Restoring an old fuel tank

[Gearbox]

I am looking for a bit of advice/recommendations for the repair of my fuel tank. The hybrid I have consists of a 57 Gold Star fitted with a 1950 A10 Super Rocket engine. All the correct bits are there, but unfortunately the previous owner opted for an Indian tank instead of refurbishing the original. Can understand based on price. The Indian tank does not sit right and needs the front raised by about an inch or so. Also the chrome has deteriorated and corrosion is visable on the panels.
I have dug out the original and removed the paint and bits of filler. There are a few dings in it and these will need to be sorted prior to chroming and painting.
Any recommendations as to where to get this work done? The tank itself is pretty solid with little corrosion visable on the inside. Unfortunately, this is not the cheap option, but once its done, it will be a better job. I am sure this road had been trodden a few time before me.
Guidance, suggestions etc gratefully received.

[muskrat]

G'day Gearbox.
Back in the early 80's I refurbed the 51 plunger tank. Any dents in the chromed parts were lead wiped, dents in the painted area were re-bogged. The lead wiped bits were just noticeable if you looked hard and knew where they were (just a very slight colour)  but in all a very good job.
Then a week later got drunk and dropped it on a rock 
Cheers

[fffcycles]

I don’t care who you are, that is funny!
I did something similar to a 69 Victor Special after cutting out the bottom and bashing it smooth. The work is a bit fiddly but is rewarding to have correct fit and look.
Frank

[sean]

$600.00 cdn to re chrome my super rocket tank 5 yrs ago .....had some dents I made a tool and went through the filler neck with a dolly on the outside turned out pretty good ..... dont see an option to size pics smaller  so I cant post any

[Gearbox]

Thank you gentlemen.
Muskrat, that was the sort of thing I would do, but these days getting drunk and playing with motorcycles are seperate hobbies and best kept that way 

[Gearbox]

Well the tank is with Jason at CW Classics for dedentification. (good word ?)
Assuming that works well, then chroming and painting

[RichardL]

Gearbox,

If you love the look of the chrome (and who doesn't?) and, also, feel that it's just not a BSA without it, and, also, believe it must be so, regardless of the cost, then you are doing the right thing. On the other hand, if the goal is to achieve show-accepted or marketable originality, I don't think you can get there with the hybrid, regardless of the chrome. There are many beautiful BSAs with painted tanks. I think mine looks decent for a plain paint job, but there are some real gems out there. Having the hybrid opens the door for your own flair to come out in all aspects of the build and its aesthetics.

Maybe I should have have opened with the fact that I am also currently restoring a tank. In my case, the originality of the chrome would go with the matching numbers and original nature of my barn find, but I can't swallow the cost of the tank about equalling the cost of the bike, so the tank will be nicely painted. My first goal is to finish the bike while I am above ground. After that, the likelihood of me selling it is very small. Some future owner, unlikely to be my wife or either of my children, can chrome the tank if they so choose.

Richard L.

[chaterlea25]

Hi Gearbox,
That is an original Gold Star tank, so worth restoring it properly
There is a company around Norfolk that do excellent work
I cannot find their name at the moment but I will try and remember

John

[Gearbox]

Thanks again for the replies.
I did consider a painted tank, but I bought the bike because I really liked the style. the PO had fitted an Indian made tank and the chrome was not great, with black patches appearing. I had been given the original tank with the bike and decided to restore that as it was correct and would fit properly.
CW Classics were recommended to me by a good friend, so I took it there. jason was pretty sure that the tank was thick enough to repair and that he had a long term customer who could finish the tank off.
I need to contact this chap, Colin Thaxted of the Finishing Touch in Chelmsford. Looking at the gallery on his website, he is very good. i will keep updating as I go.
Fortunately, I bought the bike for a very good price, considering the work put into it, so can afford to spend on the tank and still be well under the value of the bike.
Only yhing I have bought so far is a set of spark plugs

[Butch (cb)]

I need to contact this chap, Colin Thaxted of the Finishing Touch in Chelmsford. Looking at the gallery on his website, he is very good.

If you are near Chelmsford (or Thaxted!) then FD at Dunmow are very good for paint.