Switch to full style
A Forum for those interest in vintage NON-military aircraft
Post a reply

Seeking Vintage Fuel Tank ID

Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:10 am

I have an aluminum aircraft fuel tank that has stumped the local vintage aircraft guys and oldtimers...tho to be fair, we've lost quite a few of our oldtimers in recent years. It has an in-tank rotary fuel gauge with a brass ball float. It has evidence of two external straps that straddled its width over the top at each end. Dimensions are, 18.5" long(at the top) x 33.5" wide x 12" tall to the gauge. I don't have a photo host, so I posted it in the Houston Craigslist at the following link...
https://houston.craigslist.org/clt/d/antique-aircraft-gas-tank/6480352883.html

Any of ya'll know whut this is? Thanks for your attention folks!

Re: Seeking Vintage Fuel Tank ID

Thu Feb 01, 2018 9:59 am

Maybe from a Funk...

Re: Seeking Vintage Fuel Tank ID

Thu Feb 01, 2018 12:57 pm

Hadn't thought of the Funk, I'll take a look. Thanx Sir!
PS
Is it just me, or were the Aerofiles photos always that small? Also, added a coupla things to the ad...

Re: Seeking Vintage Fuel Tank ID

Thu Feb 01, 2018 1:06 pm

Found some video of a '46 Champ.....the gauge and cap are pretty visible in it. Cheesy, but it shows it pretty good I think. Jump to about 45 seconds to find it.
youtube.com/watch?v=yhgyzdKTo9w

Re: Seeking Vintage Fuel Tank ID

Thu Feb 01, 2018 2:50 pm

Now I need to find one stripped down in a Champ during a resto before the covering goes on.

I've seen several now in restorations, but none very clear or without the instrument panel in the way. The following link to a Champ resto is the best one but there was no rear view. In all of them the neck and gauge are quite far apart and on my tank they're close together(4 inches) with the gauge well forward....
http://www.bedrockaero.com/2015/12/07/104/

I also added 3 more photos to the Craigslist link. Two are endoscope photos of inside the tank of the brass float ball and the gauge wheel revealing the volume increment details. The third shot is of a commercial grade modeling clay dam I made around the gauge making a reservoir for weak acid in an attempt to leach away at the corrosion binding the threads. Still soaking after 2 days...
https://houston.craigslist.org/clt/d/an ... 52883.html

It also occurred to me to send a few photos to the Aeronca Museum to see what they think? Sometimes I'm abit slow... :lol:
Last edited by airnutz on Sun Feb 04, 2018 5:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Seeking Vintage Fuel Tank ID

Sun Feb 04, 2018 8:31 am

Ooooops! I wiped out the info on my Thursday reply to Cvairwerks' post trying to quote one of my lines. His link to the Champ video with the fuel tank at the 45 second mark.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhgyzdKTo9w

And the vid I found with the lap(front) fuel tank in th opening image...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XULjMVCraZw

Re: Seeking Vintage Fuel Tank ID

Wed Feb 07, 2018 2:23 pm

Got an ID from the Aeronca Museum. Mr. Trainor says it's from a 1946 Champion or Chief . He'll reply with the part number later. Good call Cvairwerks! Thanks for taking the time... :wink:
Post a reply