Pebbles in tank?

[hotrod ford]

I cleaned the tank I bought from a 71 f100 Saturday and it had pebbles in it. Not a bunch but enough. Now once I removed the float i looked in the tanks with a light. It is great. No rust at all. Did the pebbles have anything to do with it? Maybe like a desecant packet?

[FORDification]

No...I'm sure the pebbles were just deposited there by some mischievous young kid a long time ago. But it would have had no effect on the cleanliness. The pebbles would've been at the bottom, and the rust that kills most tanks would've been at the top, above the fuel line, where moisture would condense.

[hotrod ford]

I guess Ijust got a nice tank and some fish rocks to boot. Haha

[fordman]

pebbles. where was bam bam?

[tmcalavy]

Or the previous owner used my fav old fart tank cleaning method...handfull of rough rocks or nuts/bolts in the tank after you pull it, then shake the hell out of the tank until your arms drop off...I've even see guys strap tanks to an old cement mixer wagon to do the shaking. When it looks clean inside, flush with a power washer, let it dry overnight and run a quart of alcohol through it to evaporate the rest of the water. Air dry again and re-install...I've seen everything from riding mower tanks to outboard tanks to fuel cells and full size car/truck tanks cleaned this way. Then again...I used to put stuff in stuff when I was a kid...