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I recently bought a '72 roadster with 34,000 miles from the original owner. I visually verified the tank sticker (build sheet) is still on top the fuel tank. I would like to drop the tank this winter to retrieve the tank sticker. Should I leave it on the tank and put in a Quanta replacement tank? Or should I do my best to remove it from the tank and put the original tank back in place? Any other advice on this procedure would be gratly appreciated.
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Re: Tank Sticker removal
If you can afford it nothing nicer than an original tank with it's sticker, kept that way. Some people remove and document then cover with a clear protective plastic taped to the tank and replace. Others try removing the sticker with mixed results. Make sure to check the other build sheet locations before you go to the trouble of dropping the tank.
Kevin -
Re: Tank Sticker removal
Ken,
I had a leaky tank & dropped mine when I found my tank sticker. I got 99% of what was there (all but the left corner) off & in 1 piece. When dropping the tank, remember that there is 40 years of crud up there, wear eye protection & be careful not to grab the sticker when taking the tank down.
After the tank is down, use a soft new paint brush & carefully brush away all of the crud (kinda like an archeologist). Make sure the brush is dry & do not use an air gun, you'll blow it apart.
Once the sticker is as clean as it will get, take some photos (just in case). I used a large sheet of sticky laminate paper and placed it over the sticker. Using your hand, rub the laminate paper over the entire sticker, then try to carefully lift a corner. As you attempt to lift the sticker off & a part of it remains fixed to then tank, rub some more & see if it will lift off. If not, use a straight razor blade separate the sticker from the tank where it is glued down.
With care, you should be able to remove the entire sticker. Once it is off, use a second piece of laminate to cover the back side & safely encapsulate the sticker. Now you can phootgraph or scan the sticker.
Before I installed the new tank, I put a laminated copy of my sticker back on the tank.
Good luck,
AnthonyComment
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Re: Tank Sticker removal
Where are the other possible locations for build sheets in 1972?Comment
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Re: Tank Sticker removal
I would leave the tank sticker where it is. Unless your 72 has been inside all its years it may have very little information left as the ink goes away. You have no better than a 20% chance of getting any information. If you plan a Bowtie try don't remove the tank. Like others said check under the dash pad drivers side.
LyleLyle
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Re: Tank Sticker removal
If your sticker is readable (a big if), it will contain a part of the vehicle VIN, so it will attach to your vehicle. About mid-1971 production a part of the VIN was printed in reverse on the back of the paper that is attached to the tank along with the key codes.TerryComment
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Re: Tank Sticker removal....line it up and do it!!
I am very fortunate that the original and other previous owners of my 67 435 Convertible have documented as ALWAYS being garaged and covered for all of its 40 years of existence..... except for the 2 months that owner # 2 had her. Maybe he covered her as well... but he is the only guy I have yet to contact. ( he only owned her for 2 months!) anyone know a Dirk De Young from Wisconsin?
I removed the boot around the gas cap and could read the top right corner of the sticker..... basically I could see the opy of copy. I took pics of the sticker before any attempt to remove the tank, sideways through the gas door.
Of course I could remove the tank myself.... this is not major surgery!
HOWEVER.... I wanted witnesses and proof. So I hired the best ASE certified mechanic with the best reputation on my Island to remove the tank under my supervision as I took pictures of the entire process.
The sticker was there in one piece COVERED in dust and dirt. I thought for sure.... we wouldn't be able to read it... but the mechanic handed me a dry thin bristle paint brush and had me dust it off, as he DID very carefully blow the dust away with compressed air through a very small rubber nozzle. Upon completion, it was as legible as the Sunday News!
The next decision was whether to remove it or just photgraph it and put it back.
I didn't want to buy a new tank.... my tank is in perfect shape.
I also didn't want a gas tank sitting around my shop with a SUPER important document out in the elements, even if it those elements are heated and insulated, and locked.... you just never know!
I still hadn't made up my mind... we took the tank outside to take a few pictures in broad daylight of it... and then I went inside the shop to change lenses. When I came back outside the wind had perfectly picked up 1/2 of the sticker off the tank. It was still attached perfectly to the half that was still glued and it was just tooo tempting to not grab hold if it and carefully peel the rest of it off. ( I took all of this as a sign from up above and so I prayed..... and then went for it. Needless to say... she came off perfectly in one piece. All 12 factory options and all the other important information is as clear as an uncloudy sky!
I carefully transferred it into 2 archival safe folders, On each direction so there is no exposure to air. Then that rests on a thin piece of cardboard (for support) and that is in a gallon zip lock bag, in my safety deposit box at the bank.
I have a copy of it for the show circuit and for a scrapbook that I keep in the car. I don't regret pulling it at all. It was the best way I could think of to preserve the history of my very special car. 1967 435 Convertible body sequence # 1967Comment
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Re: Tank Sticker removal....line it up and do it!!
Well, you were smart to do it. Those frail, thin sheets will desintegrate over time and the carboned ink print will disappear quicker with the sheets exposed to climatic elements. Good for, at least you have a factory document to look at and enjoy.Comment
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Re: Tank Sticker removal....line it up and do it!!
Jacob,
I might be wrong on this (CRS) but I thought I read somewhere that it is not advisable to put paper inside plastic. You might want to do a little research.
RickComment
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Re: Tank Sticker removal....line it up and do it!!
Thanks Rick, I will look into that.Comment
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