[RidgeRunner]

Might want to check with GarageNC but Coal Tar Epoxy works wonders on the fuel tank. It is made for submersion in salt water (ie. metal work boats, pipelines, etc.). I spent a few hours and dollars painting my new aluminum tank with zinc chromate and then overcoated with satin black rattle cans. My boat guru buddy showed me how a little acetone on a rag would easily remove the paint and we went with the Coal Tar instead. I have never seen anything tougher in a two part paint.

My 1983 center console did not have the fuel tank compartment sealed. In fact it looked as if they had cut the rear bulkhead down to nearly even with the top of the tank. There were four plywood wedges under the tank for support, two scrap pieces of wood screwed to the top of the stringers perpendicular to the keel to help hold the tank in place and then foamed. My original tank was beige in color.