stripping painting and refitting a underslung gas tank

[lloydy]

So, as my van is off to get pretty i've decided to get the 20 odd year old gas tank looking good. First task was to empty the tank of gas, which i did by connecting it to my BBQ and letting it run

once the tank was empty, i removed the metal tinware surrounding the controls, 3X 10mm bolts and it comes free

This might get cleaned up and reused or i'll see what is available new from Gunzle or similar
Next step, i removed the pressure relief valve. This just unscrews (with a bit of effort!)
Next up was the regulator set up, this could be for sale soon as i might be getting a lower pressure regulator to suit my UK gas appliances

Followed by unscrewing the main isolation valve

I then removed the bracket for the fill point, 2X 10mm bolts and it comes off

Fill point itself then unscrewed

This has a float on it, which i guess is for the 80% cut off

Gauge and float assembly next

All the fittings now removed (forgot to take a pic with the screw in cap removed, but it just unscrews)

The tank is attached to van by two bars

Held on by nut and bolt

one was well jammed in and rounded off when trying to remove. So i had to hammer in a multispline tool and it came straight out
Bar off, and a pic of mounting points

Next up is blasting and paint, wife mentioned dayglo orange....

[lloydy]

So, sad or not... I've started to clean up the brassware..
looking a lot nicer now compared to the pictures of them above..

this lid was painted white for some reason, back to original bronze now

[Titus A Duxass]

Looking good.
I did something similar last year but I left all the brass bit in and has it sand blasted.
Mine was then treated with a couple of coats of 2pk black - looks a treat still.

[lloydy]

Thanks, i'm not to sure on whether to paint or powder coat yet. Plan is to blast and then zinc and powdercoat or blast and paint with a hammerrite type paint

[max and caddy]

If ever there was a man who needs to buy himself a showmans engine...you are he..



Nice to see a bit of brass...thing of the past on vehicles now.

[lloydy]

I don't know if you've twigged yet, but I don't think I'll be driving the van when all these things are done. I'll be scared to, wouldn't want to get the paintwork/engine/gas tank wet!

[max and caddy]

Thanks, i'm not to sure on whether to paint or powder coat yet. Plan is to blast and then zinc and powdercoat or blast and paint with a hammerrite type paint

How about getting the tank sprayed with rubber underseal or truck bed liner type stuf like line x...it will let stones bounce off then...not that it will after if your not driving it of course..

[lloydy]

Might dig out the bash plate for the gas tank......

I'm 99.9% sure the tank will be orange

[lloydy]

all the bits i took to the blasters is ready to pick up tomorrow, for longivity i think i'm going to paint the tank with hammerite spray paint. Got some proper thread sealer for the threaded fittings

seals up to 10,000psi and i feel safer using it on a high pressure tank rather than ptfe tape.
undecided on whether to get the standard plastic controls cover from gunzle or the s/steel version from here
http://www.tdi-umbau.com/campinzubehoer ... 63d-2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Titus A Duxass]

Go for the steel one, the plastic ones are not robust enough.
I've got one of Harold's on mine.

[lloydy]

Harold?... Is that the guy in the link above?

[Titus A Duxass]

Unfortunately Harold died a while back so the source has dried up.

[lloydy]

Ah, the guy on the BY threads

[Titus A Duxass]

Yup.

[lloydy]

Collected the tank.

I've gone for white hammerite, and have given it a few coats..Straight away wish i got black, as its going to take a few coats.. Runs like a bugger too, so will need a bit of rubbing down
the brackets and fixings have all been zinc'd

these will get a spray off paint too