Installing new fuel tank in 66 coupe. Should I clear, paint, seam sealer?

[b17goinmyway]

Hi List,  new to this list.  I am getting ready to install a new fuel tank in my 66 Mustang.   How did the factory finish the tank or did the just leave it natural?  I was thinking about spraying the tank with a Zinc/Silver type paint that I seen listed in one of the Mustang parts mags.  Anyone have any suggestions on this.  I was thinking about going with what ever the factory did but if they left the metal natural I would prefer to spray with clear to keep it rusting for a while.   Also what should I use to seal around the metal opening when I drop the tank into place?   thanks for any ideas.  later. Dan

[Soaring]

Factory left the metal exposed ie. "natural."  I primed it and painted it black.  My tank is 43 years old and works like a champ. You can use a weather strip to line the lip of the tank. 

[b17goinmyway]

Hi Soaring,   thanks for the reply.  Yes I think I will do something other than just leave it natural.  My coupe is going to be a driver and I like to stay pretty close to factory were I can but I just don't think I want to leave the new tank without some type of protection from the elements.  later.  Dan

[66GTKFB]

I would definetely paint the tank, top and bottom. Using a zinc color paint will work fine and in most cases, primer is not necessary. I use paints from Eastwood http://www.eastwood.com as they have an excellent selection. Also, use 3M strip caulk to seal the tank to the body. It will keep exhaust fumes out.
Jim

[b17goinmyway]

Thanks for the reply Jim,  this is what I am going to do with my tank. I forgot about the eastwood company. I need to get one of there new catalogs.  later Dan

[Soaring]

The San Jose plant painted the bottom with red oxide.  But to me, that is just a primer, albeit a good one.  I would put a couple of good healthy coats of black laquer on it.  The semi-flat blends in the best.  But, who crawls under the car to inspect your gas tank, and certainly who pulls up your trunk liner?  It's simply for protection from the elements, so unless you are showing the car in a MCA concours class show, you could paint it pink I guess.   

[66GTKFB]

San Jose tanks painted with red oxide - uh, no. The gas tank was installed well after all the painting was all finished and before the rear axle went in. The tanks were made of galvanized steel and had the raw material vendor's (US Steel) logo still prominently visible after forming and welding. Painting it with a galvanized type paint is a good idea, laquer is not.
Jim

[Soaring]

As I stated earlier, the tanks were natural from the factory, but different factories painted the undercarriage differently. 
The San Jose factory sprayed their undercarriages red oxide whereas the Metuchen factory painted them black.  There was a lot of overspray because these cars were mass production, so the MCA judges still don't take off points for this.  The point is to cover that tank with some paint so the weather doesn't affect it.  Pink is good.  Black is better.   

[66GTKFB]

Glen,
 I live about 4.5 miles from the San Jose assembly plant. Even with as many hi-tech workers in the area (I'm also 3/4 of a mile from Intel), there are a few of the Ford workers around and I use them as references for 'how did you do this' stuff. Cars were primed on the entire undercarriage, the body painted (without fenders or hood), engine compartment painted black and allowed to dry (for at least 15 minutes), and then the interior. The gas tank was installed a lot further down the line, e.g. no more painting.
Jim

[Soaring]

Jim....I thought you lived in Northern California.  And, yes, the tanks were natural.  Most of the rest of the undercarriage was red oxide.  We both know that.  I was just trying to get a perspective.