Gas tank loose?

[Ernzo]

Hi, I had noticed that there was a loud thump from underneath my jeep when going over a bump, usually had to be going rather fast, like railroad tracks. I had thought it was the gas tank. I looked today and I can see a rotted through 'strap' by looking right in from the driver side by the rear wheel. Maybe that is causing the gas tank to flop around?

Anyone know if I can simply drop the plastic shield, and access the tank and various straps, etc? I can see where there are 6-8 9/16 bolts lined up on the outside edge. How many bananas is this? tongue.gif

[LRRH]

WOW!! Someone who knows the banana scale!!!

I would say it's a 2 banana job. a buddy and i did it on the side of the road before.....but that was on my 70.

Just make sure you're low on gas.

[youngjeeper]

helps alot if you take off the rear driveshaft

[2ndtimearround]

Read the article in the tech library....

http://www.ifsja.org/tech/fuel/skidplate.shtml

Not hard -- but time consuming. Plus NOS skid plates and parts are not easy to come buy...

Lawrence

[Bob Barry]

Originally posted by Ernzo:
Anyone know if I can simply drop the plastic shield, and access the tank and various straps, etc? I can see where there are 6-8 9/16 bolts lined up on the outside edge. How many bananas is this? tongue.gif Um, that "plastic shield" is the tank itself! redface.gif

You can unbolt the old skidplate and bolt on a rust-free replacement, but prepare to do some driver'side framerail repair while you're in there.

[Ernzo]

Hey,

Thanks for the tips, and the link.

I am thinking that I am seeing the skid plate and the tank is inside, correct?

The skid plate is fiberglass, or plastic. IT seems to be in good order from the outside, but who knows?

My understanding is that the tank and plate are integral, remove the plate and the tank drops as well, correct? No way to replace the strap without removing the entire unit, it seems.

Based upon my reading here, I will not use a cutting torch........

[ August 18, 2003, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: Ernzo ]

[jackz4000]

The gas tank is usually a 20 gallon plastic tank. The skid plate which shrouds it from the bottom is normally metal, not plastic or fiberglass. Secured by straps. If you have a plastic gas tank skid plate, it must be a custom mod.

[Bob Barry]

Originally posted by Ernzo:
I am thinking that I am seeing the skid plate and the tank is inside, correct?

The skid plate is fiberglass, or plastic. IT seems to be in good order from the outside, but who knows?The skid-plate is METAL. There is a fiberglass pad between the metal skidplate and the plastic tank.

If all you see is plastic in good shape, then it sounds like you're looking at the tank or the fiberglass pad, not the skidplate.

You can drop the skidplate, but that also has straps integral to it that support the tank. You can support the tank with straps only, but you'd have to remove the whole skidplate and tank in order to do that.

[BK]

My tank is covered by a large metal shield that has no straps but is bolted to the frame itself. I was under there recently inspecting it as some of the places it's bolted through are rusted completely away. Seems like it's still held securely with enough bolts though. Not a good thing to look at sometimes.

[2ndtimearround]

Originally posted by Ernzo:
My understanding is that the tank and plate are integral, remove the plate and the tank drops as well, correct? No way to replace the strap without removing the entire unit, it seems.
The skid plate (called the "coffin") is bolted to the frame rail, and to a bracket near the drive shaft.

The gas tank is bolted to the skid plate by two straps. The front strap bolts to the skid plate near the drive shaft, and goes between the skid plate and the frame rail. The rear strap goes from the mounting location near the drive shaft and between the frame rail/skid plate.

Think about it this way. The straps hold the tank to the plate. The plate is then bolted to the jeep..welcome to AMC engineering....

You are right...drop the plate and tank follows.

Lawrence