Can Bend gas tank seam over?

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68 A

68 A

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Hi,

My 3" tailpipes and gas tanks are competing to occupy some of the same space, I might have enough room if I bend the seam on the gas tank over, not sure if this would cause any issue with the weld and cause a leak? I know it'll damage the powder coat. I already trimmed the excess metal on the seam off and still need some more room.

Also, if they do end up touching or almost touching, is there a head shield material that I could put on the tank?

Thanks,
Steve

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Put your tail pipe in the vice at that area, with a couple of 1xs on the sides for protection and squeeze the tube oblong instead or round. Kind of egg shaped, won't hurt the flow.
 
No promises that bending won't cause problems but I did it to mine to get clearance without issues.
 
Fishing68 said:
What process do people use to bend those corners up? Just whack it with a hammer or?
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Can't remember for sure, but I think I used a hammer. Like any sheet metal, use lightly.
 
Maybe sandwich the corner between two 1/8" flats and bend with an adjustable wrench kind'a sort'a.....

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A corner of my '69 tank was bent from factory...........

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I have clearanced the seam on at least 5 tanks with no leaks, but i did it by squeezing the weld together when I did in (wide jaw vise-grips or channel-locks). Reduces stress on the weld and makes it less likely to separate.

Wacking it with a hammer is the most likely way to cause a leak.
 
I have done several and never had any issues. Close an adjustable wrench down on the lip and use it to bend the flange. Those are roller resistance welded so it would be hard to cause a leak. Most tanks have the corners bent already and just need to be bent slightly more when running larger exhaust.
 
I've bent OEM tank seams with a rubber mallet.

The repro tank welds don't seem as strong, though.
 
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