Ra28 Fuel tank dented. What to do?

[thomasbl]

The tank on my ra28 has a pretty solid dent in it. looks like it has been backed over something. It looks very average, despite not leaking or anything. Are the tanks splittable so that i could bash it out? I don't think i want to lash out on a custom made ally one or anything just yet. Are there any second hand ones getting around or are they rare as hens teeth? Any thoughts appreciated.

[BeRad]

you can always get it welded if it splits, how bigs the dint, is it worth booting out at the risk of it splitting?.

if it splits on you, a bit of soap rubbed over the split will see you through until you can repair it properly.

[TA-022]

always try blocking it up and poping it out with compressed air. ?

[thomasbl]

Its a reasonable size dent. Almost the size of a dinner plate. It looks like one area has been pushed up and this had forced a bit down. Im not sure if it is a suitable sort of dent for air pressure to fix. Are the tanks able to be split in half for repair etc? How have people got access in order to modify tanks etc?

[Pube]

If the dent cant been seen unless lying under the car I wouldnt even bother trying to fit it. If It can be seen, spend your money on some new springs and lower the car

[airfireman1]

you should not need to split it. Wash it out to remove all petrol and fumes (MANY TIMES)
Drill a few holes and use a dent remover(slide hamer) pull out dent then reweld holes.

[thomasbl]

Pube: The dent is visible from behind the car. The car already has lowered springs. Its a shitty looking dent.

Thanks for the suggestion about using a slide hammer. Ill have a good look at the dent and see if that idea will work. Cheers mate.

[Youngy]

Do you think this would work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2R3QQejjGI

long shot I know

[BeRad]

drill a screw into the middle of the dint grab the end of the screw with a claw hammer and pull on it, then get the little hole welded up, and bobs your aunty.

[clubagreenie]

Be Very Careful even if you've washed/flushed and purged tank before welding/soldering. I had one kind of explode, it flamed up inside expanding it like a balloon, then when it cooled it shrank inwards with a massive vacuum and became totally useless.

I had flushed with fresh water, soapy water and degreaser (citrus) and purged with exhaust (carbon monoxide in o2 out) but still went up.

If you do just take it to a radiator repairer, they'll solder it up submerged in a tank of water minimising the exposed area.

[YelloRolla]

You can gas the tank to get rid of the fumes - running an exhaust pipe into the tank works. Some guys get the fumes out by running a flame torch into the tank - that is they 1) fill it with water 2) place a flame into the neck and then slowly drain the water burning the fumes as it goes. Leave flame running in the tank while doing any welding.

If you can successfully evacuate the tank, try bunging up the outlets with rubber bungs with a nut and bolt arrangment to expand out the bung and fill the holes. Make one bung with a tap in it (like a ball type stop cock) and another with an airline fitting. Build pressure in the tank with air pressure - you can then heat areas of the dent with an oxy torch and the air pressure will push it out, as it comes you open the tap to release pressure. DO this a few times, with care, and your dent will be gone.

As has already been pointed out, the air pressure may pop the dent out on its own accord, BUT, it may reshape your whole tank for an unwanted increase in volume too.

Try any of the above at your own risk! Fuel tanks are dangerous even when they're full of water.

[The Real Roadrunner]

Try any of the above at your own risk! Fuel tanks are dangerous even when they're full of water.

i can vouch for this statement, my cousin got a shit haircut from trying, kind of like a mullet but worse. looked shite with no eyebrows or lashes too.
funny to watch but.

[bnicho]

There was an RA28 that I'm 90% sure had the tank still in place at Centre Road Wreckers last weekend.

Cheers,

[thomasbl]

Thanks mate. Plenty of good suggestions. my best mate works for a v8 supercar team, he has offered to make up an ally tank for a slab or so. Ill either go that option or grab one from the wreckers if i can find one. After having a good lood at the dent, it is far too distorted for the blow out options. Its unlikely to respond well to pulling it out too, its a shit of a shape!

[clubagreenie]

Can he make more for a couple more slabs?