Few things are more embarrassing than having to push your rod or custom off a public road. I know, because for a while I was holding up traffic and pushing mine on a pretty regular basis. Even more humiliating was the bone-headed reason for my impromptu workouts: an empty fuel tank.
The problem was twofold. First, the fuel gauge didn't work. That alone wouldn't have been so bad-in theory, I could just fill the tank and keep an eye on the odometer. But that brings up the second half of the problem: a leaky fuel tank. The tank seemed to leak worse when it was more than half full, so I got in the habit of putting just eight or 10 gallons in at a time and making regular stops at the gas station. It was a stopgap solution at best, and it didn't take long to grow weary of guessing how much fuel I had, keeping gas cans handy, and pushing the car when I misjudged my range. Driving with a leaky tank probably wasn't the safest of habits either.
Sounds like time for a new tank, right? That's what I thought, although I knew nobody was building reproduction tanks for early '50s Mopar wagons (those of you with more mainstream cars may be luckier-see the sidebar for repop tank suppliers). The couple of used tanks I found were even worse than mine. Having a new tank custom built was another possible solution, though it sounded like an expensive one.
Fortunately for me, I remembered that the Gas Tank Renu service was available at Mattson's Radiator. The Renu process involves much more than just cleaning out a gas tank. After thoroughly washing and cleaning the tank, the Mattson's crew sandblasts it inside and out, fixes any rust holes or other damage, re-coats the inside with a special Renu sealant, and then protects the outside with a corrosion-resistant coating. When finished, the tanks are ready for several more decades of trouble-free service.
The accompanying photos provide an overview of the Renu process. It's worth noting that Mattson's, which is located in Stanton, California, accepts mail-order business, and they even smooth and powdercoat tanks for those who want a more show-quality appearance. For me, it was more about function than form, and the brushed-on satin black finish looks right at home on my daily-driven Plymouth. Now if I can just get that fuel gauge fixed.