1952 stripped/rounded phillips fuel sending unit screws

[rapidride2]

I dropped my tank last night to begin my fuel system restoration. 2 of my fuel sending unit screws are rounded. One by me and one that was previously rounded who knows when.

Anyway, the only way i know is to grind the rounded heads with a cut off wheel. However i realize sparks could be a safety issue.

Would it be wrong to fill the tank with water while i do my grinding? I plan on having the tank boiled out shortly thereafter. Should i even worry about this? Te remaining ounces of fuel in the tank is 10-20 years old and smells like paint thinner. I'm not sure if it's even flammable,, but i don't want to take a chance.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[rapidride2]

Sorry to answer my own post....Looks like vise-grips saved the day in getting the rounded screws out.

My tank is in bad shape. My float is virtually disentegrated. Are the after market sending units of good quality? Assuming i cannot find a nos sending unit?

[Silverfox031]

Here is one place...http://www.oldbuickparts.com/catalog...ducts_id=21409

[krinkov58]

I got one from Bob's Automobilia last year, just had to trim the pickup tube a bit. By the way the fuel tank sealing kit from POR15 works great.
Stripped screws were the bane of my existence for about a year when I did my '52...tried every screw extractor kit on the planet. You just have to fight 'em.