I've used CO2 purge before when welding up a tank, but if you don't have access to that I would think filling water is probably just as good. Just sitting and hoping the fumes are gone doens't make me feel comfortable, because you can never be 100% sure if it's safe. I wouldn't be too worried about it though, cutting or drilling doesn't create a whole lot of sparks.
safest process to cut/drill into a gas tank? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter wantatlc
- Start date
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The oldest method I know for welding on a tank is to run a hose from the exhaust of your car . Let it run for a while, then while still running drill your holes. To locate baffles in your tank, use some long rod pushed through the filler hole. push along the bottom. IF it hits before reaching the far side of the tamk, you found baffles
I've used the water trick before brazing a tank that was riddled with pin holes on the bottom. Worked great. I just had to use a bigger tip than I normally would on dry metal.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Turned an old keg into a fuel tank long time ago. Filled it with water and cut the hole with a torch.
yes , done it , works. Electric drill into water , well if the drill had a charge going to the bit it would arc when it touched tank ( provided it was grounded) nevermind the water . And , you would have to be in the water for there to be a danger anyway.
Enough talk
...let us know if you live
"heard" both water and air methods worked. Seen only the water method actually tried.. successfully.
Cheers
...let us know if you live "heard" both water and air methods worked. Seen only the water method actually tried.. successfully.
Cheers
I gotta admit...
Reading this post is like reading acceptance speaches from the Darwinian Award winners.
A lot of "i think i won't blow up if..."
Good luck and be SAFE!
awp
Reading this post is like reading acceptance speaches from the Darwinian Award winners.
A lot of "i think i won't blow up if..."
Good luck and be SAFE!
awp
Poser said:
Yeah, but those are some of the funniest events ever!
pbgbottle said:
Exhaust has CO2 and CO FYI
In the Navy we left fuel cells from jets sitting for 12-24 hours with an air hose blowing in the bottom to purge ramining fuel, but I don't think that was to prepare it for operations involving much heat.
I wouldn't recommend this but I've heard of filling tanks ALL THE WAY full with diesle and welding on them.
I HAVE in the past rinsed a 60 gallon fuel tank (Eliminator Daytona) a few times with water, then positioned it so the hole I was repairing (1/8", someobdy made it replacing the rub rail) was the highest point on the tank and filled it all the way up, then welded it. Was kind of nice becuase I could put all the heat into it I wanted and it wouldn't warp.
- Thread starter
- #33
HogDriver said:Enough talk
chill out
.....it's coming. need to use the fuel up first, and then follow the process I have outlined. I am committed (already bought sending unit, 1.5" hole saw bit, etc.)... just need a few weeks to pull it all off. I have researched this project enough at this point that I feel comfortable with it.
Just trying to make a funny
me sorry
good luck...let us know if you live
Cheers..
me sorry good luck...let us know if you live
Cheers..
- Thread starter
- #36
I was planning on making sure I did this drilling (as I have 5 holes to drill for the bolts for the sending unit) and hole cutting all before I took it to the radi shop to have it cleaned/boiled and lined. this way, I would have all the modifications to it done before the shop does their work as their work should clean out any junk I leave in the tank (metal fillings) and that which is in the tank and on the walls to begin with.. at least it better, that is what I am paying for along with the lining 
- Thread starter
- #37
SUCCESS & I SURVIVED!!
so, I just wanted to follow up and report that I was able to drill the sending unit hole today in the tank and live to tell the tale.
I ended up doing the following:
I will post up photos of the process either in this thread or the man-a-fre tank thread I started. https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=84831&page=3&highlight=drill+tank
I have some good photos of the drilled hole.
so, I just wanted to follow up and report that I was able to drill the sending unit hole today in the tank and live to tell the tale.
I ended up doing the following:
- pulled tank and washed out 3-4 times
- let sit (and air out) 24 hours and washed out again 3 times
- let sit (and air out) 24 hours and washed out again 3 times
- filled with SOAPY WATER until full
- drilled sending unit hole and 5 attachment holes while tankwas full of soapy water
I will post up photos of the process either in this thread or the man-a-fre tank thread I started. https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=84831&page=3&highlight=drill+tank
I have some good photos of the drilled hole.
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Exhaust Fumes
Busted a gas tank in Pinedale Wyoming. Had to ride in back of wrecker with wrecker drivers dog.
The local shop welded the tank without even rinsing it out. He just ran a hose from his truck exhaust and ran hose into tank and burned it tight.
We watched from a safe distance.
JR
Busted a gas tank in Pinedale Wyoming. Had to ride in back of wrecker with wrecker drivers dog.
The local shop welded the tank without even rinsing it out. He just ran a hose from his truck exhaust and ran hose into tank and burned it tight.
We watched from a safe distance.
JR
Nordic said:
There's more to the story...you weld a bib onto your exhaust pipe with a sparkplug screwed in through it. Then you add an old coil that works with a switch on (under) the dash to energize the coil.
While driving you get going pretty good then when you want to go BOOM you simulteneously switch off the ignition and floor the pedal and throw your coil switch. If you're timing is good it'll sound like a sonic boom.
So, it's not just CO that makes it work it's a combination of ignitable vapor that does.
This trick can probably be done in most cruisers (FJ40, Real cruisers) without the sparkplug. Just acelerate for a little run, let of the gas and quickly turn the ignition off then on again. Done right....KABOOM!!
(also sometimes will blow the lengthwise seam of a muffler wide open if you have bad luck)
A great trick for freeway underpasses or, even better, long tunnels. You get to watch all the cars pile up in the tunnel behind you. For anyone who might have been in the Broadway tunnel in San Francisco when this has happened - forget it, the statute of limitations ran out years ago.
If this isn't a technical post, what is??
