building a gas tank

i got an old cylinder tank thing that i want to make into a gas tank. its steel and i know there is some stuff you gota put inside it so it wont rust or something like that. what is this stuff called? also i plan on putting is some of that foam stuff made for gas tanks so i wont have to baffle it. but can i just shove a piece of foam in there or does it have to fit snugly so it doesnt move around?

As far as the stuff to coat the inside of a tank I know Eastwood offers it but I can't think of the name off hand, I'm sure if you search their web site you will find it though. As far as the foam baffling goes you need to use the correct kind of foam to avoid it breaking apart in the fuel, any place that sells fuel cells should have it available. I have an RCI cell in my shop right now that has it in it so maybe try them for starters.

You want to go to O'Reiliys and get a can of "Red Kote" its the liner your wondering about. And yes the foam will have to fit snug. The foam will not only keep gas from sloshing but it also prevents a major explosion by cutting down on the volume of fumes inside the tank itself.

por 15 also makes a gas tank coating. also heard fuel cell foam eventually breaks down as well, i have no personal experience w/ it, but that was from the research i did when mine was built.

Adam did they mention if it mattered if it was pump gas or race gas? Ive been told race gas will eventually break it down whereas pump wont, ive only heard this but not seen it in print.

doesn't matter what gas you put in it all gas makes fuel cell foam break down. i have experienced this with offroad cars using jazz fuel cells. the foam begins to break down after like 3 or four years.

so is it better to just use the foam for a few years and then get another tank or not use the foam at all and run no baffles?

---------------------------------------------Originally posted by GuiltybydesignAdam did they mention if it mattered if it was pump gas or race gas? Ive been told race gas will eventually break it down whereas pump wont, ive only heard this but not seen it in print.---------------------------------------------wasn't specified / don't remember. talked to any small engine mechanics lately? ask them how they like E85, it eats everything. i can only imagine what it does to foam.

what size is the tank going to be? if it is a relatively small tank you can get away without a baffle.

its gona be around 9 gallons.