861 Fuel Tank Color?

[Tom Bond]

Was there any particular color like on the fenders and hood for the fuel tank itself? Just got my tank back from the weld shop and want to finish it up before installing. It's currently a bare metal and not sure if it's supposed to be painted. Want to seal the inside also. Was going to try POR-15 but open to suggestions.
Thanks!
 

[Will Gumbert]

Hi Tom. I had a similar decision when re-doing the fuel tank on my 961. Like yours, it was just a bare metal in appearance. For practical reasons, I decided to paint mine with a silver-gray engine enamel and I painted the heat shield with it too. It is better to try to keep the fuel as cool as possible and you can't really see the fuel tank that much. Actually, the POR-15 is black, I believe, and that just doesn't seem like a good idea. But, this just my opinion, you may feel different. -Will
 

[Dean]

Your Ford fuel tank is made of Tern Plate, which is solder coated steel. It is not cadmium plated, nor was it painted.

Dean
 

[showcrop]

I recently made that decision for my 901. I decided to leave it bare except for a few little rusty areas, because it still had the coating pretty much intact. If it had had more rust I would have painted it silver like Will's. Great job Will!!
 

[Will Gumbert]

I see that they do make POR-15 in silver. The
Eastwood Co. does also offer a kit for coating the
inside of the tank if you want to do that yourself.
Also, Moyer's fuel tank renu in Greensburg, PA can
do it for you but unless you live near them you
would have to ship it. Since you had it to a
welding shop I'm sure they de-fumed it thoroughly.
 

[GlenIdaho]

I would not use Por 15 because it has no UV protection and will eventually fade. It's tough paint though. I painted my tank with PPG Omni acrylic urethane. Don't use a rattle can paint because it won't withstand gas spills.

To seal the tank you'll need to make sure the inside is clean. POR-15 sells a kit that comes with a cleaner, metal prep and sealer. I used it on mine and so far no issues. Some radiator shops will do it for you.
 

[Alan8n]

Tom...Painted my 53' Jubilee gas tank 8 years ago with Black POR-15. Tractor is outside alot and the POR-15 hasen't been effected by the sun at all and resisted the fuel spills well. I guess when it is under the hood the suns rays don't get to it as easily.
I have painted parts with POR-15 that have sat out in direct sun and as Glen says it WILL be effected by the sun. Turns kinda white in short order.
As well as the POR-15 has held up on the Jubilee I didn't like the black so I used the same Omni paint as Glen used when I painted my 58' 861 Diesel this year. Got a quart of pewter(spelling ?) color mixed and I like the way it looks better than the black. If it holds up as well as the POR-15 I will be giddy !
HTH ...Alan