M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

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SteveM8
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M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by SteveM8 » Sun Mar 18, 2018 1:36 pm

I enclosed an NOS 1945 dated US Rubber Company rubber fuel cell in its sheet metal shell back in 2000 for my M8. I found the floor under the M8 covered with fuel yesterday. I have successfully drained the 15 gallons of gas today. It is now time for a new solution. Any ideas?


Big D
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by Big D » Mon Mar 19, 2018 1:14 am

Hi SteveM8,

I was looking at the idea of getting an aluminium or stainless steel tank made up to fit inside the enclosure I have. 1944M8 had a good suggestion about what he did with his tank on my restoration thread here: viewtopic.php?f=82&t=264128&start=210)

The sheet metal on my enclosure is not good enough to form the basis of a tank in itself though, so I had figured a new tank inside the enclosure to keep the original look would be the way to go. I'm not too bothered about the overall capacity but it would obviously need to have filler and sender points to match the enclosure. I thought I could just have some straps inside the enclosure fixing the new aluminium or stainless steel tank to the existing enclosure.

That was my plan, but I am not at that point yet so I will be interested to see what ideas you and everyone else come up with.
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car

Fordgunjeep
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by Fordgunjeep » Mon Mar 19, 2018 8:20 pm

We are making a bunch of M8/M20 fuel tanks down here in Florida if you need one made

nirvana
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by nirvana » Wed Mar 21, 2018 6:47 am

Using these old rubber gas tanks has always struck me as problematic. 70 year old rubber is fragile enough, but soaking it in gasoline...

I would always advise making stainless replacements with baffles and flash arrestors.

ferdockm
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by ferdockm » Sun Apr 01, 2018 10:19 am

Friends,

We made a stainless steel fuel tank over in Allentown, PA. Fabricator north of the city did it up.

It worked out very well EXCEPT the filler was 1/8" off, which required my builders, the Cessnuts, to reposition it!

Bought a stainless steel one for my M20 from a guy in the Mid West.

Save your fittings, because they can be re-used (mostly).

Good luck!
Regards,

Matt Ferdock
(484) 571-9458

Owner of:
1944 Ford G8T 1 1/2 ton
1944 M16 Halftrack
1941 M3A1e5 White Scout Car G67; Ord 1010
1944 M8
Various Dodge & Ford WWII-era trucks, 1945 Willys MB x2 (1 armored)
M45 Quad 50 x3
75mm Pack AB Howey
37mm AT
105mm M2 USMC Howey
1942 Bantam Trailer x2
1 anxious wife

SteveM8
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by SteveM8 » Thu Apr 05, 2018 10:52 am

I got it apart today. It had a hole rotted right through the side of the rubber bladder. The bladder was half an inch thick and very rigid when it went in originally. Now, the whole bottom half has the rigidity and thickness of a plastic shopping bag. The top half is still in good shape.

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John Neuenburg
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by John Neuenburg » Sun Apr 08, 2018 11:52 am

I have had good luck with my original rubber one for over ten years using California pump gas. I think it was the tank that was in it when the former owner bought the car from Scott Sebring in PA in 2002. CA gas since then.

For fun, here are some shots of my spare:
Image

Image
Military Vehicle Collectors of California
MVPA 7404
1942 Ford GPW British Special Air Service Regiment Replica
1944 Willys MB
1941 Indian 640
BSA Folding Bicycles
M1942 Command Post Tent

SteveM8
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by SteveM8 » Sun Apr 08, 2018 2:17 pm

I have attached photos of the used tank and the hole in the side.

Image
Image

Amcmackin
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by Amcmackin » Sat Jun 02, 2018 9:48 am

If you are interested i have a good gas tank I could let go of.
42 GPW
44 bubba jeep
43 GPW
42 slat grill
42 Diamond T 969 wrecker
42 LP2A SAR Bren carrier
43 M20 SN C-915
42 M3A1 lot 2 Scoutcar
42 Benhur
42 Bantam
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SteveM8
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by SteveM8 » Wed Oct 31, 2018 1:23 am

Here is the solution I used. I made a small steel tank to go inside my sheet metal shell. I used Red Kote inside and out to seal it. My welding skills are no longer as good as I remember them being.

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Image
Image

Big D
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Re: M8/M20 Armored Car Gas Tank

Post by Big D » Thu Nov 01, 2018 2:33 am

Looks good Steve.
Darryl Lennane
NZ

1943 Willys MB
1941 LP2A MG Carrier
1943 White M3A1 AOP
1942 Willys MBT
1944 Ford M8 Armoured Car
1945 Ford M20 Armoured Car


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