Leaking Petrol Tank

[cbjroms]

I am making a kitcar using a petrol tank from a Triumph Spitfire.

You can see from the photo that I have drilled a hole too close to the tank seam and have now found that it is leaking from this point.



The petrol tank has not had any fuel in it for the last 20 years and I filled it with water today to test for leaks.

My question is whether I will be able to cure the leak by welding-up the hole? If so, is there any special technique that I will need to use?

Thanks

Chris

 

[mike os]

just because it has not had fuel in for 20 years does not mean it will not go pop..... there are a few threads on here about welding fuel tanks

 

[Shox Dr]

fill it with water, and lay the tank so the hole is at the bottom, the water covering it. Weld up

 

[cbjroms]

I have welded-up the hole but a couple of other holes have appeared due to the heat.



How should I go about repairing these without making the situation worse?

Thanks

Chris

 

[Robotstar5]

You could try the thin metal technique, small tacks to slowley fill the hole, but you may be fighting a losing battle

 

[brightspark]

thourougly clean and flux it then soft solder using a large soldering iron

 

[Springerdinger]

Use the thin metal technique to build up the edges.
worst case make a small patch to fit in. repairs like this often look worse before they get better.
I would keep going laying very short burst of weld on the seam in a neat line and build up from there onto the skin. Then once the seam is welded stitch onto the skin

 

[pedrobedro]

I'd throw it in the scrap you are going to be chasing that hole all the way round the tank, it's like paper. Get some 18g sheet and make yourself a new one to fit in the car.