Fuel Tank Paint? Yes or No?

[Bruzilla]

I'm putting a new fuel tank in this weekend. It's bare metal right now, and I'm wondering if I should paint it first? I watched the Graveyard Carz folks install a new one on a Challenger recently, and they put it in unpainted, and can't help but think painting it would be the better way to go.

Do you guys paint new tanks or put them in without paint?

 

[65wgn440]

Clearcoat for me.

 

[flyingfarley]

Clearcoat for me.

Clean them with wax and grease remover and I agree on the clearcoat if you want them to stay decent looking....

 

[747mopar]

I don't put anything on unpainted. In my case with a 69 Charger they are somewhat visible from the rear so I painted it flat black to help make it disappear.

 

[67 GTX]

Both cars of mine I left unpainted.

 

[mmissile]

I leave new-ones,bare.

 

[khryslerkid]

Left mine bare, painted the strap.

 

[moparnation74]

Are you sure it is bare steel? I thought all were zinc/galv coated?

I coated mine with Wheel Armour from ECS but mine will not be driven a lot and in a climate controlled garage.....

Personally, I wouldn't paint it but I would apply some type of corrosion inhibitor on it...Or a good matte clear coat maybe....

 

[Dibbons]

I cleaned off whatever that waxy coating my new tank had and then used Rustoleum red primer followed by Rustoleum color coat (looks like John Deere green-just to be different). Ten years later it still looks great. My "policy" is to make sure every part of my restoration has some kind of personal touch.

 

[moparnation74]

I cleaned off whatever that waxy coating my new tank had and then used Rustoleum red primer followed by Rustoleum color coat (looks like John Deere green-just to be different). Ten years later it still looks great. My "policy" is to make sure every part of my restoration has some kind of personal touch.

That is without question a "personal touch" indeed....

How bout a picture?

 

[Dibbons]

The green painted fuel tank is on my '65 Barracuda Formula S which is still in a kind of "rat rod " looking mix of original factory white and a gray primer after ten years. I will post a foto here.

My new Bbody fuel tank on the '72 SSP was installed unpainted because the car was assembled at a relative"s house snd I was in a hurry at the time. Everytime I look at it I am thinking to myself "unfinished".

 

[The Rebel]

If you were in the North where road salt / calcium chloride is used I'd say definitely paint it. As your in FL I think clear coat is the way to go.

 

[Bruzilla]

I cleaned off whatever that waxy coating my new tank had and then used Rustoleum red primer followed by Rustoleum color coat (looks like John Deere green-just to be different). Ten years later it still looks great. My "policy" is to make sure every part of my restoration has some kind of personal touch.

I'm the same way. I was thinking of painting the tank black with the same Steelers sleeve stripes I have on the spoilers. Should make for a nice tie in.

 

[doublekrossd]

I put a stainless tank in mine this winter, had to weld in a sump for the fuel pick up, so I coated the whole thing with POR-15. I think it looks great.

 

[Photon440]

Bruzilla, if your new tank is a Spectra it should be weather proof. It may look like bare metal, but it is ni-terne coated. Which means that it was given a flash coat of electroplate nickel, then a tin/lead alloy dip just like the original.

 

[Bruzilla]

Bruzilla, if your new tank is a Spectra it should be weather proof. It may look like bare metal, but it is ni-terne coated. Which means that it was given a flash coat of electroplate nickel, then a tin/lead alloy dip just like the original.

It is a Spectra, and thanks for the information. I am painting the underside of it as it is easy to see since my car is WAY up in the back.