bit trickier, but a piece of 2" exhaust tubing is correct. If I had to do it without a welder I'd cut the hole as close as possible to the correct size then run the exhaust tubing 8-10" into the tank. Then you can screw or rivet through the bottom of the tank into the tubing. That is assuming the sedan tank is like the wagon tank -- the filler neck is right against the bottom of the tank. Seal around the tank the new neck with epoxy, and also se
 al around the screws or rivets. You might want to embed a little fiberglass cloth in the epoxy, or better yet scyff up the tanks and use a little fiberglass around the new filler. that will prevent leaks and strengthen the area. Or take it to a pro welder and have them weld the neck on. As long as it's a new gas tank that never had gas in it they won't mind. I'd take it over in the box just so they know for sure! This tank isn't an exact fit, but it's the closest I could find. I ended up building my own tank just because I could. 

Another choice is a 65-68 Mustang tank (http://www.quantaproducts.com/prodinfo.asp?number=F-28A). It's about the right size, and will fit. This tank is designed to be part of the trunk floor. Cut the floor out the right size, drop tank down and screw through the provided flange on the tank. The inlet is in the rear center. You can get a kit to put a cap directly on the neck and fill by opening the trunk, or use a 90 degree hose if the filler is in the center rear of the car you have. www.tanksinc.com sells Mustang tanks as universal street rod tanks, and has all the necessary accessories (click on "view products", then "universal tanks" or "accessories" -- they have lots of hose with bends and other things needed to make a different or custom tank work). The tank itself is cheaper from Quanta (first link), but you have to use a Ford sending unit or plug the original sending unit hole and use a universal type from the top. The Ford unit has the same range as the AMC gauge from
  the 50s-76 or so, so that's not a problem. The universal tank from Tanks Inc. has a recessed fitting for a universal sending unit (easy to find) and a bolt on filler neck that would require opening the trunk to fill. 

Instead of cutting the floor out of your Rambler you could mount the Mustang tank from the bottom using straps or bolts through the floor. The tank could rupture in a hard rear collision and let gas get in the passenger compartment. Ford didn't have a lot of problems with Mustangs and Falcons using this design, but did with the Pinto. Probably because there's just not much "back" to a Pinto, Mustang and Falcon has more car back there and stronger rails -- like the Ramblers. 
-------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 09:18:15 -0700
From: Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>

> > how hard is it to find a new gas tank? is there a universal type that will
> > work?
>   

Probably not easy to find, unless you find one easily near you  :-)  If UPS etc 
knew there was a gasoline tank in a box they would crap bluebirds. Frank just 
wrote that it should be the same as classic, ambassador and american for 62 
and 63, that helps. If you cant find a good one, find a bad one. Junkyards 
around here pick-ax huge holes in the tank, but, I'm not joking, there's an 
upside to that, you can see in side to see if the metal's OK, which after 40+ 
years is a big deal. Holes can be repaired. Chemical liners work.



-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
(free download available!)


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