>>>*I welded a gas tank once out of an old stock car we were running at the Portland Speedway. Those were the days before fuel cells were required.

The driver got into a pileup and holed the tank pretty good, it was a Friday night and we had a 100 lapper on Sunday.

I pulled the tank, it was pretty much empty anyway. I knew what would happen if I just started welding a section on so I flooded it with water and cut an access hole in the top with a steel jigsaw. It was amazing the amount of tarnish and buildup inside of it from years of use, I think that is the real problem rather than the steel absorbing fumes.

Then I dumped the fuel tank into our Hot tank filled with Sodium Hydroxide. It came out all spiffy clean and shiny.

I welded in the repairs, made a patch with a gasket to cover the big hole I cut in the top, put the tank back in and we went racing. We made it four laps before we ended up in the Blackberry bushes but the tank didn't leak...*LOL**..

I would never suggest trying to weld on one after what I saw in there, that's a good way to make loud noises. The heat releases the fumes and it could build up very quickly I think, even empty..

*But I was young and completely invulnerable back then......*EB