Remove or cover fuel tank during welding/sawing

[skipunda]

Hi all,

bit of professional advice please

I'm usually very safety conscious and under normal conditions I'd take the petrol tank out when doing any work where sparks or sharp tools are involved. I really don't fancy removing the petrol tank for this car - it's not like the biscuit tin I did in an old Micra - plus i've just learnt I haven't got access to a pit next month to remove it anyway

Would v.wet rags, spray flame retardant spray etc. be enough for sparks?

will be...
Removing either all or at least major sections to sill, both sides.
Removing and refitting both outer wheelhouse inner arches plus two outer arches
Grind/saw/cut lower rear quarters

[fuzzy]

depends on the condition of the tank, i welded strengthening plates on my rear axle in position with some damp towels on the tank but my tank is a year old and in perfect condition and no petrol smells.

[skipunda]

no petrol smell, fuel lines in perfect condition. Good condition but probably the original.
Anything I should look out for with the filler 'neck' where it joins tank? Is there a seal that could perish?

[Dave_M3]

There's no seal other than a wicked tight fitting hose pipe at the filler neck.

[daimlerman]

Frankly if you are cutting so much out of the shell,an extra two or three hours to remove the tank and make yourself safe seems a small price to pay.As you mention,there is a rubber joining pipe between the filler and the tank,and some of your work is going to be close to this.The weak point of the tank is where the filler pipe enters it, the welded joint here fails....

[patch]

Trouble is if something catches fire you can put it out
but if the tank goes you loose the building !!!!

[skipunda]

...there is a rubber joining pipe between the filler and the tank,and some of your work is going to be close to this

Yep, question answered. It's the vibrating of the chassis etc while grinding away...maybe this join will be a bit weak - I can see someones already given it a clout with a hammer.
i'll remove it one way or another. cheers

[fuzzy]

just keep a fire extinguisher handy.