Gas tank identification

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
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htc
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Gas tank identification

Post by htc » Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:55 am

Hello

Does anybody recognize this gas tank?
It came out of a GPW but it did not fit exactly. A hole was made in the bottom of the tub to accommodate the exit pipe of the fuel.
There is a label which says "l'auto" so I guess it is French made. Maybe it is for an Hotchkiss M201.
Any ideas?

These are some pictures:

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

Thanks
Hans
Living in Belgium
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Michael O.
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by Michael O. » Mon Sep 04, 2017 11:35 am

Looks like an early small mouth fuel tank. The fuel outlet bracket isn't original, which may be the reason the tub was modified as you say. The outlet port on the tank itself looks right though. The sides of the tank are different from the other early fuel tanks I have seen...they don't have the raised areas one commonly finds. Maybe this tank was a "home build"? The tag on it looks like it's from a servicing shop. Maybe it was boiled/cleaned out by L'Auto at one time?
Last edited by Michael O. on Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by htc » Mon Sep 04, 2017 3:19 pm

Hello Michael
Thank you for your comments. They make sense.
The tank does not fit. It is a little too big. If it were early, it would fit isn't it? Maybe there is an issue with the tub.
I will compare it to another tank I have.
I will do that tomorrow and post pictures to show the differences.
Thanks
Hans
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htc
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by htc » Tue Sep 05, 2017 7:48 am

Hello Michael,

You were completely right.
I did check the dimensions of the tank and they are exact.
The tank did not fit because of the tub that was not correctly repaired.
In the following you will see the to be identified tank(no raised areas) in between two others that look the same but are different also. One has 'Olaco' on it and has an indent that looks like to be made for taking out the tank more easily. The other one does not have 'Olaco' nor the indent but for the rest is similar.
The to be identified tank is probably a repro made by this company called "l'auto".

Pictures:

Image
Image

"Olaco beneath the holes on the left.

Image

No 'Olaco'

Image

Just for those interested:
I have a fourth tank which is also different. It has the ident of the 'Olaco' one but it has other ribs on the body. It does not have 'Olaco' on it either.

Pictures:

Image
Image
Image

Another question:
How easy is it to make one good tank out of two different ones ? (I have tank with rotten bottom and I have tank wit rotten top).
And: How to clean the good ones?

Thanks
Hans
Last edited by htc on Tue Sep 05, 2017 11:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by conrod6 » Tue Sep 05, 2017 9:34 am

Hello Hans your fourth tank- the green one- looks to be M201.

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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by htc » Tue Sep 05, 2017 11:24 am

Hello Barrie

Very well possible. It came out of a Jeep salad. ACMII tub, Ford chassis (GPW number erased and replaced by ITM number), MB serial number plate and MALT plate removed. MB license (strange with the GPW chassis).

Thank you for pin pointing to me what the Hotchkiss M201 gas tank looks like. Now I know :-)
One part of the puzzle solved.

Greetings
Hans
Living in Belgium
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GPW 253827

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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by cjv-35 » Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:43 pm

Believe indent on tank is for the optional PTO belt driven 12 volt radio set-up.

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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by Michael O. » Tue Sep 05, 2017 3:46 pm

cjv-35 wrote:
Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:43 pm
Believe indent on tank is for the optional PTO belt driven 12 volt radio set-up.
Yes, that it correct. The indentation became "standard" so as any jeep could be post factory modified. Of course, there were some factory built radio contract jeeps.

Large mouth fuel tanks without the indentation for the PTO are difficult to find and are not currently being reproduced....but are necessary for a factory correct most many mid series production vehicle.
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by htc » Tue Sep 05, 2017 11:56 pm

Thank you all for the insightful info.

I did not know about the indent for the PTO. Interesting. I thought it was made to make the removal of the tank easier :-)
The repro tank does not have the indent.

Any idea when they stopped making or using non-indent tanks?

The other original tank without indent is completely rusted out on the bottom. That is why I asked whether this could be repaired by putting a bottom of another tank underneath (e.g. by welding).

Greetings
Hans
Living in Belgium
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by Wolfman » Sat Sep 09, 2017 4:31 am

A little trivia on this line.
I have a tank I just took out of a 46 CJ-2A and found stamped into the front side panel, the words, " TANK AUTO".
Don't recall ever seeing this before.
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by dpcd67 » Sat Sep 09, 2017 6:33 am

Hans, Go to the M38 for sale section and there are pictures of a tank that I welded a new bottom into. Just seal the pin holes with Red Kote and it will hold water. or gas.
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by htc » Fri Sep 22, 2017 4:52 am

dpcd67 wrote:
Sat Sep 09, 2017 6:33 am
Hans, Go to the M38 for sale section and there are pictures of a tank that I welded a new bottom into. Just seal the pin holes with Red Kote and it will hold water. or gas.
Hello DPCD67

I do not find your post om the M38 for sale forum. Can you give me the link?
Sorry for asking now. I lost track of this post.

Greetings
Hans
Living in Belgium
MB 379881
GPW 253827

htc
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by htc » Fri Sep 22, 2017 5:00 am

Michael O. wrote:
Tue Sep 05, 2017 3:46 pm
cjv-35 wrote:
Tue Sep 05, 2017 1:43 pm
Believe indent on tank is for the optional PTO belt driven 12 volt radio set-up.
Yes, that it correct. The indentation became "standard" so as any jeep could be post factory modified. Of course, there were some factory built radio contract jeeps.

Large mouth fuel tanks without the indentation for the PTO are difficult to find and are not currently being reproduced....but are necessary for a factory correct most many mid series production vehicle.

I have seen on Jeepdraw that the non-indent large mount tanks were only used on September to October 1942 jeeps. That makes it indeed quite unique. Unfortunately the tank is completely rotten out on the bottom. Is it word saving by putting in another bottom?
This is the text from Jeepdraw (hope I can post this):

"Quote Jeepdraw"
The first fuel tank is the small mouth 2 inch. fill hole type and has F stamped between the sending unit and the fill hole. This style tank was used until September 1942.
September 1942 to October 1942 Large Filler, with inbuilt Strainer, and extension, NO indent of the inside right front side.
October 1942 - End of production, Large filler, with inbuilt strainer and added Indent. Tanks marked OLOCA and MDA 9002-C fitted with in tank fuel filter.
"End quote"

Greetings
Hans
Living in Belgium
MB 379881
GPW 253827

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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by Michael O. » Fri Sep 22, 2017 9:32 am

htc wrote:
Fri Sep 22, 2017 5:00 am
I have seen on Jeepdraw that the non-indent large mount tanks were only used on September to October 1942 jeeps. That makes it indeed quite unique.
JeepDraw isn't entirely accurate with this statement.

The non-indent large mouth fuel tank was used until mid-1943. Somewhere along the way during my research for the proper fuel tank for my March '43 GPW I saw some documentation that confirmed that it should have the non-indented large mouth fuel tank. I'm positive there were some discussions on the G at some point. It took me over a decade to find a useable mid series fuel tank, and yes, they are rare and unique. I don't remember the approximate changeover date to the late style fuel tank with the indentation for the PTO (I think it was a May/June 1943) but will endeavor to search for it again now that you brought it up.

I think the GPW part number for the mid series style fuel tank is GPW-9001? I'm in Roswell, NM currently so I don't have access to my materials right now.

Tom W....can you offer any guidance?
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Re: Gas tank identification

Post by dpcd67 » Fri Sep 22, 2017 5:10 pm

I deleted that post as I sold the tank. If you still want it, PM me.
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