Getting out to the Garage.

[SpyderMan]

Larry I would love to see the spot where line dumps back into the tank.

[UnklLarrVair]

The return line runs into the 1/8" tapped boss shown in the upper left on the tank as it sits in this picture. You are looking at it here as if you had slid under the car feet first from the front of the car. The sending unit and this tapped boss are on the right hand side of the vehicle with the returrn line up higher and towards the front of the car.

The line that connects to this does a contortionist act as it comes out of the tank and follows the flat lip of the tank seam towards a "T" in the line to the heater/from the pump. More pictures after I get it done and reinstalled.

[UnklLarrVair]

Managed to get a little done this weekend and take a few more pictures for you.
First- shots of the strut rods and the threads that are still there. I need to soak the threaded ends and chase them. The threads are 11/16'-18, a very rare thread to find a die for to chase those threads!! Anyone got any ideas how to clean them up otherwise?

[SpyderMan]

Thanks for the pics of the fuel line return.

I think you are right about the threads cleaning up if you cold find that die. Call around to the machine shops in town ans see if they could fix you up.

[UnklLarrVair]

The most accomplishment was made on the tank this weekend. I found the quart of Clark's gas tank sealer I've had for at least a year. Since blasting the inside of the tank at the car wash I thought had gotten most of the sediment out I figured it was ready for the sealer. I found water still trapped inside and so we at a quart of M.E.K. and used a pint at a time with a couple pieces of chain sloshed around inside the tank to knock loose any remaining crud and at the same time allow the solvent to get rid of the moisture. Afterward I sat the tank on a saw horse outside the garage and ran and air line out to it and ran the air for about 10 minutes to purge fumes then let it sit for a couple hours. No more gas smell!

[SpyderMan]

Wow what a change!! That is one of the least fun jobs.

How long will the sealer take to sit up?

[Goozer]

Man, that is some major progress! I am guessing 60 tanks w/ return for the gas heater are hard to find? Are you sure there aren't any holes in it? Can you cap off the holes and presurize it to make sure? I know you are going to use the sealer, but if it's like my 62's, hope that stuff is thick! lol

Good job larry! Keep it up! I wanna cruise with you down at the convention!

[UnklLarrVair]

I'm doing a lot more work than I bargained for on this car. I need to be retired so I can spend more time on it!

The sealer will cure in about 24 hours. I'll let it sit longer though. I wanted to get the undercoating off of it so it's taking much longer that need be. There are no leaks in this tank which is a very good thing because the 1960 tank is unique and they don't reproduce them. I have a parts car to part out in the spring that has one in it still. I hope it's in good shape too. When I rattled the chain around inside with the MEK solvent I had all the outlets capped off and it didn't show any leaks. The sealer is quite thick and it coats pretty heavily. I've done (5) other takns and it's pretty easy to do, just tedious getting the tank out and prepped for the sealer. I needed to get as much of the undercoating off as i could before doing it because i was unsure how heating the tank with a torch would affect the sealer. I'll keep you appraised as i continue.

[SpyderMan]

Larry, you need to keep getting out there and knocking stuff off your list and soon you will have your choice of three great Vairs to dive when ever the mood strikes you.

Any luck on your threads yet?

[UnklLarrVair]

Yeah Baby! That's what I have been dreaming about having someday. You can't get tired of the ride if it's always different!

Threads- Yeah! I emailed larry Claypool for advice, asking him if he thought cutting one of the nuts through the threads and using it like a die would work to clean up the threads on the rod. He replied that the 60 & 61 strut rod threads are 1/2"-20 which is a common size die at most hardware stores. The 62 to 69 are the rarer 11/16"-18 thread. So I stpped at the Menards on the way to work and found out they were on sale and they have three of the 1/2"-20! I have the rod ends soaking in PB Blaster overnight in preparation of trying it.
Also found out the rubber bushing kits are $37.00 for each rod! YIKES!