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Oct 29, 2010 16:54:14 GMT
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So, this happened: I read about welding fuel tanks and it seems a sure-fire way to get a trip in an ambulance. Has anyone here actually welded a fuel tank? Did you die? If not, how did you manage not to die? Thanks. Oh, and before anyone posts it, I'm aware of *that* video showing some nutter welding up a full fuel tank. The fact that he didn't kill himself doesn't mean it's safe.
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Oct 29, 2010 17:00:15 GMT
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take it out and fill it RIGHT up with water, almost to where it needs welded. only wayh without blowing yourself up
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Oct 29, 2010 17:02:38 GMT
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not helpful but.. A mate of mine got a fuel tank welded once, turned up at the place and handed it over. The guy said it wouldn't take too long so said he could wait there. Couple of minutes later he hears a massive bang and the guy walks out the door, looks around for a bit and heads off into one of the nearby fields. He returns a few minutes later carrying my mates fuel tank. It had shot through the corregated roof of the workshop and landed about 200yds away. "at least we know it wont happen twice" he says
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Faster. Faster. Until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.
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skinnylew
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,546
Club RR Member Number: 11
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Oct 29, 2010 17:04:17 GMT
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^hahahaha what a nutter!!!
Fill it with water and have and escape route planned...
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Oct 29, 2010 17:05:46 GMT
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not helpful but.. A mate of mine got a fuel tank welded once, turned up at the place and handed it over. The guy said it wouldn't take too long so said he could wait there. Couple of minutes later he hears a massive bang and the guy walks out the door, looks around for a bit and heads off into one of the nearby fields. He returns a few minutes later carrying my mates fuel tank. It had shot through the corregated roof of the workshop and landed about 200yds away. "at least we know it wont happen twice" he says That nearly made me wee myself! ;D Had the fuel tank of a mk1 escort welded up once,dropped it off at local fabrication place,they didnt seem to have any probs
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1984 Subaru GLF Hatch 1983 Skoda 120LE Super estelle 1977 Subaru DL Wagon 1978 Datsun 120Y Coupe 1995 Skoda favorit estate
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Oct 29, 2010 18:09:09 GMT
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I've heard tell that using inert gasses is the way to do it. Tricky to achieve at home. I'm sure I've heard of people having explosions even with water filled tanks.
At least yours isn't in the actual tank so it might be easier/safer if using the water filled route
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Oct 29, 2010 18:11:23 GMT
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yeah I did one a few weeks ago, but it had been empty for 6 months with adequate ventilation.
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Oct 29, 2010 18:14:33 GMT
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When you blow yerself up n die ...<and you will die doing this> can you leave me yer car in yer will? I will just put a new tank in!
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You never know when a mohican vintage car enthusiast will come in handy.
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Oct 29, 2010 18:21:16 GMT
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we use nitrogen at work
we weld on gas pipes with 95 bar of pressure in them!
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Oct 29, 2010 18:25:44 GMT
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On the picture you have posted, couldn't you just cut the tube short then add a length of flexihose to replace the section you've cut off?
Charlie
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bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
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Oct 29, 2010 18:27:10 GMT
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Well considering i've had 5 old tanks modded to swirlpots it's quite obv to me it' is totaly possable, only idiots get blown up (natural selection maybe ??) choice A wash out with degreaser a few times then fill with water choice B tape off all vents except the highest (the one you want to weld) then empty a CO2 fire ex/paintball CO2 bottle into it, you'll know when it's full of CO2 cos when you sniff the top vent you will feel like your lungs have seized ;D when you've come round get off the floor and get on with welding it. Choice C get somone who's done it before and hope they cheat Darwin once again ;D If your in or near essex performance convertions in rettendon do em all the time
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R.I.P photobucket
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Oct 29, 2010 18:29:13 GMT
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Thanks for the replies / advice / lols! ;D I don't think I'm brave enough to try welding it up, even filled with water. I've read that even a teaspoon full of fuel can cause a rather big bang in the right conditions. I don't think I'm willing to risk it.
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Midas
Part of things
Posts: 505
Club RR Member Number: 14
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Oct 29, 2010 18:30:07 GMT
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I've just welded the tank on my Justy after opening it up to replace a cracked outlet pipe.
The tank was initially washed out with a power washer and detergent, rinsed and then soaked with a caustic soda solution for a few hours. After drying I did an acid etch to accept the POR15 tank sealant that I was planning to use.
This process took about a week as I was drying the tank in between stages, by the time I'd done the etch there was no smell of petrol at all. I used a hot air gun to warm the tank to dry it.
When welding I used a disposable CO2/Argon bottle and reg to fill the tank with gas whilst I welded from the outside using my proper bottle.
After welding without blowing myself up I sealed the tank with the POR15 sealant which needs at least a week to dry off if you want it to work.
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Oct 29, 2010 18:33:50 GMT
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you can fill em up with gas from your exhaust, its free and has already been on fire so it wont burn again when welding.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Oct 29, 2010 18:59:51 GMT
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If it's full of tap juice, there's no vapour to burn surely. Same as purging with inert gas. No vapour, no oxygen. Can't see how water filled could go pop, but if it did, wouldn't it be a lot less violent than vapour/gas.
Could skirt the whole thing and lop off that manky bit and either use hose as suggested, or JB Weld some close fitting tube over the stump. Or use the magic glop + tube as a small sleeve to join another bit of swaged pipe that's original size.
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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Oct 29, 2010 19:32:44 GMT
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Hmm. The broken pipe is the drain bung at the bottom of the tank. I don't really need it as I can always drain the tank another way. I did think about lopping it off and welding the hole flush, if I was gonna weld it.
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Oct 29, 2010 20:25:31 GMT
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It is more dangourous to weld an empty tank than a full one. Because liquid petrol burns wheres as petrol vapour is explosive. Diesel on the other hand if you where to drop a lighted match into a tank full would put the match out. For god sakes don't try that at home.
At college if we are even welding near a fuel tank we drain it and then pressurise it with CO2. Leaving the charging hose sealed around the filler tube and pumping CO2 all the way through the job.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,843
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Oct 29, 2010 20:37:32 GMT
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^^Can put a match out in petrol if you know what you're doing.
Matt
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Oct 29, 2010 21:04:55 GMT
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i gas welded a lager feed pipe on one of my old cortina tanks once killed me outright I'm ok now though and the tank look fine once it was done mig can be porous so not great on fuel tanks or anything that hold liquid . you could always chemical metal it
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Oct 29, 2010 21:10:42 GMT
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Having lighted a few fires using petrol I can tell you that it is amazingly and shockingly explosive.
If you have messed about lighting zippo lighter fluid, meths, sambuca, etc, you'll be very surprised when you graduate to petrol.
Charlie
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