I did a search about this and did not find near the info I expected to. I will be removing my tank this weekend. I will need to remove some gas from the tank and then take the tank out. What are the do's and dont's. I heard this can be tricky. :confused:
Thanks

btt...........I really would like some input before I go for the day. Thanks tongue.gif

Credit to richr, of TC. This was highjacked from one of his previous postings. -

[Begin Richr] The tank is fairly easy to remove.

First drain all the fuel from the tank. I used a hand pump that I purchased in K-Mart.

There are two straps holding the tank. The front of the straps (towards the rear of the car) has two small bolts, one on each side, the rear of the straps is held by two long bolts, again one on each side, threaded into the bottom of the body. Remove the smaller rear bolts first.

Place a floor jack, use a piece of plywood on the jack cup, under the center of the tank.

Disconnect your fuel lines, and ground line. Loosen the long bolts evenly on each side. Lower the tank enough to disconnect the sending unit wire. Once the straps are off lower the tank completely.

Once out - wash the tank thoroughly. Run a hose in it with dish wash liquid. Wash it out well. Let the tank sit outside for a few days in a safe place to air out.

The tank should be a natural color, not sure if I would sandblast it - wouldn't want any sparks. Try using a paint stripper - re-paint with Eastwoods gas tank paint - being my tank was new I used a clear coat. If I was using my old tank I would have painted it.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

Rich

------------------
70 SS - L34
Member # 442
www.chevelles.com/showroom/richr1 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/richr1)

http://www.my70ss.com

[/End Richr]

OK, here we go:

1. Disconnect your battery.
2. Siphon as much gas as possible out of the the tank to reduce the weight. Fluids are HEAVY. If you can't don't panic, it'll just require a little more muscle.
3. If you like, jack the rear end of the car up to help when you are crawling under the car.
4. Disconnect the hoses going from the tank to the fuel lines.
5. Disconnect the connector from the gas tank sending unit that's connected to the trunk wiring harness. You should see the wire running across the top of the tank at the rear edge where it meets up with the trunk wiring harness.
6. Remove the screws at the REAR of the fuel tank straps. Make your way to the front and work on those, being careful to support the tank with some boxes, a friend, or even your knees so it doesn't drop on your head. That would hurt.
7. If, with all the fastening hardware removed, it doesn't drop, just gently pull downwards and it shouold break free. Sometimes the gas tank insulation between the tank and the trunk floor gets yucky and holds it up there.
8. When the tank comes down, watch the sending unit harness connection so that it doesn't get broken.

Last, have some blankets or broken down cardboard boxes to lie on and set the tank down on.

If I've missed anything, somebody please chime in.

Midnight, you were done while I was still typing!

I knew you guys would come through graemlins/thumbsup.gif


Thanks a bunch !! graemlins/waving.gif

Wow - I forgot I posted that - was a long time ago - funny thing is I just did this again two weekends ago on the Red Relic - same method only this time I ran the car so far to E that there was barely a gallon left in it. Good find Beau, glad it was still useful.

John - love the car - by the way - Mist Green is not so horrible as an SS - I used to think so too until it grew on me. ;)


Rich

Originally posted by richr:
Good find Beau, glad it was still useful.


Rich Indeed. I have it archived.

Originally posted by richr:

John - love the car - by the way - Mist Green is not so horrible as an SS - I used to think so too until it grew on me. ;)


Rich Sorry Rich,
Your car is truley awesome and that Mist Green looks great on your SS, I agree. I think that since I had pictured the Cortez silver in my mind for so long that when I found this car, the color really turned me off. graemlins/waving.gif

Rich,
Would you believe that in 1970, when I was 10, that I told myself that one day I would also have a Chevelle. At the age of 17, I got a 1967 2 dr malibu. Also, when we lived in California when I was a kid, my dad had a 1965 Malibu, which we had a bad wreck in on the way to the beach in Malibu Canyon........ :eek:

By the way, I am planning on updating my site this weekend to show where I am now on the project. graemlins/waving.gif

John,

Cool coincidence - looking forward to the update - I'll be separating the body from the chassis on the Relic this weekend - will take some pics for the page too. graemlins/beers.gif

Thks

Rich

Rich,

I'm planning on lifting my body off this weekend also and I was told to remove the gas tank first. What is your procedure for lifting the body?
:D

Tony,

I removed the tank, rear valance, rear bumper - took all the body bolts out. I'll be using two floor jacks with 2x6" in 2ft lengths - these will go on top of the jack cups - I am going to raise it from under the cowl and under the rear seats.

Considiering the condition of my frame and underside and my lack of space, I won't be separating them completely. I have 4x4's cut in 6" lengths - I'll place those where the body bushings are and place the body back. This will give me the clearence to clean and paint between the chassis and the body and the room to replace all the lines. I did this with the green car and it worked out well - I call it a Body Up instead of a Body Off.

I'll take some pics and post them on the sight - hopefully on Monday.

Rich

Originally posted by Midnight Marauder:
Credit to [b]richr, of TC. This was highjacked from one of his previous postings.

Once out - wash the tank thoroughly. Run a hose in it with dish wash liquid. Wash it out well. Let the tank sit outside for a few days in a safe place to air out.
[/End Richr] My tank is out already, I was thinking of tackling the project of cleaning it up this weekend. But I never cleaned it out like this, is it really possible to put soapy water in there and get it all out? If there's a little residue left when you put gas back in it, is that disasterous??
Thanks.
Ed.

Eddie,

Just keep rinsing until all the suds clear - should be ok.

Let it dry out for a few days - Have done this before and used the tank for many years without a problem. The idea is to remove the fumes inside the tank so if you want to paint and work with it it will be safer to handle. Either way though I would still avoid any sparks near it, gasoline fumes tend to stick around for a very long time.

Hope this helps.

Rich

Thanks, I'll give it a try this weekend. I'm just going to try to clean the outside with some degreaser, maybe one of those scotch brite pads (I love those things) or a wire brush for some stubborn stuff.

For years my engine leaked oil horribly. So cleaning things like the driveshaft, exhaust, etc. before reassembly has been quite a challenge. Can't afford to replace everything, so I'm trying to clean/paint what's still good.

Thanks for the tips.
Ed.

Rich,

Thanks. Great info for a future project(s). Good detail for those of us who really are starting from scratch....

...but, mostly just wanted to say: That car of yours is a real beauty graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Mike O'H

Remember, wires brushes can make sparks, better use a brass bristle brish.

graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by Dean:
Remember, wires brushes can make sparks, better use a brass bristle brish.

graemlins/thumbsup.gif Thanks. So a brass bristle brush won't make any sparks? Is that a common household-type item?
Ed.

Yeah, I meant "brush" redface.gif

you can get them in the supermarket
BB-Q grill cleaning brushes (not brishs) smile.gif

"brass bristle brish", try saying that 10 times

On this same note... I'm hoping to do a tank replacement on my wife's '70 SS this winter... Our current one is well rusted -- and leaking at the seams. I'm thinking of just replacing it with a repro from Year One or Ground Up. If I do that, should I do anything to it first -- such as painting it (paint or clear coat even)? Or just use it as it is from them?

Thanks!

- John...

Originally posted by richr:
Tony,

I removed the tank, rear valance, rear bumper - took all the body bolts out. I'll be using two floor jacks with 2x6" in 2ft lengths - these will go on top of the jack cups - I am going to raise it from under the cowl and under the rear seats.

Considiering the condition of my frame and underside and my lack of space, I won't be separating them completely. I have 4x4's cut in 6" lengths - I'll place those where the body bushings are and place the body back. This will give me the clearence to clean and paint between the chassis and the body and the room to replace all the lines. I did this with the green car and it worked out well - I call it a Body Up instead of a Body Off.

I'll take some pics and post them on the sight - hopefully on Monday.

Rich I like That "Body Up" restoration. That is exactly what I am planning on doing this week and for the same reason. Did you remove the front "clip" before raising the body ? I removed the gas tank (took about 10 minutes), removed the "sweep" dash and welded in the bucket seat brackets this weekend. My hands are sore and look like I was wrestling a crocodile, but when I look at your end results I know it will all be worth it. graemlins/waving.gif

John,

Yes - I removed the front clip - I did raise the body off the chassis this weekend - was a little tricky but it worked out I needed one extra set of hands - placed 4x4 blocks between the chassis and the body. There is plenty of clearence to work in the areas you normally cannot reach, and get the new fuel lines etc in without a problem. See the pics at the link below.

http://my70ss.homestead.com/Redconvertable2.html


If your car is very rusty you may find this route difficult, on the other note the only other real reason I am doing it this way, aside from lack of space, is due to the condition of the frame and body - it's immaculate - I think you'll agree after looking at the pics. If it had rust I would have removed it completely.

On to the next step - carefully cleaning and re-painting the underside. graemlins/hurray.gif

Thks

Rich