109 Fuel tank Issues, input

[ScottT]

Okay I am looking for some input here.
It is a long story but it boils down to the rear tank (station wagon style) on my 109 needed to be refinished after the marine coating applied years ago came off in flacks and rusted the tank, see pics.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3577/3561107982_b4ccdc621d_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/3561108814_439317daf3_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3560291635_4b8ce04b1b_b.jpg
I dropped the tank out the truck and it is as bad I expected. I was planning on covering it in Wurth Rust Guard Black on the outside but I have rust inside and out.

The question I have is . . do I replace the tank with a proline or dip the tank?
If I were to work with what I have, I am thinking of having a high gauge steel plate welded on to create a skid plate for it (with a hole in the middle for the plug), then dip the whole thing.

Any insight or options are welcome.

[lrdukdog]

First take to a Radiator shop and have it cooked. Next remove the skid plate (sawzall etc) will do for this. You will (probably) find that the bottom of the tank is toast. At this point you have two options. 1- just get a new tank, 2- remove the tank bottom and fab another and install.
What I did years ago was to take my tank to a GOOD welders and let them replace to bottom with thicker metal. You could take this opportunity to make the tank larger. That is if you don't need the rear PTO. Just have them (welders) make it the width of the tank supports.
Jum Wolf

[frans]

Thats a tuff question.
Dipping the tank will truly open up any weak spots, and running around spot welding a rotten tank is an exercise in futility.
fabbing a tank will get expensive very quickly. What I decided to do is just buy another tank. New ones seem to go for around the 250 dollar mark. Quick and easy.
The skid plate which comes stock is very weak, but that is an easy mod to do.

[adkrover]

The new tank will more than pay for itself over the long run. Fewer problems with plugged carb etc..

[thixon]

I'm all for breaking out the welding gear, but if it were me I'd just order the new tank. New, clean, and no worries for a long time to come. Making a skid plate is an easy fun task for the new tank.