Firstfives.org

Hi everyone,

First time poster.

I have an 80 528i with a euro m30b34 and 5-speed conversion.

I found the fuel lines leaking near the fuel tank, so opted to pull the tank and clean up the entire area.

While I'm extremely happy to find no significant rust or damage otherwise to the underside of the body or tank - just some surface spots , I would love any input on what else I should be doing while I am in there.

Here's a list of what I am or planning to do :

Remove fuel tank, scrub, protect and paint.
I am going to take a wire brush to the areas showing a little surface rust.
Should I hit it with POR then paint? Something else?
I assume high heat paint is required here with the exhaust being right there?

Replace fuel lines

I found the bottom of the fuel pump in the tank cracked. I assume because this was working prior to me removing it that it will continue to function, though will be sourcing a replacement - any ideas on how to save a few nickles here would be greatly appreciated - 300.00 at ECS. I'll be replacing the gasket too.

Clean everything undercarriage - pressure wash - (complete).
I really don't want to take this down to bare metal.
Knowing this, should I apply POR or anything else under here to further protect, or is this futile?

I do show some surface rust on the trunk floor ( I'd like to call it rust stains - but know better) as seen with the trunk lid open. I'll be wire brushing these and hitting them with POR, and wait to apply any paint while I contemplate the pending respray of the entire car.

Thank you in advance for any responses.

Todd

I used the POR15 gas tank kit. It's works amazing, but it is a big process of you want to do it properly and have good adhesion. Follow the directions to the letter and don't skip any steps and it will be a very durable finish.

I used a wire knot wheel and removed all of the factory finish from the tank. Then I used metal prep and then two coats of POR. For the inside, I used a acid to clean out the old gummed up gas. This left a slight surface rust which is ideal for POR. I used the metal prep and then coated the inside of the tank. It came out awesome and provided an excellent finish. Lastly I coated it in truck bedliner. It's best to coat/paint over the POR while the POR has some tack still or it won't mechanically stick.

Wow Jody!
Did you split open the tank to get inside?
Sounds like a great job.
Greg

No I didn't split it open. It has a seam weld that I don't think would split easily and definitely never go back together properly. I just let the inside soak in degreaser and water and finally acid. It took about a month to get clean. I used a piece of chain and some bolts on the inside to swish around to get everything clean. Also used a power washer to spray the inside as well.

Bottom stripped:


Top stripped:


POR15 after it had dried. Yes it dries that glossy:


Coated in Bedliner:

Prettiest tank I've ever seen!
Thanx for posting,,,,Greg

On my B7 Turbo, I paid a Radiator shop to boil it out and then had it powder coated. Overall cost just over $100 and it came out looking new.

This is exactly what I was looking for Jody- thank you for the pictures !

Gotta ask, did you do any additional prep to the under body or mounting hardware before reinstalling.

You've set a great standard here I hope to achieve.

I did take my tank to a radiator shop and had the inside cleaned with acid already.

Now to find some POR-15 - of which is appears certain products the offer are not available.

Thank you again - this is awesome stuff.

The underside was very clean, no rust or anything. I just cleaned it up a bit and sprayed some rubber undercoating on the brackets after I got all the dirt out. Cleaned up the bolts and but everything back together.

Interesting. I think i'm going to hit the whole car in POR-15 eventually - i wonder how much weight this will add.

Is there a reason your chose the bedliner over the undercoating?

No reason for one over the other. Either would work, perhaps rubber would be a better choice, but I really liked the texture of the Bedliner.

BTW, this is the POR15 kit I bought since I'm in Canada(a quart I think is how much I bought):
http://www.canada-por15.com/merchant.mv ... ankSealers

Thanks again Jody -

And especially for the quart size info - I was looking at a gallon and then the instruction say - pour in the whole can. You must have been reading my mind.

Now if only I could find some Scheel's this easily.....