Dropping the gas tank

[Gkase]

Has anybody replaced the metal plate that holds up the fuel tank? How did you support the fuel tank and manage the replacement without taking the fuel tank out (he asks hopefully)?
George

[loykd]

George,
I had a length of flat bar in the garage, maybe 1/8" thin and 1-1/2" wide. I slide it between the tank and the carrier, then used a couple of c-clamps to fasten it to the frame around the tank/carrier. It's not elegant, but it did work. If you have something thicker, I'd use it, because even with a partially filled tank, it sagged a bit. You can get flat bar like that at Lowes/HD.

Good luck!

[revor]

I used a rachet strap to hold up the tank while i worked on the receiver hitch...

Keith
www.rovertracks.com

[ron]

George,
make sure the tank is as close empty as possible. The rear of the tank sticks out a little so i used a support there I also had my buddy use a thin pry to hold the tank on the side while I switch the fuel tank protector.
If you have trouble with the bolts work them up and down and use plenty of penetrant. You dont want to break one of those puppies. Like I did :- (

[bd90]

DO NOT twist off those bolts. I broke off all but one and had to tap them all out. They are 10mm 1.50 thread I think. I used a tie down strap to hold up the tank and emptied it as much as I could. Did you have luck siphoning. I didn't. Must be a screen in the fill pipe. Watch out for the vent/vacuum hoses attached to the top of the tank. It's heck trying to get them reattached if one of them is disconnected. If they do I recommend getting a length of 3/16" fuel hose and the proper size connector and lengthening the existing vent line to make it easier to reconnect. I hope you have better luck with the install than I did. If you do, ignore the advice.

[Gkase]

can you elaborate on where you fit the tie down strap?
thanks to all for the tips so far...

[loykd]

George, for what it's worth, heed the advice on using penetrator fluid on the bolts . I also sheared off 3 or 4 when I was removing mine. Ended up redrilling and retapping.

[Gkase]

Just finished replacing the plate that supports the NAS D-90 fuel tank (rear mount) and suggest, if you haven't already, poke at this thing with a screw driver. You may be surprised at how rotten it really is...I thought I would be able to just scrape and paint with POR 15...but it literally crumbled as I pulled it out...looked fine from the outside except for a couple of small rusty areas...this little puppy is what holds up your fuel tank by the way...
George

[greg_sikes]

George,

Hopefully this is just a "rust belt" thing and those of us who experience snow only at our discretion should have no worries :)

Greg

[Neo]

Are there aftermaket stainless or aluminum ones available?

[dave_lucas]

Jeff,

http://www.d-90.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=279

[TwisteD90]

When I was dropping my gas tank yesterday to reinstall my rear bumper one of the "plugs" came off and can not put it back on. It's the one on the left hand side and it has a small hose connected to it. I tried everything with no luck, does anyone has any idea besides dropping the gas tank.

My patient growing really thin with this truck right now as this part should've been done!

Thanks,

[mattdh]

yousef-did the black ring gasket around it come out or just the white part? if the black ring came out , take it off and attach that to the gas tank first then lube it with a little grease and push the white thing in. the grease should help a lot but might stil be a little tough

[TwisteD90]

Matt, the black ring came off. Can I do this with tank off or on?

Thanks,

[mattdh]

you dont need to totally drop your gas tank but you are going to need to lower it to get your hand in there. i really dont see any way to do it with your tank in place just becuase of the limited space.maybe losen the three bolts on the right side and remove the three on the left might lower it enough,make sure to support your tank so it doesnt fall all the way out!! and your tank may lower enough to the left by doing this.good luck!!! if you were as luck as i was you could just get to it by opening your rear door and pullig back the carpet.some one chopped up the floor to replace the pump i think. didnt notice it till 2 months after i had the truck. but the beds down getting welded up , dropped it off on fri.maybe i should re think that?

[TwisteD90]

I'll do it tomorrow. I'll let you know how it went.

Thanks :)

[TwisteD90]

Matt, thank you very much for the helpful info :) It took me less than 5 minutes to do it where the local dealer wanted $300 to do the job.

Thank you,

[dmarchand]

I was going to drop the tank tomorrow, but was wondering if anyone had a recommended method for holding the tank in place while I remove the skid plate holding it? I need to access the bumper bolts on the backside of the crossmember.

Also, how far can I drop the tank before the hoses bind up?

Thanks!

[loykd]

Dave, Did you see this thread?

[The thread that was linked has been merged into this thread]

[dmarchand]

Wow, CVC, did you lump this in the same thread?

If so, cool moderation..

[chrisvonc]

:)
Yes, actually, 4 threads on this topic were merged this morning including the one Ken just linked. It's going to help later on when I bring the whole F.A.Q. section into the forum.

Not to hijack the thread but there is a problem with the Similar Topic search. You can read more in the Announcements Section.

[scot]

Dave,
when you say you are dropping the gas tank to get at bolts on the rear bumper...which bolts are you talking about? I just took off my rear bumper (for good) and the gas tank didn't enter into it. do you have a different bumper?

[dmarchand]

Not so much to get at the ones for the current stock NAS bumper, but I'm adding a hitch plate and dixon bate and removing the bumper all at once. So I do need access to the backside of the rear member in order to install the new bumper setup.

[scot]

where did you get the hitch plate and dixon bates? I want one of those setups.

[dmarchand]

Hitch from Roveraccessories, dixon bate from Steve Cooper (www.landroverstuff.com).

The hitches are hard to find. I think Charles told me I was getting the last one they had in stock.

[scot]

where are you in mass?

[dmarchand]

Watertown/Belmont. I work downtown at the WTC. You?

[scot]

I am a tv reporter anchor kind of guy. in fact i am at work and will be anchoring the noon on necn. channel six on your cable i think?

[dmarchand]

Cool, I'll see if I can't track down a TV to put a face to the name. Glad to see someone else is working today like me!

[scot]

Yeah...i worked yesterday too.

[dmarchand]

Here's the finished product. Now if I could find a way to lift that rear tire an inch or two...

[Mike Hippert]

Looks Good! You probably already know but Rovers North has an adapter plate that allows you to slide the Dixon Bates Hitch plate into the receiver. All though it would lower the departure angle. You could deflate the spare some.

[dmarchand]

Yeah I did see that. I think I need to make up a plate that mounts to the tire carrier and raises the tire itself.

I'm a bit weary of that hitch as a whole. Since only four bolts hold it on the truck, as opposed to the 8 for the original stock bumper. I wouldn't think a recovery would be wise using it.

[TDI Guy]

David, check out rovertracks.com. I think they remade the tire plate on Yousefs truck to raise the tire. THere are pic's on the site.

Randy