Re: Fuel Tank Removal

Posted by RichK On 2012/12/8 10:41:50

OK. Here's what my experience was...

I was initially lucky as my tank was mostly empty and my strap nuts weren't too bad. I helped the nuts along with some PB Blaster. The actual straps did twist a bit and I held them with a small crescent while actually turning the nuts. The tank dropped a bit with a little wiggle. I thought I had it licked.

I then went after the other connection, which is the fuel line up top. From the back it's not that easy to see but if you roll around to the front of the tank there's a metal to metal line fit. Mine can apart easy enough. This was still going well.

As I let the tank drop to where it wanted to go, two items started giving me grief, A) the neck, and B) the tank was up against the left (driver) side rear leaf mount.

The neck - I still had the gas cap on. It was an interesting and kind of cool pot metal anti-siphon device. It was intended to be a pleasant looking item (has a baby chrome fin on it that acts as the handle) that was never intended to be removable. It has tabs that spring out into the neck but under the lip. The outer diameter of this device is significantly larger than the neck. After thinking a dremel would easily cut it off, I made a tool with a flat 90 degree hook out of a hangar, and was able to bring the tabs in at the right location. With a twist and pull up it came out. I thought I had it licked. Unfortunately it only helped a little.

I then searched the internet for pics and forums. One guy spoke of a removable neck. Too bad I didn't have one of those! I searched the manuals and they mentioned getting a bit more room by removing the flap at the front of the fender. That helped and I guess makes it mathematically possible.

Ultimately, once you do the above it becomes a game of the pinch points on the neck and the rear leaf mount. As I was doing this I must admit I began to look to see how hard it would be to lift the body a bit - I dropped that idea as I'm just trying to get this into a runner first - body will come off later. I have more than considered making a two piece neck but would like to do it proper and need to see an example.

I think I had a couple hours into it - I had no problems with rusty nuts/bolts. It would go slightly faster the second time. I also now have my fuel gauge out. I didn't attempt the drain plug for more than a few seconds.

Regards,
Rich