Fuel tank problems

[Chuck Hill]

I recently bought an '87 Quantum Syncro wagon to replace my very rusty
4000 Quattro. The fuel pump, located in the tank was bad and I replaced
it with one from an '86 5000, and it ran fine for about two weeks and
then the replacement pump failed.  In working on the vehicle, I find a
sticky black stuff in the area of the fuel pump.  This doesn't seem to
dissolve in gas, but is soft and gets all over my hand as I remove the
fuel pump from its sump area.

My question is, is this stuff supposed to be there, and what is it?  If
not, how do I remove it, and is the tank salvagable?  I have a tank from
another Quantum here, but it is not a Syncro model.  Will it fit?  The
capacity is less, according to what I read, but that's not such a big
problem.

Chuck Hill