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Fuel tank issues

Reply #30
who said anything about painting the ring with por 15? certainly wasn't me.. the ring should definitely be replaced if it's rusted that bad, because we all know it's going to wind up getting wrecked when it gets beat on to remove it..

ANYWAY.. If a new tank is that cheap, just replace it. just make sure you spray the new tank with a couple good coats of decent paint.. decent meaning no 98 cent cans of walmarts cheap paint lol
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Fuel tank issues

Reply #31
I s
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Fuel tank issues

Reply #32
Well, I've been pounding on it for a couple days now, and I'm not sure I'm going to get it off without destroying the tank or blowing something up. I'll give it until the end of the weekend. If I can't get the ring to budge at all, I'll call this tank quits. I'll try PB Blaster today.

Definitely need a new sending unit, though. It's still working, but it's in too poor of shape to keep. I did tons of searching and came up with nothing. Making my own is starting to sound like a good idea. At least then I'd know it wouldn't rust away. Either that or salvage what I can of the current unit.

Good news is I found a tank for under 100 including shipping =D
Our world is not merely black and white, nor is it just shades of gray. Taste the rainbow.

Fuel tank issues

Reply #33
pb blast always does the trick for me.. i haven't used wd40 since i was 14, over 10 years ago lol i would soak the ring good enough that there's a little puddle all the way around the ring.. that'll give it more to soak in as it sits.. also try moving around the 3 spots where you can get your chisel or whatever you're using.. that always helps in breaking it loose.. 3 impact points are better than 1 lol.. and cover the filler neck hole with duct tape to keep some of the fumes from escaping and making 1 giant firework.. lol
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Fuel tank issues

Reply #34
Haynes Manual directions for removing a tank ring.

 QUOTE Tap the lock ring tabs  with a brass punch and hammer.
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Fuel tank issues

Reply #35
suppose you could try a piece of hardwood too,if you don't have a brass punch
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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Fuel tank issues

Reply #36
Their is also a way to evacuate all the fumes from a gas tank. A good friend of mine owns a radiator shop and told me how to do it many years ago. All you need is a shop vac. One that is certified flame proof. Hook the hose to the exhaust port of the Vac. Then remove the rollover valve and or the sender pump assembly. And then start the vacuum with the hose connected to the fill pipe. The air blowing into the tank will blow out all the fumes. It takes a couple of hours but it works. We do this when installing fittings or return lines for EFI conversions.  Or bottom feed fittings. This allows you to braze or solder on an old tank.  Dont rush the evacuation and test it for fumes before doing modifications to a tank. Hope this helps.

Note make absolutely certain all the fumes are evacuated before putting a flame to a tank. Thanks
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Fuel tank issues

Reply #37
Thanks. I always considered a screw driver to be lethal. Now I have proof.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Fuel tank issues

Reply #38
screw drivers are more lethal without a gas tank.. i've heard of plenty of murderers who used a flathead as their weapon of choice lol
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

Fuel tank issues

Reply #39
Never
I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Fuel tank issues

Reply #40
Mr tom, I would like to appologize for the way I reacted. You are right that you should go with the safest way possible, even with little chances.

I have been going through some personal things, and I took what you were saying the wrong way.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Fuel tank issues

Reply #41
So, I got busy for a week or so, but now I'm back at it. I've got a lot of good news, a little bad news, and hopefully my final question.

First off, I got myself some real penetrating oil. In my arsenal, I now have PB Blaster, Kano, and CRC Freeze Off. I could tell the difference right away.
Anyways, I sprayed that on last night, and today worked out almost as good as I'd hoped. I got the lines off first and pulled the tank out. The gas that was remaining in it is in the bucket to the right. A lot more than I thought would be left.
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/7309/img20111023150254.jpg

Unfortunately, part of the piping from the pump broke off along with the line.
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/479/img20111023145533.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7426/img20111023154317.jpg

Well, anyways, I got the tank out and started working on that sending unit. Cleaned it off to find that the metal had rusted through.
http://img805.imageshack.us/img805/9009/img20111023145526.jpg

Now, I knew I couldn't cut it off, but I had the bright idea of pulling it off. I grabbed my trusty pair of pliers and yanked on it for a while. Probably not the safest way, but it worked.
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/2997/img20111023151124.jpg
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1031/img20111023154234.jpg

It came out better than I could've ever hoped. All I have to do is tear off the rest of the top and remake it. Connector and everything is still in one piece.

Now, onto my question. How do I replace those ends on the fuel lines? I'm assuming it's not just plug and play.
I also still have to remake the electrical connectors, but that shouldn't be that bad. Worst case scenario I machine a block of plastic to fit and find a way to secure it. Best case I make a mold and melt some plastic into it.

As an added question, how is galvanized steel when it comes to rusting? I'm assuming pretty good, but I'm basing that on the chemical structure, not real world experience. I ask because that's what my new tank is made of.
Our world is not merely black and white, nor is it just shades of gray. Taste the rainbow.

Fuel tank issues

Reply #42
you can replace the fuel line ends... they have barbed connectors on them that push into the lines.... I had to use a special tool though. (borrowed from my mechanic friend)
maybe you cam borrow one from a shop, or rent one from a parts place

Edit:
This was the tool I used for the fuel lines
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
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Fuel tank issues

Reply #43
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I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!

Fuel tank issues

Reply #44
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I spend money I don't have, To build  cars I don't need, To impress people I don't know

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY!!