Finding Parts

Im looking for a few parts for a 1952 M38A1 project I have, and I havent been successful in finding them, whether i havent been able to find them or theyre the Gucci Omix parts and are too expensive. Im looking primarily for a fuel tank, or tips on cleaning one out its a solid gas tank its just been sitting for about 5-7 years and looks like it has surface rust all on the inside. A cowl battery cover. And a rear seat frame. Any tips on where to look would be much appreciated.

 

Have you posted on the G? G503 Military Vehicle Message Forums - Index page That's pretty much the site for the mil models. Not sending you away, since the mil Jeeps have a lot in common with the civvy models, and you'll get good advice here. But if you need military stuff, the G is a good place to look.

I'm sure you'll find lots of old posts here about coating gas tanks. If the tank is just rusty, you could coat it yourself or send it out. Radiator shops typically take that job. They'd boil it out and coat it. I did my CJ-6 tank at home with the Hirsch tank slosh and it turned out fine. Fuel Tank Sealer, Gas Tank Sealer, Hirsch Tank Sealer - HirschAuto.com Took all of one hot summer weekend to complete the job.

 

Ebay. Or one of the many military suppliers. Try the MVCC club magazine for sources. Magazine Discount Center

Google works too.

Keep in mind your battery cover is probably the early 8-bolt screw-down type.
I made my own cover by heating and forging a 90º edge around a sheet of steel. Works great. Made the special bolts too.

A military tank will be $400 or more. You should reuse yours.

 

Break some glass into small pieces, you need bout half gallon.
Put it all in a dry tank.
Now shake,shake and turn.
This will clean inside of tank.
Shake all out u can when done, then shop vac, then blow out with air hose.
I once did this to a motorcycle tank, really bad inside, we attached it to a portable
concrete mixer, let it run bout an hour, tank was shinny and clean inside after that.

 

Shingle nails work too, but the shaking is the hard part.
-Donny

 

pm sent

 

I used 1" drywall screws.

 

I used Muriatic acid on a lot of rusty motorcycle tanks, there is a suggested formula on the bottle for rust removal. You can use a good carb cleaner to remove the rotten gas first. Vinegar might work well as a rust remover. I bought a plastic tank for my Jeep, the filler neck was in the wrong place, didn't line up right. I sent it back and bought a steel one worked out great. Good luck

 

After getting my A1, one of the first things I did was pull the gas tank. It hadn't been leaking, but the rust was there and holding back the fuel. Soon as I took an old ice pick to it, the holes readily appeared. Quite a few of them, all on the underside, where dirt, leaves etc gather to sit along with some rain and start rusting the tank through.

As a kid, my first job was at an old school radiator shop and we ran a number of gas tanks through that shop. I knew my tank stood a chance of being repaired. Good used tanks are uncommon and expensive so I had the shop work it over. They cleaned it out, fiberglassed the outside and then used some sort of a sealant on the inside (blue color). The shop formean told me that the sealant was used because it was very difficult for them to get the fiberglass resin to literally seal every conceivable hole. And in fact, looking at the outside of the tank at he resin, sure enough, there were a few small blue tinged areas. I threw some OD paint on the repaired areas and re-installed.

That tank was repaired almost 8 years ago now and it seems to have held. I really should pull it one more time to clean out the tank well and make sure the repair has held up with a close visual inspection. Then I can fully decide what to do with the spare tank.

That's the long way of suggesting you have a radiator shop take a look at it if it has any holes. Otherwise take the advice already given for cleaning it out on your own.

 

Local radiator repair shop cleaned and coated tanks on the side.
His brother had a glass shop, he always had plenty of abrasive.
He built a Turning fixture out of 2x4s and an old washing machine motor,
He strapped or tied the tanks to a wooden drum and let them run.
Thanks shined almost like new inside when done, he mostly
Did classic cars and antique tractors.
I always poured couple oz of 2-stroke oil inside ,and tried to coat inside until
On car and fuel inside.