Rusty Fuel Tank Tab Repair

Awesome. Have you contemplated a price yet?

71gsx455-4spd wrote:

Hi Guys,

Working on more now.....

I am also needing one of those repair rings but for my 98 DeVille, I believe they use the same lock ring. I had made a hold-down plate (for my 97 Riviera) out of a pipe that contacted the area above the o-ring and was welded to a plate w/ 4 holes which accepted studs coming thru the tank, but it was a lot of work and I actually like your idea better, so put me in line for one of your retaing plates, Thanks.

Just an update. I have 30+ blanks cut and being deburred. I will start forming them next week. One thing I've learned is that it important to change the gasket as it deforms in height over time and becomes less flexible. I developed a slight gas odor and determined it was the gasket. A new one took car of the problem.

The catch is that gaskets are hard to come by as a single item. If you are changing the pump anyway, you will get a new gasket, but that's spendy if your pump is still working just fine. I'm thinking a light coat of fuel resistant permatex would resolve the problem, but that remains to be seen.

Rockauto has the gaskets, they are in stock but are closing them out. Part # 25028682
Ken when will you be selling the repair rings
Bob MOcarGuy@aol.com

Ken, when are you going to have one of those rings ready for me?? I would appreciate a reply. I do not want to have to junk this car, it is perfect except for the gas tank.
Bob, MOcarGuy@aol.com 815 280 5076

RivGuy wrote:

Ken, when are you going to have one of those rings ready for me?? I would appreciate a reply. I do not want to have to junk this car, it is perfect except for the gas tank.
Bob, MOcarGuy@aol.com 815 280 5076

Bob,
I just called Ken, and he was still at work. He is still trying to find the time to tweak that ring to make it perfect so that no one has any problems with it. He has a few made but like a lot of people, he has to find the time. I made him aware of your dilemma. No one wants to see an otherwise good car junked. Hopefully ken can get it right and get them out. I told him about this thread. Hopefully he will be along with an update.

Bob,
I called Ken again. He should have E mailed you.

Bob,

Sent you two PM's this evening. Please shoot me a message back.

Thanks,

Ken

Hey Ken in Ct., I really need your repair device for my 96 Riv. Do you have any available right now? A buddy tried to patch mine a few weeks ago but still the smell of gas. Now my fuel pump has shit the bed and I want to do it right. Help me please.
John Beganny
345 Richmond Road
Litchfield, Maine 04350
207 268-4791

Ken, I really need one of your adapters for my 96 Riv. A buddy tried to seal up my tank a few weeks ago but still the smell of gas. Now my fuel pump has shit the bed and I want to do it right. Please respond as I need this car. Thanks so much. I left this same message on the
thread from which it started but thought you might not see it there.
John Beganny
345 Richmond Road
Litchfield, Maine 04350
207 268-4791 (leave a message please)
or jbeganny2@roadrunner.com

I could use one of these as well.... Right now my fuel pump is being held in place by the plastic U from the spare tire carrier and a cut in half pink sandal...

Whats the status on these? I really need one

Whats the status on these? I really need one

Guessing this is a bust now

saintsnsinners wrote:

Guessing this is a bust now

I was able to obtain one of the rings and it does the job 95%, The 1st installation when fine but when tank was full there was a small amount of leakage with a new gasket, but no sealer, the 2nd try I put some gasket sealer and there is a small amount of seepage.
I think if someone were to find the proper sealer applied to both sides of gasket that may make to rings leak proof. The sealer I used was suppose to be gas proof, most are not. I wish I had used a different sealer. You will have to convience Ken to make you one and you will have to experiment with it. It is a nice piece of work.

My tank is toast.. Right now the only thing holding the fuel pump in is a the U shaped plastic from the spare tire and a cut up sandal....

Your options are pretty much:
Make a new ring yourself
Get a used tank from junkyard or car-part.com
The OEM style lock rings are on rockauto. But if yours is rotted out you'll have to make something.

If you remove your gas tank a local radiator shop might be able to repair it for you.

Just some other ideas, since Ken hasn't come back to sell these yet.

I'M sorry Derek but that is bad advice, have you tried to get a tank out? Or have you tried to find a used tank? Both are not good options.

Parts yard cut holes in all the tanks oit.here

So what has happened to Ken? It has been a while now and have we heard from him at all? Earlier he said he had ordered or received 30 blanks that he was going to process. I hope he is OK and nothing has happened to him. I tried to contact him several times but never heard back so I went ahead and tried to fix the problem on my own. Tank still leaks when full and also takes on water during rainstorms. I still need one of Ken's rings . More importantly, I hope he is OK.

RivGuy wrote:

I'M sorry Derek but that is bad advice, have you tried to get a tank out? Or have you tried to find a used tank? Both are not good options.

I have, and I know it's not easy. You don't have a lot of options.

Called every parts yard here, they all drill holes. in the tank to drain them. Parts yards are out.

Actually, there is another option.  I have only heard of it once, but it worked.  One of my Buick V8 buddies had a 97 Riviera with that issue.  He fixed it with stainless self tapping screws and big washers.  He used sealant on the screws and screwed the fuel assembly down through the plastic tank.  Not sure how many screws he used, but he never had a problem with it after that, no leaks, no smell.  He sold the car to one member here.  At one point, I tried to get that member to remove the inspection panel and take a picture of that repair so others could see exactly what he had done, but he could not get the inspection cover off (said it was glued down).

Here is the thread where I tried to get a picture but was unsuccessful.

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t4779p90-write-up-fuel-pump-tank-sending-unit-replacement?highlight=Fuel+tank+rust

Start with the 8th post down in the above thread. might be worth seeing if we can contact him again. Maybe he got the cover off at some point since then.

THIS WAS THE PERFECT FIX FOR MY 1995 RIVIERA WITH STOCK PUMP AND SENDING UNIT ASSY.


Vetteworks F-body LS1 fuel pump adapter kit
Model LS1003
Manufacturer Vetteworks

 


Description Mfg Info
Vetteworks F-body LS1 fuel pump adapter kit. The kit comes with a template, lower mounting bracket and an upper clamping bracket to mount the fuel pump into position. Pump gasket is available. The adapter plate at laser machined from stainless steel.   Contact Vetteworks for more information. 253-223-4968.

That's interesting.

http://www.vetteworksonline.net/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=9&products_id=89