20' Spectra fuel tanks

[Maw]

When we pulled the intake manifold and heads off the red Spectra last night we found the interior intake passages covered in a shiny blackish sticky substance. I'm assuming this is polester resin that's been leeched out of the fibreglass fuel tanks then deposited in the intake track?? We only use 87 octane gas, no ethanol unless it's being dispensed with no notice on the pumps.

It's probably time to replace the original fibreglass tanks with aluminum. What have others done when cutting the old tanks out? Do you leave part of the old in place to form a pocket for the new tanks to sit inside?

Thanks, Mark

[River]

When my glass tanks started leaking, we cut them out entirely. Next we added some wooden braces that glassed in and then added the aluminum tanks to these with through bolts...

[Flat Broke]

Cut em all the way out. They'll be bonded in along the bottom, and at the top corners. Its been a whlie since I cut the ones out of my project, but if I recall, the hardest part was getting in behind the tank to cut loose the top part. It was just tough in back because there wasn't a lot of room to get the grinder in there to work without hitting the inside of the deck or hull.

As far as installing new ones, mount em one of two ways. Either glass in bulkheads at each end of the tank and bolt those to tabs on the new tanks you'll have made. Or glass two pads onto the floor/hull and do the mounting bands like on a Schiada. The later setup also supports the deck as the portion of the band to the inside of the hulll (closest to the interior) will be a rigid link between the floor and deck. Here is a picture from Racey's site that shows what I'm talking about.
http://raceyindustries.com/Projects/Schiada_22DC/images/2005_22dc_080.jpg

Chris

[spectra81]

i have a bitchen set of alum tanks that would prob work well.I will let them go cheap,pm if interested greg

[Maw]

Thanks guys.

Greg, PM sent on the tanks.

These tanks are glassed in along the sides, the upper corners and along the full bottom. We've started cutting the seams using a sharp chisel, but some of the seams are close to 1/4" thick glass and we're not making much progress. A Dremell and cutting wheels, air chisel, a lighted match dropped in the tank, what works best?

Cheers, Mark

[Flat Broke]

Thanks guys.

Greg, PM sent on the tanks.

These tanks are glassed in along the sides, the upper corners and along the full bottom. We've started cutting the seams using a sharp chisel, but some of the seams are close to 1/4" thick glass and we're not making much progress. A Dremell and cutting wheels, air chisel, a lighted match dropped in the tank, what works best?

Cheers, Mark

Mark,

I used a 4" grinder with cuttoff wheel for the bottom and sides, and had to use a dremel on the back corners. Be warned though, I killed that dremel with fiberglass dust, so you might want to use a Harbor Freight cheapo for that job.

Chris

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

Spectra wasn't shy about glassing their tanks in, mine were glassed the entire length of teh tank not just tabed at each end. Take your time and once you get one end loose you can start to peel it back. Here are a few pics of the bulk heads I put in for the tanks, glassed to the floor and top deck keep the bracing and glass off teh side of the boat or you may end up with transfer marks showing up.

[spectra81]

I measured those tanks if you still need them or could you them. The dim are 6' long x 7 " wide x 11" tall .The filler necks are aprx 2'-6" from end. Let me know if i can help. Greg

[SPECTRALEN]

I just happen to be in the middle of rigging the mounts for my aluminum tanks. I bought these on ebay so they don't fit perfectly.

I had to block it up so they would fit under the gunnels. Then I made up some patterns to trace on 3/4 plywood. Instead of making 4 different patterns, I made a pattern to the side hull and a pattern to the under side of the deck. then at the location of where the bulkhead will be I taped the pieces together and traced to the plywood. I still need to glass everything together. I also taped some cardboard pieces where the plywood meets the hull. After tacking in, I will remove the shims and tab with cloth.