Gas Tank Pads--- Restoration Item
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,625
From: Austin, Texas
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Ted and Shane. You'll love these pads that Patton sells. I bought one for my car too. He packs them very well. One thing both of you should be prepared for though is this is a relatively heavy parcel and USPS shipping rates reflect that. Knowing this? I'd still buy one from Patton. I'm 100% happy with his knowledge, service and product.
Call this a 'late' testimonial. I recommend Patton's "tank toppers" highly!
Call this a 'late' testimonial. I recommend Patton's "tank toppers" highly!
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 698
From: treasure coast FL
I bought one of these and installed it in my 72 cutlass convertible along with new tank, sender, and lines. The pad is super nice quality! However I made a stupid mistake! I should have trimmed some strips material off for the metal straps underneath the tank!
Patton, would you sell me some strips for my tank straps?
Thanks!
Dave
Patton, would you sell me some strips for my tank straps?
Thanks!
Dave
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Dave, LOL. The pad you bought is just fine the way it is. Actually 72 Cutlass models never came that way from the factory and Patton did point this out to me before I bought it. I decided to go with the topper anyway as it will also diminish some possible noise and protect the top of the tank even better. I give Patton top marks for his honesty in our correspondence on this. He could easily have talked himself out of a sale without trying too hard 
. I think he was concerned that if I was doing a concourse restoration (which I'm not) the tank topper would actually cost me points. You don't find guys who will give consideration to things like that much any more! Nope, my car may look pretty when it's done, but will never be a trailer queen. Gotta enjoy it before I go to the big bone yard in the sky.
OEM tanks on the 72 Cutlass have galvanized straps holding them in place so they won't rust and I'm pretty sure any repro's are the same. Patton can address this further as I'm not an expert. Honestly, I don't think you need anything between your tank and the straps. At least I'm not going to put anything with mine. And now that you likely have fuel in the tank it will be a little bit of a PITA to support the tank, loosen off the strap bolts just for that? Also you don't want to stretch that sending unit ground by accident.....
Got a picture of your install? I bet it looks awesome! I will post pics of mine as it gets installed. It will be on my Gassed thread.
. I think he was concerned that if I was doing a concourse restoration (which I'm not) the tank topper would actually cost me points. You don't find guys who will give consideration to things like that much any more! Nope, my car may look pretty when it's done, but will never be a trailer queen. Gotta enjoy it before I go to the big bone yard in the sky.OEM tanks on the 72 Cutlass have galvanized straps holding them in place so they won't rust and I'm pretty sure any repro's are the same. Patton can address this further as I'm not an expert. Honestly, I don't think you need anything between your tank and the straps. At least I'm not going to put anything with mine. And now that you likely have fuel in the tank it will be a little bit of a PITA to support the tank, loosen off the strap bolts just for that? Also you don't want to stretch that sending unit ground by accident.....
Got a picture of your install? I bet it looks awesome! I will post pics of mine as it gets installed. It will be on my Gassed thread.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 698
From: treasure coast FL
I'll try to get some pictures posted after the afternoon thunderstorms calm down... I have no fuel in the tank... YET!
The straps are actually the originals, just cleaned off the 1/2 inch of crud and they were in spectacular shape. Just want to avoid the chafing. The old tank I replaced had some chafe marks there... Mine is definitely NOT going to be a trailer queen... and maybe a trailer puller (small one perhaps) My ground wire utilizes a different hole than stock. The ground wire on the replacement sender was a bit shorter.
The straps are actually the originals, just cleaned off the 1/2 inch of crud and they were in spectacular shape. Just want to avoid the chafing. The old tank I replaced had some chafe marks there... Mine is definitely NOT going to be a trailer queen... and maybe a trailer puller (small one perhaps) My ground wire utilizes a different hole than stock. The ground wire on the replacement sender was a bit shorter.
Just an Olds Guy
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 24,528
From: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Chafing isn't a good thing....
When the tank straps are tightened up, there shouldn't be any chafing at all. Chances are someone may not have tightened them all the way at the factory?? I know what you mean about the repro sender units. I took the ground wire from my OEM sender and soldered it to the repro. For some silly reason the repro wire is not only shorter, but comes off the sender 180° opposite to the original direction. Good thing about the tank topper, it will also cushion and insulate the sender and ground wires from moving around as they press into the material over time. I still plan to put some duct tape on the wiring by the sender to help prevent any chaffing by the sealing ring or sharp edges on the tank opening.. Sorry Patton, didn't mean to hijack the thread. I guess the discussion is sort of related to the sale of the tank topper.... I will add that information to my "Gassed" thread and add pictures in the near future.
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Registered User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,625
From: Austin, Texas
No need for anything b/n the tank straps and the tank. The tank is up against the floorpan TIGHT when the straps are tightened up. Any "chafing" you see is not anything to be concerned about if the straps are nice and tight. I don't mean you should take a breaker bar and use that for massive leverage and torque to tighten the long strap bolts (the 2 just behind the differential) but using an ordinary 3/8 drive ratchet, etc you want to snug them up.
For example, the '72 Chassis Service Manual calls for only 10 ft lbs of torque on these bolts....that's not much.
No reports of tank straps wearing through the tanks, etc to my knowledge. The factory simply did not install anything on top of the straps, regardless of what you may see being sold by some vendors ("revisionist repro parts history"
). Don't waste your money or your time on this as you don't need it.
Yes, you gotta love a tank that's been dealer undercoated....the darn straps get it too and when you clean them up it's almost like NOS stuff with the finish being well preserved.
As far as the strap material....originals are galvanized steel as Allan stated. I've had personal experience with some bare metal repro replacements (those ended up in the recycle bin as they were too short to be used with the stock bolts) and I know some places sell stainless steel straps. I always prefer nice originals. The straps on the tank in my ad here are replated originals.....that's the car I threw away the bare steel/too-short set for.
Go back and look at the pics on page 1 of this ad....2nd or 3rd set of pics....nothing on that car b/n the tank and the straps.
Thanks again for the good words!!
For example, the '72 Chassis Service Manual calls for only 10 ft lbs of torque on these bolts....that's not much.
No reports of tank straps wearing through the tanks, etc to my knowledge. The factory simply did not install anything on top of the straps, regardless of what you may see being sold by some vendors ("revisionist repro parts history"
). Don't waste your money or your time on this as you don't need it.Yes, you gotta love a tank that's been dealer undercoated....the darn straps get it too and when you clean them up it's almost like NOS stuff with the finish being well preserved.
As far as the strap material....originals are galvanized steel as Allan stated. I've had personal experience with some bare metal repro replacements (those ended up in the recycle bin as they were too short to be used with the stock bolts) and I know some places sell stainless steel straps. I always prefer nice originals. The straps on the tank in my ad here are replated originals.....that's the car I threw away the bare steel/too-short set for.
Go back and look at the pics on page 1 of this ad....2nd or 3rd set of pics....nothing on that car b/n the tank and the straps.
Thanks again for the good words!!
Last edited by 70Post; Jul 13, 2013 at 09:29 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 401
I just dropped my gas tank on my 70 cutlass s it had one of those oil pads on top of the gas tank .When I pulled it off the tank looked brand new no rust shiney like a nickel ipainted the top of the tank with satin rustolim paint with a paint brush ,let it dry and put it back on top of the tank , I think buy putting wax paper on the tar side will make condosation.
