Rebuilt my oil tank over the weekend

[Classic]

What i started out with:




Finished and ready to install:

[Glasgow 911SC]

Nice job. Powdercoated or painted?

[Elombard]

What was the cleaning process, just elbow grease and parts cleaner. FWIW I hear they transfer heat better (cool better) un painted. Probabaly only an issue on a race car?

[Classic]

I washed it out with parts cleaner. soaked it in paint stripper overnight then bead / media blasted washed it again to make sure i got all the media out, then 2 coats of POR15.

I think that it will be more chip resistant then the origional.

I just have to fit some blanks to the Sporto fittings as i'm running a manual gear box now.

[bavaria911]

Great job...and just took the weekend!

Here is my question: My 1970 oil tank produces 5-10 drips, after operations (post driving the snot out of it . I had a few people tell me they can't find the leak and believe the leak occurs while the "crack" has expanded and once the oil and the metal cools - the crack closes. Or maybe it's the fittings? Does this sound right? If so, is there a method to test the tank off the car and finally stop this leak. I can always buy another tank, but the repair doesn't seem as expensive as a re-worked tank.
Anyone, please chim in.
Thanks

Vr,
Bavaria

[Classic]

i had my tank pressure tested after i bead blasted it.

The seams had a fair bit of rust around them.

If it's only small as you say i think that PORing the tank would fix it.

They also have a gas tank repair kit that i used on my gas tank, and was considering it on the oil tank (for the inside). either way it will stop the small leak you have mentioned i'm sure.

[araine901]

While doing insurance claims a few years back I had an insured that bead blasted an oil tank then coated it. We long story short the guy ended up with a 15K motor that failed in about 200 miles due to blasting meidia in the tank. I contacted Bruce Anderson and he said is was a horrible idea to bead blast a oil tank.

[Fishcop]

Great job Classic. If you are going to use the POR15 kit be careful as the tanks (at least mine) are copper and don't take well to acid for too long. The POR15 will definitely seal any small pinholes in your tank.

[Classic]

Yeah John mine tested fine, i was trying to give bavaria some info

Tony

[Fishcop]

For the sporto bungs, I think Pirtek (sp?) carry a fair range. I had them remake all my oil lines and they carried all the correct thread sizes.

[Classic]

Thanks M8

[rennch]

so...what's the verdict on POR-15 on an oil tank? my tank is off the car, degreased, and flushed at the moment. I was going to paint it with some hi temp paint, but if POR-15 will hold up, I might go that route. Does it affect it's ability to cool? It's the copper tank.

mike in Boulder
.

[Classic]

mike i painted my rain / splash guard in POR15 about a year ago as it was really rusty and when i started to strip the car this year for a full resto there were no stone chips on it.

Regarding the thickness of POR considering the origional had primer and then atleast 3 coats of the Porsche black paint on it. i don't think there'd be much difference.

I'm still a long way off from running but considering the temps the car got upto before i started tearing it apart i don't think it will be a problem

So i think go for it.

[bavaria911]

Classic,
Thanks - I'll look into POR15 when I take the tank off and decide to fix the leak. I'm concerned about the gas tank seal that you referred to. Yes, I know it holds up to gas, but I'm not sure it would hold up to the heat in the oil tank and not peel off the metal and into the hoses / engine?

Thanks
Bavaria

[Classic]

yeah that's one question i'm waiting on the POR reps to email me

[Biff]

Classic, Did you get any feedback from POR15 on the oil tank question? I'm about to do mine and would like some input. Thanks

[PAT4]

Hi all,

I am doing the same on a spare 1970 tank I had. There was plenty of soil outside, especially on the side near the wheel. So I cleaned the external of the tank and I am going to repaint it.

As I removed the oil gauge and fliter holder I noticed that the internal has a lot of deposit or oil sediment. I planed to try to clean them with fuel or some solvant.

Do you have any suggestion ?

[911SCfanatic]

eastwood sells a special paint for use with radiators that I intend to use.
regarding cleaning the exterior of the tank, I think the safest course is to tape up all of the holes, degrease and use a grinder with an 80 grit pad to "clean" the outside. then prime and paint.

[randywebb]

Send it to a shop to clean the interior - they will do a better job than any home DIY can do.

The ext. paint will need to adhere to copper or brass alloy or whatever P AG used on yours.

[PAT4]

A shop ? What kind of shop ????