Has anyone ever removed their fuel tank before?

[Dave Kay]

Have never done this before and wondering how difficult this is... I'm in the process of removing the fuel tank from my '86 GMC stepside and would like to get any tips/help on this because it appears there could be problems. This tank mounts on the driver's side outside the frame and it's a carburated engine not FI. So far the fuel is all drained and plastic sheild removed. I've loosened the bolts to the frame-mounts and also the filler-neck and vent tube and plan to support the tank w/hyd-jack for lowering.

The Helm's manual is pretty vague regarding tank removal so at this point the question I have is how do I access/undo the 3 lines that go into the top of tank before I drop this thing--- AND--- without bending or messing up those delicate steel lines? The stepside-step prevent easy access to the top of tank. It also looks like the previous owner had this thing down once before and possibly kinked or maybe crossed something so I'm apprehensive about making the situation worse... the tank also has a sizeable dent in it. Funny thing is the plastic sheild has no damage whatsoever... not even a scrape.

My goal here is to replace all the old rubber lines w/new Viton B hose and if it looks questionable, the tank, sending unit, and filler hose too.

Any direction here would be greatly appreciated.

[eventhorizon66]

I supported my tanks with my hydraulic jack and a piece of thick plywood (between the jack and tank).  Then I unbolted the tank supports (eight total bolts) and lowered the tank until I could reach the fuel lines (there should be enough rubber line between the sending unit and the hard lines to do this).  I reached for the lines from rear end of the tank.  It wasn't fun, but it wasn't difficult.

Oh and don't waste your time trying to pull the old rubber lines off.  Just cut them right in the middle with a sharp pair of dikes, drop the tank, and be on your way.

[Dave Kay]

I supported my tanks with my hydraulic jack and a piece of thick plywood (between the jack and tank).  Then I unbolted the tank supports (eight total bolts) and lowered the tank until I could reach the fuel lines (there should be enough rubber line between the sending unit and the hard lines to do this).  I reached for the lines from rear end the tank.  It wasn't fun, but it wasn't difficult.

Oh and don't waste your time trying to pull the old rubber lines off.  Just cut them right in the middle with a sharp pair of dikes, drop the tank, and be on your way.

Cool man! Thanks! And yep, it looks to be no fun at all... heck--- why didn't I think of just cutting the old rubber lines as soon as I get enough clearance... DOAH! Now that that's settled I think I can see myself clear to re-installing by fitting the tank into place loosely with new hose already attached on tank, then leaving enough room to wiggle it into place, cut hoses to length, stuff 'em, clamp 'em and tighten the mounting bolts all the way... sound like a good plan?

[eventhorizon66]

Sounds like a plan, Stan.....err Dave.

[DnStClr]

Or you could just remove the bed bolts and disconnect the rear wiring harness and rubber vent hose at the axle and take the bed off. piece of cake..

[Dave Kay]

Or you could just remove the bed bolts and disconnect the rear wiring harness and rubber vent hose at the axle and take the bed off. piece of cake..

Yuk, yuk... I knew that was coming.

Seriously though, you gave me an idea... this truck is a longbed stepside and I'm thinking MAYBE I can remove the stepside-step to gain access to the top of tank. Haven't looked at this as yet 'cause it's Sunday evening and I'm all clean and showered-up and darned if I'm gonna' crawl under that thing and roll around in the filth tonight... but thanks dude!

[Captkaos]

I did all of mine as eventhorizon described.  I have an article that I plan to upload on it...  You can drop it and get the hoses off...

[Dave Kay]

I did all of mine as eventhorizon described.  I have an article that I plan to upload on it...  You can drop it and get the hoses off...

Thanks Capt-K, looked into your Blazer tank install and fuel cell articles and those are both something I'm interested in doing on another project truck so they're not really applicable here for this post, but looking forwad to when you upload.

Darn sure welcome any input from anyone who's done a longbed tank-drop... like another guy on the ChevyTalk forum who had fuel starvation probs after he did his tank drop and ended up dropping it again 3 MORE TIMES until he discovered that he was kinking the feed-hose after fitting the tank... anyway, just hoping to avoid those common problems.

[Captkaos]

I have probably dropped the tank on just about every configuration, let me see if I can find the pics and put something together...

[Dave Kay]

I have probably dropped the tank on just about every configuration, let me see if I can find the pics and put something together...

Thanks again Capt-K, not a big hurry here, won't be tackling this until Labor Day weekend...

best regards

[Bowtie4004x4]

  I just dropped my tank on the '78 longbed chevy today. And will be putting the new tank hoses and related hardware back on before I put the bed on. With the bed off it makes it so much nicer and you can see how the hose lays in to ensure no crimped lines/routing problems.
  I wish I had thought to take the tank off while I had the cab and bed off then it really would have been cake to do

[Dave Kay]

Ok, got the tank down today and as EventHorizon suggested I just cut the old hoses at the sender, undid the ground, and she slid out like a charm--- no piece of cake but it's down and finally the full damage is revealed; tank bashed-in on left front-side from some kind of impact and pretty well tweaked, actually kind of twisted a bit to the right. Also, the front mounting brace looks like it was tweaked too and shows the tell-tale signs of being straightened by heating and bending w/oxy-aceteline torch.... musta' been a good hit 'cause that's some heavy-metal there. Otherwise, after pulling the sending unit, the inside of tank LOOKS ok, clean, shiney, and no rust visable INSIDE but there is rust OUTSIDE on some of the damaged areas and those DO NOT look like they were patched, welded, or anything... this has all the appearances of an original tank and wondering: are these tanks galvanized steel? Should the OUTSIDE rust? Could this cause the inside to rust? Will post photos when digital-cam batteries recharge.

Now wondering about options.

This tank did not leak at all but the fuel gauge read wrong, like one-eight full and she ran out of gas. My intention here was to replace all rubber hoses and make sure the fuel/vapor lines were correctly routed and fix sending unit problem. Probably just a bad ground.

I should mention that I bought this truck from some San Diego hillbillies about a year ago and been fixin' probs ever since... (no offense to hillbillies, just ones from San Diego) Somebody obviously had this tank down once before to fix the damage from impact. But since the inside of tank and sending unit look fairly clean, I'm wondering if I should go to the expense of a NEW tank and sending unit OR, just clean this old one up, install new hoses be done.

Would greatly appreciate knowedgeable opinons: Are there any good quality replacement tanks out there or are they all Made In China now? Have seen AC-Delco sending units online which I consider good quality but wonder if I can TEST the original one I have? Check Ohms? Continuity?

[eventhorizon66]

The scale is 0-90 ohms for the sending unit.  Move the arm up and down with an ohmeter on it and find out.

[Captkaos]

sorry about not getting it done any faster, but here is the tech article.
http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=9294.0

I sell tanks for these also.
I would test it as event stated...

[eventhorizon66]

Sorry Capt, I didn't realize you sold tanks.  I checked your catalog, before posting the above recommendation (now removed).  Guess tanks aren't listed.