Gas Tank and Filter Sock Woes

[The PIG Smith]

Last fall, my J20 quit running due to fuel starvation.
I was able to get it to run from a gas can, but not from the fuel from the tank.
The consensus from the forum was the filter sock was clogged with dirt/rust/crud.
Some folks said do not mess with the silly filter sock, blow compressed air back through the hard line, install an in-line filter, call it done.
Others say I need the filter sock and that I need to drop the tank and replace it.
Okay...I decided drop the tank and check out this filter sock.

My J20 does not have a standard Jeep tank.
It's a plastic tank that rides where the spare tire would normally.

The Filler Neck comes up to the rear of my flat bed.


Here are the hard line and gas gauge connections


So, I thought, disconnect the lines, buzz out the the four bolts and the tank comes out? Right? Wrong! Very Wrong!

The Lines came off, not problems.
The bolts want to spin when I tried to buzz them off.

Why? Aircraft style nylon lock nuts


I was able to get the driver's side rear bolt off, but the driver's front nut just rounded off.


So, right now, without cutting the nut off with my Dremel, the tank is stuck in my truck.
I do not want to cut that nut with anything that would cause sparks.

But, its gets better! (...it has too, it's a Jeep!)
I wondered if I could even get the pickup assembly out without removing the tank.
I am not able to figure out how to even get the pickup assembly out.
There is not a locking ring to slide around to release the pickup assembly.


Okay...I am at a loss at this moment.
Any suggestions? Advice? Flames?

[JeepBountyHunter]

Bryan,
That large plastic nut is the locking ring...
Similar to what is on the GW's..you have to tap it counter-clockwise gently with a screwdriver..at the upper edges....or make a wrench with a large I think 3 and 1/4 PCV pipe...cut notches around it so it will mount to that large nut..put a hole through for a rod to turn it..
uhhh...try the screwdriver and hammer trick first..
If you use a dremel under there...drain that tank with a siphon...fill it with hot soapy water...swish it around, jump on the truck..lol..siphon it out, fill it with water again, and then cut them bolts off..
Good luck.
Aaron

[waynestiles]

I while back I picked up a set of damaged nut removers. They are heavy hardened steel with an inside sort of like a socket but slightly undersized and with fine spiral threads. The outside is also nut shaped. the idea is that you drive them down over the damaged nut, the hardened threads engage and you then use a larger socket, long breaker bar, and "helper" to get the nut loose.

I have no idea if it is just a gimmik but I picked them up cheap from a tool shop that was going out of business.
There is also a tool called a nut-splitter for splitting frozen nuts. if you hunt around you might be able to find one or another of'em

If I was faced with that situation I'd soak the heck out of the nut with Break-Free, heating it occassionally with a hair dryer between applications. a couple times a day for a few days; then try what ever wrench I could get on it. an old fashioned pipe wrench with a pipe "helper" on the handle might work as they tighten under pressure. If that didn't work I'd use the damaged nut removers or a nut splitter.
Grinding or dremel cutting would be my last resort, and I use a dremel a LOT. When I was a kid one of my little friends lost his dad to a gastank repair explosion. I'd probably hand file it off before I'd risk sparks.

[The PIG Smith]

Thanx fellows.
I had to walk away from it for awhile.
Took the wife to Azar's (Shoney's, Bob's Big Boy, Frisch's...all the same) for a piece of Hot Fudge Cake and a cup of coffee.


While I was there...I got an idea.
I think I could take my tin snips and cut the straps.
The tank would just fall right out.
The problem with this idea is, how would I replace those straps?
Are gas tank straps a fairly common item?

I know my radiator shop does gas tanks.
I got some straps from them when I did the tank for my '88 Fifth Avenue.
Those straps looked generic.

I should ask them before I cut my J20's straps, but what would I ask for?
Without showing them what I have, measurements, etc...I think I would come across more stupid than I am.

If I cut them and cut not replace them, I might could get them rewelded or something.

That silly tank has a sheet metal sheld tack welded to the straps.


Here is another shot of the straps
Passenger's Side:

Driver's Side strap, bent out of the way

[JeepBountyHunter]

Bryan, yep, straps are available...I have a new pair for my 77...I think I got them from MTS or something like that..it's the folks that make those plastic replacement gas tanks..
Aaron

Oh its a universal strap...
One other thought though...
Is that a skid plate under that tank???

[The PIG Smith]

Oh its a universal strap...

I dunno if what I have are universal straps or not.

Is that a skid plate under that tank???

I think so.
Someone tack welded this sheet metal skid plate to the straps.

[HOOT]

You sure that is not a stock tank relocated? Sure looks alot like mine, skid plate and strap wise anyways.

[The PIG Smith]

You sure that is not a stock tank relocated? Sure looks alot like mine, skid plate and strap wise anyways.

It very well maybe it.
I dunno what a normal tank looks like.

[JeepBountyHunter]

Ditto...
It matches what I got under my current J10..That's not to say that you can't rehang the tank with universal straps..but a skid would be a good precaution, I would try to save that one.

You sure that is not a stock tank relocated? Sure looks alot like mine, skid plate and strap wise anyways.

[HOOT]

You can always post wanted ad here as well for straps. I got mine from a member here in Cincy and sand blasted them then had them painted with Steel-It paint. They look swwweeeettt. Too perty to use now..LOL.

I've yet to take my tank out yet so I don't know if it looks like yours. That skid plate and those straps dure do though. That crappy piece of sheet metal on the side is to shield the tank from the driveshaft.

[The PIG Smith]

Well, after a piece of Strawberry Pie and a cup of Coffee, Nathan (my 11 year old son) and I went out the remove the tank from the J20.
I was able to take the other two bolts out, bend the coffin skid plate away enough that the tank would slide out.

Now, with the tank and the threat of a KaBOOOOM gone, I took my Dremel and cut that one stubborn bolt out.

Mmmmm..I never noticed before, but it seems my hair is getting thin on top!



Now here is the tank.
Is this a standard J Truck Tank?
It's only holds a mere 16 gallons.






Now the coffin skid plate






When I was taking out the tank, I discovered a single line on the top.
What is this line for?
On the side, is the supply and the return lines...so I have no idea what is is for.
Looks like it had a leak in the past.

[beloth]

that top one is probably a vent line that would run to a charcol canister.....

[hagar]

it is the stock tank for 1981 but not in the stock location.
maybe moved for the bed ?
the top fitting is the fuel return line.

[The PIG Smith]

So is this tank work saving?
Is it worth my time of cleaning this tank, resealing this top vent, replacing the filter sock?

What about this skid plate?
Should I just clean it up and reinstall it?
Should I cut off the sheet metal and reuse the straps? (clean and paint)
Does the sheet metal really protect this poly tank?

I have a 31 gallon tank from a Chevy Blazer, but its gonna need the pickup tube redone.
A new assembly from LMC Trucks is between $87.44 and $162.44, just depends on what pickup assembly I need.
Then, I would need to fab up some bracket to hold this tank in place.

Would a Custom tank be a something I should to look at?
My guess is that a Custom Tank would easier to install and I would not need too mess with a pickup assembly or filter sock.
Sadly a custom tank would be costly.

BJ's OffRoad reports that they have SS tanks coming soon, but the delay on this products are with their vendor.
I dunno if one these tanks would be a help or cause more issues to solve.