Drilling into a gas tank

[BigMike]

Before I put the saddle tanks back in the truck, I want to put a fuel sender in each of them. I'd like to find a fuel pick up tube with a sending unit but I haven't been able to find one. So I think I'm just going to get a couple of these and use a hole saw and go through the top of the tank.


http://ruttersparts.com/i-7185774-tanks ... n-org.html

The tanks are empty now but I'm sure there are still fumes. I hate to fill each one with water but I don't want to blow up either.

Thoughts?

[Uncle Skip]

Mike.
NO
Seriously, take it to a radiator shop and have them do it. They're set up for that kind of thing and nothing is worth blowing yourself up. Gas fumes are way more dangerous than liquid gasoline. Ask some of the professional firefighters that belong to our club or even locally.
Just my dos centavos worth
Tio Skip

[Bill W]

looks to me as they would bolt right in the existing outlet location they both look to have 5 bolt holes.

[BigMike]

looks to me as they would bolt right in the existing outlet location they both look to have 5 bolt holes.

k

It would if I could find one with a pick up tube in it.



Skip, good call.

[Hunter's 64]

If you fill it with water before you drill you would be ok.

Danny

[kid2]

cab you drill into the top part of the sending unit and fab a pickup tube the mounds with it

[bobenhotep]

Id put a pickup tube in the sender. that is my 2 cents.

[bobenhotep]

One out of a late 60s bronco might work but you would have to drill your own screw holes in it.

[Alan Mclennan]

I`m with Danny!, fill it with water!, you could try exhaust fumes but that would still worry me!!!

[tomrooster]

Whenever I wanted to solder / weld/ drill on a gas tank I would make sure there was something if front of my face and body such as a snow plow or something similar and reach around it with my arms and hands only but I would always try to make sure there was no fumes by flushing with water or exhaust fumes of nitrogen

[Max]

Just let it air out a day or two before you drill with the caps off. Water is also good and would give you an opportunity to clean it out well before putting it back into use.

[bmcgc]

Remember that gas fumes are heavier than air. Unscrew the gas cap and turn the tank upside down for a day or two.

If you see any rust I would POR15 the tanks.

If they are clean I would put soapy water in them, lots of soap, then drill away.

[557f1]

Mike, I have welded sumps into a few fuel tanks ,
I fill them up with soapy water and let them sit for couple of days,
then I empty them and dry them out with the car exhaust trick,
I've never had one go bang yet,

I wouldn't drill into one filled with water
That's just dangerous using a power tool to drill into a container filled with water

[Hunter's 64]

Don't you have cordless tools down in OZ , or GFCI....... LOL


Danny

[bmcgc]

Ive bought alot of air tools from HF. For occasional use I have had good performance from them. The air drill works great.

[zman]

i put a the exhaust hose from my shop vac for about an hour

[BarnieTrk]

i put a the exhaust hose from my shop vac for about an hour

That's a good idea........then don't start drilling until you can no longer smell gas in the air coming out of the tank.
If possible, I'd leave the air hose running air into the tank even when I'm drilling the holes.

BarnieTrk

[Fordman85]

Use a blow gun and air compressor and blow air through it for an hour or so. I work for a company that works on fuel trucks and thats what we do when we have to patch a gas tank.

[BobbyFord]

Drop a bunch of dry ice in there and drill or weld away. Carbon dioxide does not ignite.