I have seen a picture of the new tanks and the tag on the side is welded all
around.  I guess, they finally got the message.  That is the only place
these tanks fail, other than the funky complicated old valve.
Zoltan
----- Original Message -----
From: "Frank Condelli" <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 3:53 AM
Subject: Re: LP tank refurb? Was: LP tank service near San Francisco?

> In a message dated 21/06/2006 1:59:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
> that  metal is 1/4 thick.   it wont ever rust thru.  your van's
> sheetmetal
> body will rust out before you get a rust hole in your LP  tank.  and in
> cali,
> that's highly unlikely.
> im a east  coaster and every LP tank ive ever seen has the ID plate
> spotwelds coming  off.  big deal.   cut the ID plate off if it bothers you
> or
> flatten
> it back down and epoxy the edges (to mimick welds)  and wire  brush your
> tank
> and paint it with rustoleum and all will be  fine.
>
>
>
>
> Ok, Ok, this is one of those  times I just have to jump in here !  The
> tanks
> are indeed 1/4 inch thick  BUT they will rust through and I have seen ones
> here that I was able to stick my  hand inside the tank through the rusted
> out
> hole where that stupid data tag  plate is/was !  First thing you all
> should do is
> RIGHT NOW go out under you  Van and remove that stupid plate.  It does
> nothing but harbor moisture,  road dirt etc that is concentrating the
> rusting dead
> center of that plate.   Now I know some of you will see that you plate has
> been
> welded on with a  continuous weld around the perimeter of the plate.  This
> is
> a good  thing.  It is the newer style tank from Mr. Manchester after they
> discovered the error of their ways with the previous screw up of welding
> the
> data tag on with four spot welds in the corners.  NOW, you have your data
> tag
> removed.  Check to see if you have any white frost (propane hitting the
> atmosphere) seeping out under all that rust you found.  If so your  tank
> is rusted
> through and leaking.  If it's not leaking then you have a  couple of
> options.
> If your tight on dollars then just keep it coated with  some kind of oil
> based
> rust preventive until you can get around to having the  tank refurbished,
> otherwise remove the tank and refurbish it now !  If your  tank is leaking
> then
> you can either find someone to repair it if your lucky or  buy a new one.
> I
> have been refurbishing these tanks for a number of  years with great
> success.  I
> have a local welder who can repair the  rusted out tanks.  He charges me
> $100.  I have the tanks sandblasted  then I coat them with POR-15,
> Rustoleum or
> any other spray bomb rust paint is  useless unless you live in LaLa land.
> Remember where that tanks lives,  probably the harshed environment
> possible.  Now
> your newly coated tank is  then better than new !  Even the new ones I get
> here
> I strongly recommend  to all my customers to spend the extra bucks to have
> them stripped and POR-15  before installation to secure their investment
> and
> future life of that  tank.  Nuff said PLUS I'm sure I wrote on this
> subject
> before - CHECK THE  ARCHIVES  !
>
> Cheers,
>
> Frank  Condelli
> Almonte, Ontario, Canada
> '87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
> _Frank Condelli &  Associates_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
> - Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
> _Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
> (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
> _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
> camping event, Almonte, ON, June 08 ~ 11,  2006
>
>
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