Tank undenting, cleaning/sealing, and painting?

[Snow]

This may seem like a silly question at first, but I haven't quite figured it out myself.

My tank is in need of cleaning/sealing - no problem, I'll just take it to the radiator shop and have it professionally done.

My tank has dents and needs a new paintjob. No problem, I'll have it undinged and painted.

Here's the question - if I have the tank cleaned/sealed first, when I take it to get the dents pulled and painted, will it damage the sealing?

[Erik the Red]

Even though I don't have any experience undenting tanks, I'll throw in my opinion anyhow.... I would think that if you sealed the inside and then undented it, the seal-coating would be weaker for having been moved from the position in which it set up. (i.e. If the coating is rigid, it'll crack when moved. And that's no good.)

I'd say the safest way would be 1. Undent (aviods weakening the seal-coating) 2. cleaned and coated (no nice paint for the chemicals to mess up) 3. Paint it purty.

...my humble opinion.

[mason79]

i have dents on my f but the po creamed in it, and it has been holding up, as per my looking at the inline filters i put on, the tank while okay it has some dings and dents.

i saw a spotless( on the inside) on ebay and i bought it now! for around 120. but it does has a "ding".

what i'm trying to get at, is exactly what you are up against, if they try to bend the metal back that may open up the lining, i could radiator shop it, then the cream would go away, they i could have the painter lay the bondo on thick then i risk cracking on the outside.

so with this newish tank i won't need to deal with the insides,
my question is do i need to have the painter take all the paint off?

[ccogswel]

Hey Snow,
I'm in the same boat. I can tell you first pull the dents. You can use a stud welder or what ever you want to get the dents out first. Try to get as much of the metal as straight as you want. Get it to the point where you won't have to heat or bend anymore. Then take it to the radiator shop and let them reline it. Don't even worry about removing any paint. Most of the paint if not all of the paint will be off when they get it done. Then when you get it back, finish with the body work and paint it. I just got my tank relined and the guys at the radiator shop said do not heat it up or pull any more dents out afterwards. Oh by the way, they will pressure check that tank before they reline it. They will solder any small leaks. The shop here not only put solder on the leaks but they filled the dent that I had pulled out with lead.

Good Luck!