A few days ago my fuel pump died, the last owner installed the Walboro in the car right before I purchased it almost 2 years ago. So Today I picked up a stock pump for free to use temporarily until I the new Walboro comes in. This is what greeted me upon opening up the tank.







So this is fun.

I have two choices:
I can shell out money for a new tank, or a used one that isn't as rusted.

-or-

POR-15 makes a gas tank restoration and sealer system that would remove the rust and seal the tank from this happening again.

The price difference is astronomical. $59 for a repair and sealer kit, or up to $600ish for a new tank . . .

Tell me what you guys think.

 

Have a buddy's car I'm working on with the same problem. Car sat for about 6 years with a quarter tank of gas, you can see the "high water mark" in the tank. Above the gas line it's all rusted out. The intank fuel sock was totally clogged with silt and junk.

You can try restoring the tank, but it's a good amount of work. Eastwood Co. has some good products that might be worth looking into.

I got a good used tank for about $190 shipped on the forum. Might be worth seeing if you can find one nearby that you can drive and pick up, could save some money and hassle.

I would also plan on replacing the fuel filter as well.

Dale

 

My dad has a tractor that had a rusted tank and someone put that "gas tank sealer" in it. Alot of the sealant flaked off and cloged the sediment bowl on the tractor quite a few times stalling the tractor. I do not know what product was used or even if it was applied correctly, but to me it is a temporary fix and i would definately not use it in my car to save a few dollars especially one so suceptible to fuel starvation issues with a clogged fuel filter. I would definately follow Dales advice and find a better fuel tank or go new.

John

 

If you have the funds and the ability to fab a new mount, I would dump the stock tank and run a fuel cell. The stock pump hanger and cover is a complete joke anyhow. So many pos cheap parts on this car it's hard to believe they sold for $36k new, should have been the price of a Miata.

 

Btw this thread is addiitonal evidence that you basically have to replace everything on this car, and why some people give up and buy a Cayman S

 

I'm searching for a new tank, rust looks too deep to save, at one point this car sat for far too long with an evap leak i'm sure.
I have a new fuel filter ready to go in and I will be relocating it at the same time.

I really lucked out, if the Walboro had **** itself under boost . . . I could have been seriously fucked . . . Anyone think any of that rust could have made it through the pump sock, through the pump, through the filter and into and possibly out of the injectors into the engine?

 

I would replace all of the rusty stuff. If you buy a used tank beware that the internal baffles are fragile and break loose in shipping. Once the baffles get loose they block the fuel level float.

New tank from Mazda run $300-400 and supposedly have an updated design for the baffles.

 

^ I'll have to send Ray@ Malloy Mazda a e-mail then. I could have sworn they where more than that.