Gas Tank removal and replacement

[Bowtie-Bri]

I'm replacing the gas tank in my Chevelle. I removed most of the fuel from the tank. Is it necessary to remove the rear bumper and lower valance to get the tank out? Or can it be removed w/o doing this? Has anyone done this and if so, can you provide tips to make the job easier?
Thanks,
Brian

[smoke' em II]

Don' t remove anything, but the fuel tank straps, fuel lines, and sending unit ground wire.

Use a floor jack towards the front of the tank to help lower it. You may want to wrap a towel around the filler neck to protect the painted frame.

[Bowtie-Bri]

Wow, that wasn't so bad. I just removed the tank. It was easier than I thought. I just hope the new one goes in just as easy.:D
Thanks

[shadowgray396]

It should, I'm putting mine in on Thursday. Just had my straps powder coated so it's ready to go in. What tank did you get for a replacement?

Ray

[RBeckman]

Brian, let me know how it worked out, that is on my list as soon as the weather breaks...I drove my till I was running on fumes as not having to drain it. Thanks

[Bowtie-Bri]

It should, I'm putting mine in on Thursday. Just had my straps powder coated so it's ready to go in. What tank did you get for a replacement?

Ray
Its a Spectra premium tank. Its made in Canada. My tank had been replaced before I owned the car. I looked at the tank I just took out and noticed that its the same one that I just bought.

I'm going to remove all the oil residue from the tank and spray it with an adhesion promoter called "Bulldog", and then spray it with a clear. Hopefully this will prolong that fresh look.

[Bowtie-Bri]

Brian, let me know how it worked out, that is on my list as soon as the weather breaks...I drove my till I was running on fumes as not having to drain it. Thanks
Hey Ric,
I did what smokem2 suggested. I removed the tank strap bolts in front of the tank with a floor jack under the tank. Remove the straps and with everything disconnected slowly drop the tank down and out. ;)

[shadowgray396]

Just finished installing mine. Had to bend the filler tube up to get it to fit correctly. It is also a spectra. Shows some rub marks from the box on it. I put rubber pads across the top before I installed it, but wonder if anyone is using a pad between the tank and the lower straps? I haven't finished tighting it up yet.


Ray

[Bowtie-Bri]

Just finished installing mine. Had to bend the filler tube up to get it to fit correctly. It is also a spectra. Shows some rub marks from the box on it. I put rubber pads across the top before I installed it, but wonder if anyone is using a pad between the tank and the lower straps? I haven't finished tighting it up yet.


Ray
The one I removed didn't have the rubber between the metal straps and the tank. I'm planning to use them when I install the new tank. I need to get some pads to go between the tank and the trunk pan. When I dropped the tank there was only 3 of them.
Ray, how did you go about bending the filler tube?

[shadowgray396]

I got a installation kit when I purchased the tank and it ended up being a joke. The kit they called a felt pad strip was just 30 pound tar paper strips. I cut some strips out of some thick rubber and ran them across the tank instead. The factory installed tank also had 3 more insulator pads, one in the middle and 1 on each side of the tank. The bolt kit I also got is incorrect for the tank based on the assembly manual. The filler neck was easy to bent upward to fit the gas door opening, I did it with the tank in the car. I'm thinking I will drop the tank again and add the insulator pads, since I have them from my original tank. I may run the tar paper strip between the straps and cut them down so they will not show. If you have a assembly manual check out section 8, its page 255 in mine.

Ray

[Blownchevelle]

Im getting ready to take my tank out as well during a rear end change. Has anyone installed a pickup that has the 1/2" line? Or has anyone taken a new tank and had a sump installed on it? Im debating both actually, I like the idea of a sump but would think the 1/2" pickup would be easier.

Who has the best prices on tanks?

Thanks! Jason