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M38 Gas Tank. Military Fabrication?

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by DanStew, Apr 29, 2021.

  1. Apr 29, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    Yesterday i met a local gentleman and purchased a m38 gas tank from him. it was loaded with debris and the outside has rust, but with a flashlight i could see the inside looked promising. I cleaned it out yesterday and it did indeed turn into a good gamble for $30. THe gentleman said it was aftermarket. Examining it, the top has a military sender and there looks to have been a CJ gauge sender unit on it. the hole for it was torched out. When i pulled the military sender off, it too was in a hole that was torched into the top. The filler is factory, everything is there that should be. There are baffles on the inside. The tank has all the seems welded with no sheetmetal holds. My question is, did the military make their own tanks if they needed them? With all the baffles existing on the inside, it was very well made, Factory looking. The metal seems to be heavy gauge.

    It fits perfectly, just a mix of factory and fabrication. tan1 copy.jpeg
     
    DanStew, Apr 29, 2021
    #1
  2. Apr 29, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    tank2 copy.jpeg
     
    DanStew, Apr 29, 2021
    #2
  3. Apr 29, 2021
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    4,585
    tank3 copy.jpeg
     
    DanStew, Apr 29, 2021
    #3
    Twin2 and Fireball like this.
  4. Apr 30, 2021
    52M38-73CJ5

    52M38-73CJ5 Member

    Wenatchee WA
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2020
    Messages:
    154
    Somebody fabbed it up. My M38 tank has a seam running across the top just beyond the fuel pickup. The sending and fuel pick up are reinforced with rings inside the tank. It looks like a good investment.
    [​IMG]
     
    52M38-73CJ5, Apr 30, 2021
    #4
    DanStew likes this.
  5. May 2, 2021
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2014
    Messages:
    4,187
    That looks to be a fabbed tank with an original filler neck. As long as it doesn't leak and cleaned up inside, no reason not to use it, especially if it fits well.
    -Donny
     
    Keys5a, May 2, 2021
    #5
  6. May 2, 2021
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2003
    Messages:
    860
    Got one for an M38A1, fits perfect, but no place for the sending unit. I think someone fabed it up or repaired it. Works fine, just use a stick to tell the fuel level. Never tried to drill the tank to install the sending unit since the other ones I have installed seldom work.

    Dave
     
    Dave Deyton, May 2, 2021
    #6
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