Episode #5: Maggie's Fuel Tank Removal and Installation (72 MGB)

[@raulthepig5821]

Gosh Steve. You made replace the fuel tank look easy. Glad you're back.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Ah thanks for your kind comments. It’s great to be back creating the episodes from the content of past completed work. The real test will be when I fill it with actual gasoline!

[@johngalv9288]

Good job! I bought a gas tank for my MGB in 2004? because it started leaking and rusted out. Busy and lazy, I never installed it and the MGB has been in the garage ever since. I'm retired now and this is a good time to do it (if I have the energy 😂). thanks for the video!

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Hey John.....thanks for taking the time to watch the episode and comment. First of all, congrats on your retirement. I retired about three years ago and feel like I am finally living. I hear you regarding the energy thing. I wish I had the energy when I was eighteen year old! The gas tank was both easy to remove and install. I think that it would make for a great weekend project. The difficult part was dealing with the old gas and tank. Let me know if you have any questions.

[@craigwiest772]

Good call using the large plastic tote. I used a five gallon fuel can and a funnel. Drain was bridged over so i got a screwdriver that wouldn’t fit, a smaller screwdriver, poked a hole, bumped the funnel, and the shop smelled like old gas for months. Would hve been great comedy. A super call would be putting safety glasses on when you start work. One drop of fuel, one blob of rust and it’s off to the doctor. No out takes that day.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Thanks Craig. I also appreciate the safety glass reminder. A mechanic without eyesight is useless. Although I got rid of the old gas immediately, I disposed of the told tank a couple of days later. The personal training business next to us was not happy with the gas fumes!

[@dickstagnone2765]

I use a baby bathtub. It has a drain plug in its bottom for through draining of oil or transmission fluid.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

what a great idea!

[@dickstagnone2765]

Couple of things and questions. I recently pulled off the tank on my 74B. I found that the only spot not undercoated was the top side of the gas tank. Lots of rust, probably lost half the thickness of the metal. You probably inspected the underside of the trunk, cleaned it up. In my case only 20% of that area was not undercoated, I hit it with rubberized undercoat. There was absolutely no rust.😮 I believe my sender unit works but I discovered that the float was full of gas. So I just purchased the float and anti-rattle ring. I purchased the 16 gallon tank from Moss. It comes painted but I sprayed the entire exterior with rubberized undercoat. Now I want to add a fuel filter between the fuel tank and fuel pump.

[@노아-x4u]

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[@darrenpalmer6073]

You might want to blow through the fuel line from the tank to the carbs so you don't fill those carbs with garbage

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I couldn’t agree more especially after having the SU’s totally rebuilt. I have been pondering what’s the best way to clean the fuel lines or if I should just replace them altogether?

[@darrenpalmer6073]

@@MaggiesMakeover72 I would price up new replacements new tank new lines reco'd carbs makes sense and it shouldn't break the bank but virtually guarantee clean fuel distribution

[@EricK-yk5xo]

Hi Steve! Thanks for the video. Just curious, did you get the standard tank or the Touring tank from Moss? The reason i ask is this is one of my winter projects for my B. Happy Motoring.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

@@EricK-yk5xo I decided to go with the standard tank more for visual purposes rather than functional purposes. Although not confirmed, I believe that the extended tank will be more visible below the bumper of my 72 B than the regular tank. Good luck with your tank install….its a very easy yet satisfying job when completed! Let me know if you have any other questions as always.

[@eugenenovosad9722]

👍🇬🇧 - and the beat goes on... another wonderful video in the series! When I was searching for a replacement tank for my '73 B, I wanted one with baffles and a drain like the original 14 gallon tank. Moss's 14 gal tank didn't have either one or both and I didn't want the 16 gallon touring tank. So, I bought a Spectra Ni Terne (silver) tank but it didn't have the drain. Some years later I found the proper tank in black, baffled with drain like the original at Sports Car Parts LTD so that's what I installed. The baffles are necessary for eliminating the annoying sloshing sound you would otherwise hear and that would drive me crazy and I'm not planning on going crazy for at least the next 10 years.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Thanks for your kind comments Eugene! I didnt know that you could buy replacement tanks with baffles nor have i heard the sloshing sound of the gas. I am almost afraid to drive the car know that I now this. It could become a sound that I cant unhear!

[@mattkilbourne4654]

Great series, Steve! Thanks so much for all the hard work that you clearly put into these. They're very enjoyable to watch and helpful! Quick question. Where did you get that lift in your garage? And do you like it?

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Welcome aboard Matt! Maggie and I are happy that you are joining us on this journey. Apologies on the delayed response as I have been heads down finishing up the editing for another episode (Front Wheel Hub Refurb). I am doing this project in the garage of my car racing teammate. He bought the lift used from a local company buy the name of Travis Lift and Lube located in Northboro MA. He paid $2,200 for the lift itself and $700 for delivery and installation. It's been a great investment given the amount of use it gets. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks again for tuning in!

[@talmadgebrannan9072]

Background music was annoying.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Thank you for your constructive feedback. You are not alone in those sentiments which is why in future episodes the music is limited to the beginning and ending parts.

[@UploadOberlies]

This is so cool Steve! Thank you for letting me know about this! What a beautiful car! This is Maggie by the way!

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Thanks for riding along with us Maggie. And now we can say that we have an actual Maggie in the fan base which is so cool! If you hit the subscribe button, you will get notified of new episodes when they come out.

[@thomasmccabe4649]

Welcome back Steve,

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Thanks for the welcome back and tuning in Thomas! I am fresh off of shoulder surgery last week. Although I can't quite work on Maggie quite yet, I am able to edit the content that I do have from completed work and post more episodes.

[@dickstagnone2765]

Smart move putting Maggie on tall jack stands. The extra height is helpful when you have to get under the car.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

Thanks for your comment! It felt kind of precarious getting her up that high on the jack stands, but the extra room underneath her has really worked out well. The garage does have a lift in it, but it is presently being used by our BMW e30 race car. I am planning to do the rear suspension work in the very near future and will complete that while it is on the jack stands.

[@dickstagnone2765]

Unlike you, some of us are not as slim as we used to be…😮

[@dickstagnone2765]

@@MaggiesMakeover72 my early 74 is on tall jack-stands, very stable. Good height for working in engine bay. And stable enough for me to get in it and change out the dash bulbs.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

I fight that battle every day. Each mouthful or gulp is a conscious decision. I also spend a couple of hours a day in the gym. These habits are aimed at improving my longevity so I may be able to do the things that I love for a longer period of time. Being retired affords me the luxury of doing so in direct contrast to when I was working and didn't have the time to do so.

[@MaggiesMakeover72]

I haven't even begun to think about working on the interior quite yet, but thanks for the comment as it is food for thought.