Hole in the fuel tank...help!!

[David Nock (RIP)]

The problem area is easy. Take off the plastic behind the nearside rear wheel and that\'s the seam. Get at it you can not.
I read about the mixture based options and thought it was a bit too much effort.
Good luck with the search. PS an MRC guest ought to get the same service as it\'s a dealer.

[mpk490p]

you wont be able to see the problem without pulling the tank off as David said its on top of the seam near the filler pipe
Mark

[syebba]

If you can\'t find a petrol tank it may be worth checking Mazdatrix out,i think they had some a while ago,but carriage will hurt.
Also keep an eye on ebay for a good 2nd hand one.
£700 is ridiculous,i paid £175 to have a bespoke ali,foam celled,anti explosion tank made for my cobra,but that was 10 yrs ago.
Best of luck!!
Ta stuart:wave

[FDDreamer]

Okay well Mark seems very helpful, but unfortunately I am a bit dim and forgot to look at the VIN this morning before work. As the number plate did not appear on the system I\'ll need to call back tomorrow.

Thanks for the link Stuart, looks like a good site! Unfortunately the tank is around $500 from there, not including carriage. Still, it\'s a good one to have in my favourites! Do you still have the Cobra? That tank sounds great!

[royal]

I realise it probably is rust but have you checked the gasket around the fuel pump? (don\'t know if it is actually in the tank on early cars?). My old s13 stunk of fuel because the fuel pump gasket was no good after someone had upgraded the pump. As soon as it was sorted everything was dandy Just mention it because at the age of the car its probably had the pump replaced so maybe they reused the old gasket or something?

[David Nock (RIP)]

I realise it probably is rust but have you checked the gasket around the fuel pump? (don\'t know if it is actually in the tank on early cars?). My old s13 stunk of fuel because the fuel pump gasket was no good after someone had upgraded the pump. As soon as it was sorted everything was dandy Just mention it because at the age of the car its probably had the pump replaced so maybe they reused the old gasket or something?

No, good thinking, but the S3 pump (and as far as I know all 1st Gens) is external to the tank. Both the sender and the fuel dip pipes have a good ring of screws around the flanges and have fairly meaty gaskets, so they\'re not really prone to leaks at gaskets.

[royal]

Ah right, oh well

[mpk490p]

checked mine out today, the paint had started to flake in some places from when i paited it 3 years ago so a good scrub and 2 coats of hammerite and it was good to go, i would recormend to anyone to check this every couple of years minumin though

changed the sump oil whilst i was there;)
Mark

[syebba]

I got the tank made up after i heard what happened to the occupants of Ford Mustangs in the 60\'s,they fried!!!
The tank is divided ito compartments & consists of foam cells to prevent an explosion should somebody rupture the tank in an accident.
I think cars used for racing have these tanks as well?
Yep still got the cobra,but will soon sell it,as i need dosh for a project abroad.
That chemical metal stuff is good,ive used it before & believe it or not some airlines have used it as a temporary repair:eek: so says my uncle who used to work for an italian airline!!!!
Good luck with the repair.
Ta stuart:Thumbs-up

[royal]

Fly Italian!

[Daisyduke]

Well I have repaired the tank and all seems pretty good.
The tank came of easy enough.
Filled it up with water which exposed 3 x pin holes leaking (at top near filler pipe).
 
Got a wire wheel on angle grinder and striped down the entire top half of tank.  Then treated with a rust remidy (jabolite).
 
Got sone stuff call Quick Steel.  Its an  metal epoxy resin type putty that you cut off a stick and kneed it until mixed (it has the activator inside).
 
I then worked it in sections pressing it into the area a bit at a time until the whole area was covered and more.
 
Gave it a coulpe of heavy coats of a plasti/ennamel paint and refitted it.
 
My fuel sender unit didn\'t work properly so it gave me the oppertunity to get that out and strip it down too. The contacts were worn at the top of it\'s travel so it wouldn\'t register above 1/2 a tank. Cleaned it up and gently bent the \'leaf\' back to make a better contact and hey presto! Had to replace all the screws that hold it in as with the fuel pick up pipes too.  shouldn\'t have to carry a petol tin around any more.
 
Filled her up to the brimm  (about £3 billion ) So far so good!  Hope I now improve on the 17 MPG I was getting before.
 
By the way I\'m planning on going to Donnington... will there be any other Gen 1\'s there?
 
Cheers
Mark

[mpk490p]

im planning on going up and i think Shaun is in his LPG gen 1 :wave

Mark