Projects 31 A fuel tank ?

I'm getting close to installing a 4 inch indented firewall in my 31. The original one had been removed, when I bought car. What do you do with the fuel tank? The defrost tube will have to be removed to make clearance for the indented firewall.. Do most cut a portion out of the tank to have more room under the dash, leaving the face for dash? I know tanks explode!

 

are you still using the tank? if not cut it out.

 

Henry soldered the baffles to the bottom and sides of the tank...
means cutting many holes to get at other soldered baffles...
Drop about 1" below the top and cut all they way around the top...pic...
no soldered baffle joints near the top.
drill 1/4" holes every 6" along the front and rear edge... wire ties will help hang your wiring harness, radio and heater...
'32 cowl vent optional...

 

Not going to use tank.

 

That's was my thinking. Do you build a new dash?

 

Brookville sells a '32 dash made to fit in an A.
There are two, one for an "open" and "closed car".

https://brookvilleroadster.com/store/dashes/

 

If yours is good swap for one that is already cut up plus cash.

Charlie Stephens

 

If your "A "tank is good worth some $$, guys on Ford Barn looking to restore "A "s .
"A "tanks are Not reproduced.
You can find one thats been cut cheap .

 

Yes , different dash...
think about a '32 or '33-'34 truck cowl top for the vent... [nows the time].
I build '35-'40s and '48-'52 truck dashes to bolt into '30-'31 closed car cowls.
the '48-'52 truck dashes smoothly swoop from dash to A pillar...
that also leaves room for the interior window handles to rotate in a coupe...
…. GO Willywash GO !

 

I did a similar thing to my ‘31 A. I flipped the original firewall and removed the original tank from the cowl and continued to use the cowl. I was pretty wary about cutting the tank due to gas fumes, etc.

Here’s what I did after removing the cowl/tank: 1) removed fuel as best I could, 2) washed out the tank with soap and water 2 or 3 times ( I used simple green because I had it), 3) ran the gas from my MIG welder into the tank for several minutes, 4) tied a propane torch to a broom handle and put the flame into the tank fill hole (no boom!), 5) redid the MIG gas for the hell of it, 6) cut the tank off the cowl with a cutoff wheel.

I replaced the original tank with a 16-gallon ‘32-style tank from Dagel Street Rods.

edit: I think I used lit paper towels instead of a propane torch

 

I cut the gas tank out of my 30 and used a U2 Tanks gas tank in the trunk, bought it several years ago and the new style is just a little different. Bought a Brookville 32 style dash and welded it to the 30 dash rail that I cut down.

 

chevrolet dashes fit well also and add a little class.

 

Love the broom handle safety trick! I was building a BBQ grill once out of a butane tank. My friend running a machine shop knew a guy that would cut it open for fifty bucks. I said, NO WAY I'll save that fifty and fill it with water. He said, I'll see you at the funeral!

 

When we used to weld on fuel tanks we would fill them with exhaust, just run a hose from an exhaust system of a service truck into the tank and give some time to fill the tank with exhaust fumes. Then go ahead and weld it.

 

Hard to argue with a ‘32 dash (mine is from Brookville) and some cool gauges in an A. I like the idea of an alternative though.

 

The safest way to cut out a gas tank is to have someone else do it!