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Topic: Gas Tank Removal

in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems


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Gas Tank Removal (1/7)
 3/16/08 5:57pm
manget1Lifetime Member
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Indianapolis, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible


Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2428

Didn't have much time to get started today, but I got as far as pulling the spare down (not original - far from it) and then staring at the tire carrier.
 
How do I get those funky bolts off that hold the spare tire carrier up?  The heads don't look like anything that could be turned with a wrench, and neither did the ones where they mount.
 
I have an AIM, but it wasn't much help IMO.  Once I get past the carrier, what steps do I need to take to get the tank down?  I am trying to track down my gas leak before I put the car on the road for spring.
 
Thanks in advance for the help!


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Gas Tank Removal (2/7)
 3/16/08 7:07pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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Marshall, the two bolts at the front of the carrier are flat on two sides only...kinda a weird set-up, but you can get a wrench on them. Also, you'll need to loosen the two lock-nuts at the top of those two bolts first. I think they take a 3/4" wrench, but I don't really remember. The other end of the bolts, the weird end, takes the same size wrench, I believe. A crescent wrench will work also, in a pinch.
The top of the carrier, which is plastic, is held up by two bolts across the front area, and two bolts in the center, at the rear. The rear bolts also hold the bracket for the long adjustable bolt that holds the bottom of the carrier up.
Once the carrier and cover are off, you'll see two bolts that go thru the rear frame crossmember, and into the straps that hold the tank. Take these two bolts out completely. You'll prolly want to soak all of these fasteners with WD40(or equivalent) beforehand, to make it easier.
Once the straps are loose, the only thing holding the tank up is the crossmember that fits under the front edge of it.
Now would be the time to make sure the tank is empty...fuel is quite heavy!
You'll need to take the fuel hose off from the sender unit on the bottom of the tank, as well as the two electrical wires there. There are also hoses on the top of the tank, on both sides. On the driver side, you'll find the vapor separator...a black, plastic "box" with hoses on it. You'll need to remove the separator before dropping the tank. It bolts on to the tank with two 5/16" bolts, and has two hoses on it. One from the front of the car, and the other runs to the tank on the side there.
On the top pass side is the return line from the fuel pump.
You'll need to un-bolt a bracket that holds the fuel fill overflow hose, that comes from the rubber "pan" that is around the gas cap. The hose is normally attached by a bracket to the pass side bumper brace, but it could be anywhere in that general area.
You'll need to drop the mufflers down, too, on both sides.

Once all of that is done, you only have the four bolts that hold the crossmember in. This is where the fun starts. The bolts go from the bottom up, meaning the nuts are inside of the frame!
If you look, you'll see a hole in the frame that you can snake a wrench in, to get to the nuts. These will be 9/16"...or 1/2"...I can't remember...
Take only one of the bolts out on each side at a time. Then loosen the two remaining bolts carefully. The tank will drop as they come loose, unless you have something holding it up...I usually use my head...literally. I don't plan it that way...it just happens... If the tank is empty, it's not too heavy anyway, and the bruising is minimal.
The two straps are also attached to the crossmember, so you'll need to snake them out around it as it comes down. A little twisting, a little tilting, and out she comes.Adams' Apple2008-03-16 19:10:10

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Gas Tank Removal (3/7)
 3/16/08 7:28pm
JC VETTE 70
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Canada

Vette(s):
70 VETTE 350/300HP, AUTOMATIC, ALL STOCK EXCEPT FOR MILD CAM,LAGUNA GREY, 3:55 POSI GEARS


Joined: 3/9/2008
Posts: 164

I CHANGED MINE LAST SUMMER, GET READY FOR A LOT OFCensoredWits%20End!FIRST DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, REMOVE SPARE TIRE,NEXT IS TO REMOVE LONG BOLT THAT HOLDS UP THE TRAY,ONCE YOU REMOVE THE TWO NUTS THAT HOLD IT TO THE BACK SUPPORT WIGGLE IT AROUND SO THE PIN  FALLS THREW THE HOLE. YOUR TRAY WILL BE JUST SUPPORTED BY THE TWO BACK BOLTS, THEN REMOVE THE TWO BACK SCREWS THAT HOLD THE TOP COVER. I FORGOT TO MENTION,LIFT THE BACK END OF THE CAR WITH TWO STANDS BEFORE YOU START. WITH THE BACK END RAISED YOU CAN LEAVE THE BOTTOM TRAY HANGING.REMOVE WIRES CONNECTED TO SENDING UNIT, REMOVE THE TWO BOLTS ON THE BACK THAT HOLDS THE STRAPS, THE TANK WILL NOT DROP UNTILL YOU REMOVE THE TWO BOTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE SUPPORT BAR JUST BEHIND THE REAR END. THIS IS WHEN YOU CALL YOUR BEST FRIEND OVER FOR SOME ASSISTANCESmile HAVE SOMEONE HOLD THE TANK WHILE YOU REMOVE THE SUPPORT AND THEN REMOVE THE TWO HOSES THE VENT/ FUEL LINE, I REPLACED BOTH HOSES AND NEW CLIPS. YOUR TANK IS REMOVEDClapI PURCHASED A NEW TANK SO I SPRAYED  THE EXTERIOR WITH SOME CLEAR RUST INHIBUTOR JUST FOR THE MOISTURE AND GOT MY SENDING UNIT REBUILT.THE FUN PART IS PUTTING THE NEW TANK IN, PUT IT IN ON AN ANGLE ON ONE CORNER AND IT SHOULD FIT IN,AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THE BACK END HIGH ENOUGH ON STANDS FOR CLEARANCE, REPEAT THE STEPS AND HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO HELP YOU OUT. I DID THIS ON MY OWN AND THERE WAS ALOT OFCensoredWits%20End . IT MIGHT LOOK DIFFICULT  BUT TURNED OUT EASY. LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES.   JIMMY



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Gas Tank Removal (4/7)
 3/17/08 12:42pm
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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Joined: 7/2/2006
Posts: 8205

I have done this many times alone.........rather than using my head like Joel does.........I use my head differently. I use a Harbor Freight cheap ($59.00) transmission jack. It has a large area that will support the tank. If the car is highly raised, I use a 10x12x18" block of wood to get the extra height.........the jack tops out before I can get the tank high enough, without the extra timber.  Remember that fuel is close to water in weight. Water=8.33 lbs./gal.........so I assume gas would be in the range of 8 lbs./gal.  

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Gas Tank Removal (5/7)
 3/17/08 6:49pm
manget1Lifetime Member
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Indianapolis, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Silver 1974 Convertible - L82 4 speed Low miles (was only 8,900 when I bought it in March 2006) - Now 54K miles. Original owner bought it as an investment for son's college expenses. 2008 Jetstream Blue Convertible


Joined: 9/3/2006
Posts: 2428

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]Now would be the time to make sure the tank is empty...fuel is quite heavy!
[/QUOTE]
 
In my younger days, I remember going to a junk yard to get a replacement tank for my 76 Grand Prix.  I found another GP at the junk yard and the plates hadn't even expired
 
I crawled under and undid one strap.  The tank dropped somewhat and I heard gas sloshing around.  Unfortunately, I didn't make the connection.  I undid the second strap and whomp.  I was trapped under the tank.
 
Thankfully, I had friends there to pull the tank off of me.  Otherwise, I would probably still be there to this day.


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Gas Tank Removal (6/7)
 3/17/08 8:59pm
79rebuild
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Yelm, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1979 L82 4 speed Scat 383 crank 190 cc Procomp Aluminum Heads 202 160 stainless valves GM Powder metal rods Speedpro H860CP Hypereutectic pistons 280 cam hydralic HEI Pro comp 1.6 roller rockers Mighty Demon 750 Sanderson CC1AP Hedders.


Joined: 7/12/2007
Posts: 356

I know theyre a bit different but I got some good close up pics of my tank mounted with the body off. Hope it helps! 
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Gas Tank Removal (7/7)
 3/24/08 5:28pm
82delight
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Vette(s):
82 dark red


Joined: 8/9/2005
Posts: 66

I dropped mine FULL with the help of a hydraulic jack.  I emptied it before I re-installed it, though.  I thought my fuel pump was bad, and I couldn't remove the sending unit through the hole in the rear deck.  After all the trouble, turns out it wasn't the fuel pump after all.  But now I have a new fuel pump.  Hmmm.
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