Is there some way to restore a severely corroded or rusted fuel tank?

Question:

I pleasure-drive a 1964 Chevelle that has been in my family since new. The car was in dry storage for about 13 years and everything came through OK except the gas tank, which has about a million little pinholes in it. My mechanic says Chevrolet doesn’t sell the part anymore and mine is probably not worth trying to fix. His only suggestion is to look for a clean tank in a junkyard, but I have yet to locate one. Is there some way that my tank can be adequately repaired, or do you have some other suggestion to solve my dilemma?

Answer:

A severely corroded fuel tank is a common by-product of longterm storage. In addition to affecting the driveability and reliability of your Chevelle, the integrity of the fuel tank is most definitely a safety issue as well. Therefore, I do not recommend trying to salvage a tank with a “million” pin holes. Instead, look for someone who sells reproduction gas tanks that will fit your car. You should be able to find a supplier.