PaulBSpit1500 Posted September 11, 2021 Report Share Posted September 11, 2021 Cleaned out my Spitfire 1500 fuel tank and this was the result, the five pence piece for comparison purposes only. I am hoping this was the cause of my fuel blockage that brought me to a stop on the A40 after driving some ten miles. When I disconnected the fuel line after the fuel pump and turned her over no fuel came spurting out. Took the top of the fuel pump and turned her over and the diaphragm was pumping ok. Disconnected the fuel line before the fuel pump and got a little dribble of fuel then nothing, I can understand that due to the fuel pick up system from the tank. I’m thinking or is that hoping that the pick up pipe in the tank got blocked. Poked all the lines through with strimmer chord and they are clear. I have ordered some DEOX-C, £16.75, to kill any rust in the tank, a new tank £286.01. Why the penny ? Also going to change the old rubber fuel lines for the new barricade fuel lines. So after filling with some high octane fuel, a carb clean and timing check I hope there are no more breakdowns for a while. Any comments ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1969Mk3Spitfire Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 I suffered the indignity of breaking down within a few miles of home during my first drive after my car was delivered 😂 I tried Machine Mart Rust Remover flush including agitation with an added assortment of nuts and bolts etc etc. Pretty much a waste of time. I researched Fuel Tank ReNu versus the cost of a replacement and chose the latter. My new one is a lot lighter than the original - enough said. With hindsight, I wish that I’d have had the original restored, albeit it was slightly more expensive than buying the new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 I made the mistake of treating my original tank (good, clean, essentially rust-free but had been stored for 25 years) to a treatment with POR15 fuel tank liner. Worst mistake possible. The stuff doesn't adhere right and flakes off, blocking the outlet and causing failure to proceed. Eventually I had to buy a new tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 26 minutes ago, NonMember said: I made the mistake of treating my original tank (good, clean, essentially rust-free but had been stored for 25 years) to a treatment with POR15 fuel tank liner. Worst mistake possible. The stuff doesn't adhere right and flakes off, blocking the outlet and causing failure to proceed. Eventually I had to buy a new tank. Interesting, Rob... I'm thinking of coating a couple of spare spare 13/60 and 1200 tanks in light of the increase in ethanol in fuel, and have been checking out a few products such as POR15, Flowliner Armour Coat or Petseal. These tanks have been drystored for years too, and are currently in primer. I wonder why yours didn't adhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 22 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: I wonder why yours didn't adhere? It is perfectly possible I did something wrong. I've also seen it stated that POR15 products actively need a rusty surface to bond to, which may be achieved by the pre-treatments in the kit but may not. On the other hand, I spoke to a local radiator specialist who were recommended for tank refurbishment - they said they no longer touch fuel tanks because none of the sealing or lining products are reliable enough and it's far too common for the lining to peel or flake off. I figured if the professionals are having the same trouble then it may not have just been my incompetence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 My 13/60 was the same when i got it back on the road after a 30 year layup by the previous owner.I fitted all new rubber hoses and the carbs were rebuilt but it kept breaking down,i had to disconnect the line in the boot and blow down it which cleared it. I used some tank sealer(name escapes me but i will check)poured in and sloshed around,then left for 4 days to go off.Car has been fine for 8 years so far. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 is this the Must Haves raising their Not Haves problems getting paint to stick where you can get at it is often a headache getting the inside you cant see well to a good condition seems unreliable we need a supplier to invest in some plastic type tanks but have to be E proof Fitchett have the tooling to make new Herald tanks which adds space in a vitesse boot bu dont know if they do the spit Gt6 of their own again an expensive purchase but its reliable Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomL Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 11 hours ago, PaulBSpit1500 said: Cleaned out my Spitfire 1500 fuel tank and this was the result, the five pence piece for comparison purposes only. I am hoping this was the cause of my fuel blockage that brought me to a stop on the A40 after driving some ten miles. When I disconnected the fuel line after the fuel pump and turned her over no fuel came spurting out. Took the top of the fuel pump and turned her over and the diaphragm was pumping ok. Disconnected the fuel line before the fuel pump and got a little dribble of fuel then nothing, I can understand that due to the fuel pick up system from the tank. I’m thinking or is that hoping that the pick up pipe in the tank got blocked. Poked all the lines through with strimmer chord and they are clear. I have ordered some DEOX-C, £16.75, to kill any rust in the tank, a new tank £286.01. Why the penny ? Also going to change the old rubber fuel lines for the new barricade fuel lines. So after filling with some high octane fuel, a carb clean and timing check I hope there are no more breakdowns for a while. Any comments ? Hi Paul, I have been experiencing a similar issue with my Vitesse; occasionally, shortly after start-up it will splutter to a halt. It's done it three times now. Initially, I thought it might have been an electrical issue but after a bit of investigation, it transpired that although the fuel pump was pumping, no fuel was getting through. I assume that the delivery had stopped prior to start up, and the car had been running on the fuel in the float chambers. It happened again on the way back from the TSSC Malvern event. After a coffee-stop on the M4, it let me drive out of the services and back onto the motorway and then promptly stopped. Fortunately there was a hard-shoulder and a grass bank, and I was able to pull off to relative safety. I thought about calling for recovery but thought if I could fix it quickly, that would be the better option (thinking I could be waiting there for hours for recovery). I took the fuel cap off, undid the supply pipe to the pump, got my head into the engine bay, drew a massive breath and blew down the pipe. Even above the traffic noise, I could hear gurgling in the tank. Checked the pump - now delivering fuel! Started her up and quickly put the tools away and re-joined the Saturday evening M4 traffic. The car was then fine for the next few days. I'd put a shot of Ethanol protector stuff in, as well as shot of Redex but the car did the same trick last Sunday, and of course it stops where it stops, which can put you and the car in danger, so I have returned it to its barn, with a view to taking out the tank and cleaning it. I am expecting it to produce a similar pile of rust as yours. With regard to the internal coating products, I have seen a lot of bad reviews so I will start looking into a replacement tank. I'll probably change the rubber hoses now, using the ones the club sells. Tom 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Perhaps another solution is to research an off the shelf blow moulded tank that can be fitted with adaptor brackets. Virtually all moderns are plastic albeit of the 'saddle' type design or odd shapes. Just a thought, or of course aluminium. It is as always cost over reliability. Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 I remember going on a rescue mission with Uncle Pete, we fixed the car in question but on the way back the plastic tank in Pete's Citroen tried to turn it's self inside out. We were only saved by turning a corner and as if by magic, there was a Citroen dealership! Plastic tanks? Don't trust 'em! Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 3 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: Plastic tanks? Don't trust 'em! Doug Yes, agreed, they were used to fool the Germans in WW2. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 5 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: Yes, agreed, they were used to fool the Germans in WW2. Don't be silly, we didn't have proper plastic back then, they were Bakelite. Doug 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 that was the addblue tank not venting yes sucked it flat loads of lights comming on and the guy we fixed wasnt a member we decided he just wanted it fixed to sell as cooker didnt work and the promised bacon buttie was done on the BBQ never heard any thing from him since ...we learnt to be more selective Ha TomL the fichetts tank is herald size not a problem unless you need a long range and they dont have the rusty drainspout or the reserve lever ste up its a lot simpler and less hassle . Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 19 minutes ago, Colin Lindsay said: Yes, agreed, they were used to fool the Germans in WW2. I thought those were cardboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 4 minutes ago, NonMember said: I thought those were cardboard No, they'd go all soggy in the rain. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonMember Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 We did populate random fields with plywood Spitfires to fool the Luftwaffe. Then a lone Heinkel dropped a cardboard bomb on one of them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 26 minutes ago, dougbgt6 said: Don't be silly, we didn't have proper plastic back then, they were Bakelite. Doug 10 minutes ago, NonMember said: thought those were cardboard Inflatable actually old bean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Inflatable cardboard? Don't see that working very well. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain T Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 13 minutes ago, Chris A said: Inflatable actually old bean True, it was on telly! Dreamed up by theatre set designers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Either they were very light or they disguised their four-post lift to look like soldiers, again maybe to frighten the enemy. The Russians tried an inflatable T72, but didn't use enough Viagra in the mix.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 aha a droop snoop tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Back to original problem, consult a local stripping company. Ribble Technology in Preston just stripped an engine block for me, and produced the cleanest block I've ever seen! Much better than any home brew, or DiY method! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badwolf Posted September 12, 2021 Report Share Posted September 12, 2021 Back to the plot, which for me is unusual. I believe that the best way the sort out a rusty petrol tank is first to take it out and drain. Insert gravel or chain and rattle around until you are totally knackered. Flush out with water to get rid of the bits. If using the Frost products, clean with their cleaner, wash, treat with the rust/metal prep, wash and then comes the tricky bit..thoroughly dry. Hot air gun, hair dryer anything but it must be absolutely, totally dry. Any trace of damp/airborne moisture absorption and the POR paint treatment will, without any shadow of a doubt, peel off. This is one of the things that has put me off the POR products. If it's done correctly it is great, if not, pain and heartache. I say that I believe, only because I have not used (I have used the chassis paint stuff) it but have a recommendation for this routine from an acquaintance. You pays your money....... John's recommendation for Ribble is a good one. They have a great reputation. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulBSpit1500 Posted September 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2021 I have read several bad reports from amateurs who have used products to coat the tank and it’s been a horrible failure. The paint not adhering and flaking away. One report of a company stopping offering the tank refurbishment service due to flaking paint. So I will not be going down this route. DEOX-C to remove what is left of the rust then reinstall the tank and top up with petrol. I just hope the rust removal process does not expose any further issues, pinholes in the tank? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Smith Posted October 7, 2021 Report Share Posted October 7, 2021 Having just read this thread, it occurred to me that I will have to commission a 'one-off' tank over here. Petrol delivers all sorts of crud into the tank, despite your personal desire to have things spot-on. I'm considering have some sort of flush through arrangement, whereby the user can fully drain the tank, and blow out the residue. I'm a bit too premature on this part of the project, but gaining information like this is priceless. Thanks Folks, Ian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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