[AT] Ttian fuel tank repair

[John Hall]

 I finally got around to doing some work on my Titan--it hasn't seen a 
wrench in about 18 months. Last week I decided to tackle the fuel tank--the 
bottom was rusted out. I melted the lead and uncrimped the edge. Next I had 
to "surgically remove" it from the spot welds. I got to thinking how I could 
put the new bottom in and decided to do it like original. Obviously die 
stamping it to form the lip around the bottom was out of the question. So I 
decided to do it by metal spinning (part science, part art-form). My lathe 
will only swing 15" so I had to use one of the bigger ones at work. Instead 
of using hand tools as most manual spinners do, I made a spherical shaped 
roller and put it in a single wheel knurling tool-holder. It worked rather 
well. My first bottom came up .040" small due to thinning of the metal (live 
and learn). My second was only about .010" undersize. Now to just do some 
minor repairs on the tank and I'll tack weld the bottom in place and crimp 
it back like the original. I'll seal it with lead but for good measure I'll 
treat the tank with sealer. All this on something nobody will ever see!

Now to figure out how to fix the water tank--that repair is going to be 
highly visible! Then again if I do it "right", It won't be.

John Hall