Kensey

Hi all,

I just discovered a small pin hole leak in my gas tank. (72 Delta 88)

So should I try patching with JB Water Weld, anyone have any personal experience with this stuff?

I know I should just replace it. Patching is a temporary fix, and if there's one hole, there a hundred. BUT will the JB patch buy me a few months?

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Kensey
Pittsburgh, PA

redoldsman

If it is not too bad, try taking it to a radiator shop. They might be able to flush it and put a liner in it.

oldcutlass

If you clean the surface well the JB Weld will get you by for a while. Just remember, where there is 1 pinhole, there are probably others forming around it.

Olds64

If it's a small hole this should solve your problem.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/poi-49239/overview/

You can also buy them from Eastwoods and Amazon. Just make sure you wear PPE. It's nasty stuff!

troyd

You can JB Weld patch just about anything. I've got a JB Weld epoxy patch on a grease trap in one of my restaurant kitchens that has been holding for, oh, 3 years now? If JB Weld had been around 100+ year ago, I'm pretty sure they could have limped the Titanic back to shore and I'd never have to see that damn movie on cable ever again.

I digress, My way of thinking...if you gotta drop the tank...for probably less than 150 bucks you can get a new tank, I'd just pony up and replace it...unless there is a sentimental attachment to the tank for some reason.

Just my .02. YMMV.

Cheers,

Troy

redoldsman

If you can get a tank at all, I think it will be more than $150. You should be able to get it cleaned and sealed by a radiator shop for about $150. The kit from Summit that Olds64 mentioned would be another option if you are up to it. There has to be rust in the tank and it needs to be cleaned out. Be sure and change the sock on the pickup if you drop the tank.

troyd

Just plugging in 1972 Oldsmobile Delta 88 fuel tank into my intrawebs search engine yielded a few hits such as this...

https://www.stockwiseauto.com/spectr...f1990608f2262&

Now, I don't believe everything on the intrawebs as 100% factual but I think it would be worth the OP's while to investigate. If no such animal exists, then you don't have much choice but to repair it......

Just my .02, YMMV.

Cheers,

Troy

redoldsman

If they have that tank at that price, that would be the way to go.

jaunty75

Amazon has the same tank, GM38B, for $143 with free shipping if you're a Prime member.

rustyroger

I have encapsulated leaking tanks in fiberglass. In one case I know it worked for at least seven years with UK unleaded gas.
Not in ideal solution for a show car, but it does work.

Roger.

just rust

I used "Seal-All" to patch a pinhole on a filler neck on a vehicle and it held up great. No issues after 2.5 years.

Allan R

When my 72 Cutlass started leaking back in 89 I had the tank repaired at a radiator shop. The held just fine till I replaced in in 2012. Cost less and worked just fine. Spectra premium is a good tank though if you want to go new. I'd take out the old one first and evaluate whether it's just one small hole, or the potential is there for a lot of them.

My442

Get a new tank.

If you have one leak, others will follow.

Cheap insurance.

B964

GM38B is for station wagon only.

Fpcopo

droptopron

Rockauto lists a different company for about $125 but I wouldn't just asume their listing is right. Investigate with them & with the company to confirm its correct. If it is & its $125 I'd do that

cfhcar

rockauto list wagon tank. 71 and 72 full size 88 and 98 sedan and coupe tanks are like cutlas tank but bigger. i have yet to find someone making them. used tank, have yours fixed or some sort of custom tank are the only options.

Olds64

Here's a fuel tank repair product if you have holes that are too big for the sealer kit to take care of: