Dropping the gas tank on a pickup?

[Dabba]

Im going to need to cut my floor out and im wondering how hard it's going to be to drop the tank. Its going to be my first welding job and i dont have the money for a body shop so..

Originally i was going to just cut the floor in front of the tank and weld in new metal but now its creeping up the seat mount so at the very least im sanding, but i think ill be cutting.

Cant upload the pics from my phone but the question still stands :/

 

[kennyw]

It is easier to remove the truck bed first, then you can unhook all the hoses easily before unbolting the tank L brackets.

 

[onetonbb74]

I undo the filler tube first, then the 4 bolts that hold on the L brackets starting at the rear brackets first, then undo the 4 bolts in the front and drop the entire tank with brackets and straps all in one, half way down, I undo the fuel lines and wires...

The bolts are on the inside of the frame and I can usually get an impact in there so its super easy. I had dual tanks, is yours dual?

 

[DokWatson]

And wear eye protection! Last time I dropped a tank a drip of gasoline landed square in my eye right when I looked up. Was when I was wearing contacts too, ouch

 

[Dabba]

Taking the bed off would not be easy for me. Can i do it without? I may not even need to remove the lines. I just need to get it far enough away from the cutting and welding. The front part under the seat in the cab might get nicked if i dont. I dont want to remove it but get enough space between it and the floor. No, single tank on the driver side. So its held up my straps that bolt onto the framrail?

 

[ARAMP1]

Taking the bed off would not be easy for me. Can i do it without? I may not even need to remove the lines. I just need to get it far enough away from the cutting and welding. The front part under the seat in the cab might get nicked if i dont. I dont want to remove it but get enough space between it and the floor. No, single tank on the driver side. So its held up my straps that bolt onto the framrail?

It can be done without removing the bed, but it's a little bit of a pain. It's held in by two "L" shaped brackets that are then bolted to the frame. The tank is strapped in to the bracket. I don't know how far you'd get it if you didn't remove the lines. Maybe far enough to get something in between to shield it from your work.

 

[diesel4me]

I'll wager that at least one of the bolts will snap off in the welded nut on the tank strap brackets,they usually do..sometimes the nut breaks the weld off and it'll just spin,or the bolts head will rust into a rivet and make using a socket impossible,in that case you can pound a metric one onto the bolt --I use a Irwin "bolt out" extractor that you hammer onti the bolt head,it has spiral teeth that grip it and they work slick on rotted bolts..

I;d use a board and a floor jack to support the tank while unbolting it,especially if it has any amount of gas in it...the sending unit wire dosen't have much slack,so take it off before fully lowering the tank,the same may apply to the hoses in the sending unit also...

 

[Dabba]

Sending unit is that group of hoses in the space between the bed and the cab? (I only gave it a once over) Yeah, i was going to drive it until near empty and use a jack with wood If i can just get some sheet metal to protect it and wedge it in there, that would be great

 

[Dabba]

le bump

 

[kennyw]

Sending unit is that group of hoses in the space between the bed and the cab?

Yes. But, mostly behind the cab between the bed and tank.

 

[Dabba]

Gonna be fun to get up there.. Well heres hoping i can wiggle it out enough to get a guard up there, otherwise this project just got a lot more fun >.>

 

[ARAMP1]

Post up some pics of the area you're cutting/welding when you get a chance.

 

[Dabba]

Alright. I don't have any good ones right now so ill take some when i can. Reaching my hand up above the gas tank i feel a good 1 1/2 - 2 inches of space, i think i might be able to do this without droppping it if i get a thick peice of sheet metal in place and just be carefull.. But well see.

 

[kennyw]

The only reason you will get away with a shield in there is the fact that your truck is a diesel... on a gas truck I wouldn't risk it!