[SEL] gas tank help

[Germoamer at aol.com]

My kerosene tank under the Famous engine has 100 years of gunk in it.   
Probably a good 3/16 inch layer on the bottom side.  The only access is  thru a 
1 1/2 inch pipe flange adapter on one side at one end.  The  tank is 9 tall 
x 13 wide x 40 long.  About 1/3 from each end is a pipe  going from top to 
bottom and is where the mounting bolts go thru the tank to  hold in place.  
So, putting a chain in it and sloshing around does not work  due to the thru 
pipes getting in the way.  I can put a long scraper thru  the pipe flange 
on the end and scrape lots of nice gunk!  I can only scrape  from one side to 
the other and for a distance down length of a few inches.   The gunk is 
pretty dense and hard from all the years.  
 
What I am thinking about doing is to cut a hole on the top side in the  
middle about 3x3 to access the tank.  I believe with this I can scrape the  
majority of the tank bottom and up the sides an inch or so.   After doing that, 
then use gas/etc., and some rocks/nuts//chain, I can then  rock it for a 
while and get most of the junk scraped out.  Having this  access hole would 
ensure getting all the cleaning parts out. 
 
Next make a new cover, JB Weld with pop rivets.  Next put in tank  sealer 
everywhere.  
 
Anyone ever done this or have a better idea?  The gunk in the bottom  is 
starting to give me running problems.
 
Thanks,   

Tom  Schmutz
Concord,  Va.
germoamer at AOL.com