Custom Oil Tank on a '72 or other early 911???

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

I finally removed the oil tank from my '72 today and was disgusted after carefully removing it to find a rust hole about the size of a quarter in the back near the top. I'm wondering if there is any way this can be repaired? If not I am looking for ideas for a custom oil tank setup, either in the stock '72 location, or with the tank in the front trunk to improve weight balance. Pics would be great!! Thanks!

tom1394racing · 09-04-2005, 02:46 PM

OEM Replacement oil tanks are plentiful. Try the used parts places like PAR, GAD or Parts Heaven.

911pcars · 09-04-2005, 03:34 PM

Here's one. Be my guest.

Sherwood
(not mine)

kycarguy 935 · 09-04-2005, 05:45 PM

Thats a beautiful car Sherwood. Do you have any other pics to post of it?

911pcars · 09-04-2005, 09:17 PM

The owner is Kurt Zimmerman. His car was profiled at www.early911sregistry.org, in their members section, but it's not there any more (I just checked). Here are some of his shots from a couple of years ago:

As I remember correctly; , '69 912, 3.4 l, w/slide valve MFI, twin plug and about 325 HP or so. The oiling system is a modified 935 system. The car is about 1800 lbs. and very trick.

Sherwood

911pcars · 09-04-2005, 09:36 PM

Here are a few more.

Kurt's car in '04:

Converted from AN braided hose to factory-type crimp fittings.
"

Current 935-type oil tank. Notice the detail allowing the trunk cross brace a straight path across the oil tank.

The oil tank vent runs through one of the roll cage tubes.

Notice large ~1" oil line next to the tunnel.

Gee, I sound like his PR mgr.

kycarguy 935 · 09-04-2005, 11:32 PM

That 911 is nicer then nice. I have never seen it before and thanks for sharing more pics.

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

how much oil is in that thing?

911pcars · 09-05-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by svandamme
how much oil is in that thing?

As I recall, about 24 quarts (6 gallons).

Sherwood

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Very cool - a reminder though for anyone thinking of doing this: This car probably gets very hot inside with all of that oil running through the passenger compartment. I've known people who have setup street cars similar to this, only to find that driving them is unbearable during the summer.

-Wayne

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Would it be possible to run flexible oil lines through the area that is occupied by the heat ducts from the rear of the car? I've thought about doing this rather than cutting holes in the car. The only area it would enter the cabin would be from the front of the inner structure of the floor pan to the rear of the trunk. I think you could snake a couple of -16AN lines through there, it seems like a rather trick way to run the lines without putting them under the rocker or on the passenger's floorwell.

911pcars · 09-05-2005, 02:51 PM

Sure it's possible. On early 911S cars, the factory ran ran the front oil cooler lines through the rocker area. However, with a trunk-mount oil reservoir, the large OD tube or hose would have to make a turn into the trunk area, somewhere. Andial and Kurt probably decided a straighter shot from engine to tank would be the most efficient oil path (despite the radiated heat that Wayne brought up).

MHO,
Sherwood

svandamme · svandamme's Garage

that's what i have planned in the future...

from left side engine out , trough heater tube, to trunk area, to cooler
and back the other way to the oil tank... or have a front oil tank, haven't decide yet , not in a hurry for this yet , as i won't be doing long treks this year

jpnovak · 09-06-2005, 08:22 AM

why not just repair your current tank? Its copper coated steel. just grind back the copper and TIG (or Mig) away. properly clean tank prior to welding.

Antoher option could be 964 tank in the stock 72 location. I know Tyson at TRE has done this. You may want to check with him on the difficulty.

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

I wondered about simply cutting out the offending section and repairing it. Seems to be the most cost-effective method, and I imagine there aren't too many of these tanks out there that are in much better shape than the one I've got.

jpnovak · 09-06-2005, 09:16 AM

Should be easy to repair. you could also increase the capacity and install some Baffles while you are at it.

Tyson Schmidt · 09-06-2005, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpnovak
why not just repair your current tank? Its copper coated steel. just grind back the copper and TIG (or Mig) away. properly clean tank prior to welding.

Antoher option could be 964 tank in the stock 72 location. I know Tyson at TRE has done this. You may want to check with him on the difficulty.

Yes, I've done this to my car. But it's a lot of work. I wouldn't do it to a '72 though, since it has no filler on the top like a '72.

The only way I'd use a 964 tank in a '72 is if you could cut the fittings off your '72 tank and swap them over to the 964 tank. But I'll have to go check whether or not the 964 tank is made of auminum. The 993 tank is definitely aluminum, but I'll go check and report back on the 964 piece.

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Cool, thanks Tyson!

Tyson Schmidt · 09-06-2005, 12:20 PM

O.K., the 964 tank is also aluminum, so you can't swap over the fittings.

I think you're better off repairing your '72 tank. TIG weld it, rather than MIG. It'll be messy if you MIG it.

After the repair, send the tank out to be ultra-sonically cleaned just like we do with oil coolers.

vanwyk4257 · vanwyk4257's Garage

Thanks for the advice Tyson!