Tired of gas tank issues

[Jadewombat]

So, it's been not running for over a year now. Pulled the engine to replace the alternator that went bad. Went to drain the fuel tank and it was completely dry. That's odd I thought. Pulled the fuel line at the tank and the sock and nothing but flaky crud came out.

Last time I had the tank out was 2007 or so when I did the IRS swap. I did the treatment at that time and coated the inside of the tank with the white gas tank paint. So roughly 14 years it lasted.

I pulled the tank again and non-stop rust flakes were emptying out the fill tube. At this point I had really no idea where the rust is coming from as the whole thing is coated inside.

Weigh my options, don't want to deal with another steel tank at all at this point. Opt. for a aluminum buggy one which I find out needs a lot of modifications. Had a friend of mine machine a plate to mate up for the gas sending unit and paid a kid $150 to weld the plate to the top of the tank in the center. Find out a lot more mods need to be done to cut and plug the fill tube, then cut a new alum. fill tube at angle. Check prices on a TIG welder (they've come down since I looked 3-4 years ago) and get one from Eastwood. Teach myself to TIG, make a bracket for the ECU on the drivers' side while I'm at it. Used part of the old tank fill tube and coated with POR-15.

It's tight but it does fit.