Rusted Trunk.. Need to replace, but how?

[beanplant]

My trunk is really rusted, there are spots where you can just see through to the ground. It also smells horrible of gas. I think my tank has a bit of a hole on the top, and I know it does on the bottom.
My plan is to cut out the trunk's sheet metal (or what's left), and drop the fuel tank with it, get soem sheet metal, weld it in, and put a 10-15 gallon fuel cell in the trunk.
My questions are: Is this even a good idea? Where can I get the sheet metal? Any tips and hints?

-Shaun

 

[67coupe351w]

Your old gas tank will unbolt, there isnt any need to cut it out, probably alot safer just unbolting it also.

A 10-15 gallon fuel cell isnt going to leave much space in your trunk. If thats ok with you go for it.

 

[69pony302]

home depot it! unless ur car is a daily driver u can last with a 6 gallon tank. make sure u have it dead center or it will throw traction off.

 

[302 coupe]

just get a new gas tank, they're only about $120. Same thing for the trunk, just get whatever patch panels you need from one of the many mustang vendors out there. Do it once and do it right.

 

[zookeeper]

I agree, all the parts are available, they aren't all that expensive and while they're not much fun to replace, at least you won't have to be embarassed everytime you open the trunk and someone sees the mess.

 

[beanplant]

Well, a stock tank is more than $120, at least through O'reilly (sometimes they screw ya). My ENTIRE trunk is F-ed up. Its not just a couple parts, it's the whole thing. I don't care about a stock look or anything. I just want this car for cruising and trips to the track. A 6 gallon would probably do me just fine. But I do need the sheet metal.

-Shaun

 

[302 coupe]

who gets restoration parts thru O'reillys? Try mustangs unlimited, dallas mustang, national parts depot, somewhere that specializes in these cars. At least replace the sheetmetal with the proper stuff, just about all that stuff can be bought pre-formed where all you have to do is cut out the old and weld in the new. Don't get some flimsy azz roof flashing from Lowes and rivet to your trunk floor. If you want a fuel cell, go ahead. But you'll have to fabricate some mounts, run new lines(probably), and get a sender that'll work with your fuel guage. By the time you do all that, you'll realize how much easier and cheaper a stock replacement tank may have been.

 

[beanplant]

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm still not sure what exactly I'll be doing. I was planning on running new lines anyway, because the moron who had this before me had to have just bend the lines with a wrench, and not with the line bending tool. I'm surprised my engine even runs. This guy has bent the lines so bad in some spots, it's just creased. It was a good mustang gone bad.... poor thing has been through a lot.... now someone will treat it right.

-Shaun