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Gas tank repair in NJ?
  • boothguy
    Posts: 74Senior Contributor
    A friend in central NJ needs to have a gas tank cleaned and sealed for his 58 Studebaker in time for the national Sept 14th. Can anyone recommend a place, he hasn't been able to find anyone that will do it. Thanks
  • Richard E.Richard E.
    Posts: 767Platinum Member
    Look up RENU on the internet and find a location near you. They do a very good job and it is not expensive. It is a franchise.
  • boothguy
    Posts: 74Senior Contributor
    No renu franchise within a couple hundred miles. One franchise quoted $500, I'm sure they do good work but its still pretty steep and you have to add shipping on top, plus time is getting short.
  • 50C8DAN50C8DAN
    Posts: 867Platinum Member
    I have had 2 tanks, one Studebaker and one Hudson done by two different Renu franchises and they did great work. Not sure where he got the quotes but both of mine were under $250 ea. I guess franchise is free to quote whatever they want.
  • boothguy
    Posts: 74Senior Contributor
    The quote came from Rockville which is probably a worst case scenario. I don't think the tank is that bad, he drives the car but if he uses more than 8gallons the car "runs out of gas" I think the pickup tube is cracked inside the tank.
  • 50C8DAN50C8DAN
    Posts: 867Platinum Member
    There is a Gas Tank Renu in Philadelphia that would be much closer:



    http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Gas.Tank.Renu.of.Philadelphia.Inc.610-358-3277



    If the tank is leaking that bad he would be smelling it!
  • Ol racerOl racer
    Posts: 1,677Platinum Member
    Check local Radiator Shops. They may clean and fix the pickup tube too. JC Whitney sells a gal of mix to pour in tank after rinsing.... I had two Renew Jobs and liked them but seen guys that used the Gal mix just as well and cheaper....
  • Billy K.TN.
    Posts: 396Platinum Member
    With the tank full and it runs out of gas after 8 gallon. Fill up and run another 8 gallon I would think the pickup tube in tank is bad. I f no trash and rust in tank I would just check the pickup tube. Be sure it goes to bottom of tank.
  • BJ__TNBJ__TN
    Posts: 1,211Platinum Member
    A friend in N.C. told me he was quoted almost $600 to clean and seal a Hudson tank at Renu. I get them done at a radiator shop in Morristown TN, for $140 tax included. I've had 3 of them done and never had any trouble except on the first one, I forgot to check the vent tube going back up to the neck and the sealer had plugged it. Made it puke gas out if I tried to fill it too quickly. Ran a wire down it and broke the sealer and now no problem. I now check it before I install any tank that has been sealed......
    Bob
  • oldhudsonsoldhudsons
    Posts: 1,728Platinum Member
    I agree with Ol racer - take it to a good radiator shop & have it hot tanked. Then get the sealant, not sure of name, but it's used in sealing wing tanks of airplanes - just put it into tank, slosh it around, let it dry, & you will have saved hundreds of $$$ + time too.
  • 30essex
    Posts: 60Senior Contributor
    Regarding the pickup tube, I had the same problem last year with my Essex. The car would "run out of gas" with the tank mostly full. It turned out the pickup tube had pin holes in it and I fixed it by taking out the pickup assembly, unsoldering the old tube and soldering in a new piece of copper tubing of the same size and shape.
  • boothguy
    Posts: 74Senior Contributor
    I talked to him tonight and I think it is the pickup tube. He pulled the sender and the tank was clean and the tube was secure but he could not see the end of the tube. It enters the tank pretty close to the bottom however. Another thought I had was the tank was not venting but he did not remember ever hearing a sucking sound when removing the cap. New engine rebuilt 300 miles ago, carb also, new lines etc
  • Uncle JoshUncle Josh
    Posts: 1,860Platinum Member
    Only way in my opinion to clean a solid tank is cut a 4-5 inch hole in the top over the pickup tube with a dremel tool (after rendering harmless by flushing with kerosene). Then get in there with your putty knife (I scraped 1/4 inch of tar in one tank) wire brush, acid wash, soda wash and paintbrush tank coating (available from Eastwood etc.), then fix the pickup tube, and reseal the hole with solder or JBWeld.



    Then you know what you've got, otherwise it's guess and hopework.
  • DAVEN
    Posts: 25Greasemonkey
    Rember POPULAR SCIENCE and a regular feature "GUS AND THE MODEL GARAGE" .....You may find you tank answer in this story from the 60's... near the end. If not, it still interesting to read. DAVE in NJ



    http://www.gus-stories.org/septembe28.htm
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