Restoration diary / 25-01-2005
25-01-2005 >> Shrinking the stainless steel fuel-tank and a trial fit.
 | p1020015.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - In the center of the photo there's a 'warp' in the sheet-metal. It's there from overheating the stainless steel while welding. The metal expanded and has nowhere to go, therefore it warps. I'm going to shrink the metal with my shrinking disk. |
 | p1020017.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - The word is out, the disk works! It makes a whole lot of noise and you have to get used to it, but it works alright! The main problem was that the disk picks up metal from the subject it tries to heat up and creates sparks (it works a bit like a grinding disk). This makes the surface of both the disk (and the subject) a lot less smooth, making the situation even worse. A (or "the", I don't know yet) solution was to put a little bit of engine oil on the disk. After this the disk creates a less heat (less friction) and you have to put a lot of pressure on the disk, but it works like a charm. It doesn't create any marks on the metal you work on anymore, it heats up the spot, you cool it down with a sponge and the metal shrinks.The side of the tank that used to be warped now seems straight. Only problem is that the part with the tank sender hole in it still sticks out. |
 | p1020018.jpg (800 x 600) 25-01-2005 - Big warp in the bottom of the tank. Have to fix this before welding. |
 | p1020020.jpg (800 x 600) 25-01-2005 - Trial fitting the tank. I think it looks just fine. |
 | p1020022.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - A bit more 'realistic' (from a higher point) view, you hardly see the tank. |
 | p1020023.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - Right-side clearance. |
 | p1020026.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - Left-side clearance. |
 | p1020028.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - Front-side clearance. As you can see, no problems on any side... |
 | p1020031.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - A trial fit for the fuel line going into the tank. I won't use a filter in the tank (it's weird to put a filter somewhere you can't change it). To make sure one bigger piece of debris cannot block the fuel intake I put a few small holes on the side. |
 | p1020032.jpg (600 x 800) 25-01-2005 - The fuel line will go upwards from the bottom of the tank. On the outside will be the place to put a fuel filter. This way the filter can be changed even with the tank half full. The end of the fuel line will parallel to the bottom of the tank and welded to it. |