Hello fellow AMC fans! I've recently resurrected my 1970 V8 Gremlin and found that the gas tank had more RUST particles in it than gas. Over the years I'd drained & refilled the tank, used STA-BIL, etc... but to no avail. The tank is finished. Other than moving on to a custom fuel cell or a $700 stainless steel unit, does anyone know of a source for a known good used one or if any of the AMC/Jeeps used the same tank? I can't imagine that AMC had a special tank made for each and every car, so some other match must be out there somewhere.

DITTO, by the way, for the Javelin. I have a 1974 that I bought from the original owner back in 1975. That also needs a tank.

Thanks, in advance for any help.  

After being viewed 43 times, no one has a reply? What's the matter guys? Are all AMC forums composed of SLACKERS?

No wonder no one builds/restores these things. The community support from viewers like I've seen here reminds me of some WalMart public restrooms I've used... nothing but floaters in the bowl!

 

Have you noticed how little traffic there is on this board??  Need help with an Olds...I got you covered.  Need help with a Buick, SilverBuick has you covered, need help with a Ford, Mavman is probably your guy (along with a few others)...but traffic on this board is on par with Podunk, USA...population 5.  They insisted on changing to this new format...and no one liked it enough to stay.

Check ebay, your local salvage yards, an AMC-specific forum, or just a general Google search.  This forum is a shell of its former self.  

Soooo true    

AMC used different tanks for many of the car series.  A Gremlin tank from 1970 will fit up through 1976 Gremmies I think.  In 1977 and 78 the fuel filler neck changed.  I have a 76 Gremlin tank on ebay right now.  You're right they are kinda scarce.  

Ditto the podunk theorem.Just aint the same anymore.You AMC guys have it bad,I feel your pain.Not alot out there for ford mavericks either.An amc forum would be your best bet IMHO.Good luck.  

i dont have a source either... but i have a few ideas...

#1    a big honking magnet in the gas tank.... this collects all the floating rust particals to it... or a small really strong magnet... this keeps them out of the filters and carbs...

#2..  most of the new cars use a blow molded plastic gas tank...

since most older gastanks were 2 stampings  with a flat rollwelded flange..   find a  plastic guy who does vacuum molding..    cut a piece of plywood  the to shape so that the lower half of the gastank can fit right up to the flange... this becomes the top form to have the hot plastic sheet dropped over it and vacuumed down tight to make an exact duplicate... but a little larger...

since this plywood cutout needs to be propped up.  use some 2x6 or 2x8's and on the bottom another piece of plywood.. that the other half of the tank can fit into for it's half of the vacuum forming operation...

a few trips to the late model junk yard would score a few plastic filler necks and threaded holes for sending units to be mounted in...

since you have two pieces. one could do a lot of work  to make it all tight  and right before gluing the two halfs together...

if you really wanted to do more modifications...    with a 30 buck 100 pound of casting plaster you could fill each half and make a plug..   temporarly fix the two halfs together and grind and fill and do what ever it takes to make it the right shape for the new attachments. once done.. separate and take back to the plastic fab guy and another set of finished panels can be made.... now you can glue these together... and you are done...


just an idea,,,  

I just sold one for a 70 through 76 Gremlin for $56 plus shipping.  You gotta keep your eyes peeled for these tanks.  They are out there, but admittedly are getting scarce.  You also need to get inside the AMC communication.  Join some mail lists and join your local AMC club.  There are people who know where these tanks are.  

Joe  

The tank for a 79-83 Spirit or 81-83 Eagle SX/4 should fit the Gremlin, but may need some modification. The fact is you can't buy AMC gas tanks any more, and most salvage yards now rip tanks open to drain them. It's quick and easy, and they rarely sell a gas tank anyway. That's the facts of life!

The only tank you can buy on the market now is for a 76-88 Hornet/Concord/Eagle (and the 77-78 AMX, which is Hornet based). The only reason is it was used in the last AMC car built -- the 88 Eagle. It might fit the Gremlin with a few mods -- the 76 Gremlin used a 21 gallon tank, the Hornet a 22. If you don't mind cutting and welding on a new tank (should be no problem), and risking $180 that the tank won't fit, you're all set! The major difference will be the fuel neck. Other than that I think it will fit. You could even cut the neck from your old tank, leaving a flange around it, then cut a hole for it in the new one and epoxy and screw the flange on. No welding involved!

Have you checked on repairing the tank? Pull it, clean it thoroughly. Throw a handful of pea gravel or 1/4" nuts (and maybe 1/4" x1" bolts) in it and rattle around as much as you can. Not easy with a 20 gallon tank, but I've done it! Pour out the mess then rinse thoroughly. If you have pinholes fix them with epoxy. Now rinse the tank with a strong degreaser, something like Purple Power. Wouldn't hurt to use it straight. Follow with a couple thorough water rinses. Then use a sealer. The best and easiest to use I've found is from www.hirschauto.com. I've sealed 4-5 tanks with it. Good stuff, but you MUST follow the directions! Getting the tank reasonably clean inside is the first step.

You can also cut the top out of the tank for cleaning. Yes, I'm serious! Pro tank repair places do just that. Cut a good 10-12" square out of the top (this is a big tank -- might want to cut two spaced apart) then get in there and clean it! Then you can epoxy and screw galvanized patch panels over the holes. Paint, then rehang the tank. No one will ever know except you. DO NOT try to use a gasket sealer instead of epoxy! I don't know of one that will hold up to being washed with gasoline as fuel sloshes around. Yea, I tried that. Had to pull the tank a couple weeks later and epoxy the top down.

It's not hard to build a tank if you don't mind it not looking stock. It's just a metal box dimensioned to fit underneath the car. I did that -- try finding a tank that will fit a 63 AMC/Rambler wagon! Odd sized bugger!! Figure out how much room you have, make a cardboard tank, then take it to a sheet metal shop and have them fold one up for you. I designed mine with an open top then screwed and epoxied it in place. Made everything easier. I also put a baffle in the center, but mostly for support. 18 gauge steel is great, use two baffles if you use 20 gauge (I used 18).

There is no easy answer. It's an AMC, not a popular car that has loads of aftermarket support/parts. It's not the only one! You have to be a real "car crafter" to own and drive one!!

There ARE AMC specific forums. The main three are www.amc-list.com, www.theamcfourm.com, and www.amccars.net. How about an internet search before you start a big project? You'd have got an answer there.  

Sorry.   I don't think the Spirit/Eagle tank will fit the 70-76 Gremlin.  The Gremlin tank is thicker (has a taller shape) in the side view.   I have had both a Spirit and currently have two Gremlins.  

I do not know if you are still looking for gas tank repair but I ran across this site for those of us AMC'ers that still need it.

http://gastankrenu.com/

Hope this helps some needy AMC!

Michael Hayes  

I have a sweet gremmie tank but wouldnt sell it to him after his second comment     LOL  

Take the tank off and have it renovated at a shop that does that.  Just ask your local mechanic.  

A local competent  tank shop can repair and coat it. You'll attract alot more attention with honey in the future. In short if you ask for help don't insult the helper. Two direct resource sites:
http://amccars.net/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl
or
http://theamcforum.com/forum/

You're welcome.

Steve