Storing a gas tank?

Since I'm running 'pane now, I'm going to remove the gas tank from my 1973 CJ-5. It is still solid, no rust, etc. No, it will no be for sale.

What is the best way to store/preserve it in case I decide in the future to go back to gasoline? It will be stuck up in the rafters of the shop when done. I figure to clean and paint the outside, but what about the inside? Can somebody recommend one of the gas tank sealing kits that works well (and won't break the bank, since this think may sit until someone else "discovers" it)?

 

Any of the "Slushing" sealers would work. Por-15 sells it. First, put some nuts (steel, not acorns!) and ball bearings in it and shake it around to loosen any rust or crud that might already be in there.

 

Here's what I'd do: If it's not rusty now, you could put some drygas (methanol) in it, slosh it around, and dump it. Methanol mixes with both water and gas, and will carry them away with it when you dump it. Then put it in a plastic bag (several bags?) and seal it as air-tight as possible, and put it away. As long as it isn't wet and can't breathe, it won't rust.

BTW in the rafters is probably not the best place for it, since it will heat and cool with the seasons and may breathe. Your basement, an indoor closet - any insulated space - would be better.

 

I stored a dry empty one in my rafters of my garage for quite a few years. Last wheeling trip with the 77 I caught a rock with my tank and punched a hole in it. Go figure the 77 is by itself as far as gas tank configuration. Anyway, back on subject... I grabbed the tank from the rafters (intermediate) knocked the dust off, sweated the oddball 77 fittings on it and tossed it in. Aside from a good layer of dust the tank was no worse for wear. I don't think I would try to seal it off as I think then it would be more likely to trap moisture? If it is wide open it should stay dry?

The tank had some surface rust on it from sitting outside before I picked it up. I don't think the surface rust got any worse sitting in the garage. The inside of the tank stayed very clean. I have some pictures of it but you can't really see the inside of it very well. If you look in the hole you can see what the inside of the tank looked like. The whole inside of it looked like that.

 

Yeah, I'd think the answer as usual is ... it depends.

Now I'm not so sure of my advice - maybe it'd be better to leave the tank open if it's not rusty now. A lot depends on the humidity of the air, and that depends on the temperature and location. Cold air is dry air, so regardless of whether you seal/bag the tank or not, keeping it in a space that stays cool/cold or really dry would be best.

But I may be over-thinking this, and it'll be fine regardless.