My tank has finally reached its slow rusted death after 23 years. Rotted out by the sending unit about an inch out.
Would it have killed GM to paint these things?
Anyway, I was thinking about Por-15 ing the new one, does anyone know of something better to use, perhaps salt/fuelproof?

 

I used a rust encap product like por15 on the outside of my tank after it was cleaned and repaired. Then I top coated it with black rustoleum. Worked great for me and fuel that splashed on it did not seem cause any issues.

GM's value engineering group saved a lot of $$$ by not painting that tank and 20 + years is a long time considering you live where they salt the roads...

 

Could it have rotted out from the inside out due to condensation? Mine when I pulled it out was still like new.

Regards,

GoodOldsGuy

 

I wouldn't dismiss that theory, anything is possible. It always had a cap on it. I really wish I could show you guys how bad the salt is out here. There are dump trucks with mountains of it and the spreaders will fire 1/2 sugar cube sized chunks that could bury an oldsmobile in about 15 minutes from 10 car lengths away. Every panel on my daily driver is junk. I have Old Style cans and license plates for quarter panels, and if someone were to ever crash into my car it would shatter like a big bondo piggy bank. It looks like a pretty nice car until that happens though. Expect your rear wells to look like this after about 3 years of never being washed or garaged.

 

line the inside with a fuel tank lining product. I like to put epoxy primer & regular base/clear automotive pint on the outside. Holds up fine.