I've got an 87, E350 motor home with a single gas tank. It hasn't been started in 13+ years. I've changed the plugs, turned it over by hand, and got it started after pouring a little gas down the carburator. However, it doesn't seem to be pumping gas. I took off the gas line between the tank and the fuel filter, turned the engine over and no gas comes out of the line. Checked the fuel pump emergency shut off switch, it's OK. Seems I need to flush the fuel lines, clean the tank out and put a new fuel pump in.
Now the question. I got the rear bolts loosened on both straps around the tank. Can't break the front ones loose at all. Do I need to remove the straps completely in order to drop the tank? Or, with the rear of the straps loose, If I take all of the fuel fill pipe, gas line, electrical conections, etc. off, will the tank slide down and out the back?

 

You can bend the straps to get the tank out, they are not that strong and by design are meant to flex. Though not needed, I would replace the straps after you get the tank out. Once the tank is out I just grind the nuts/bolts off.

Please note on some Fords the front strap swivels in a slot so when you loosen the back bolts the straps flip out of the way.

If your fuel pump is part of the sender and held in with a retaining ring, loosen it with a 2x4 and hammer and do not hit the ring directly with any steel (sparks) tool. A bit of PB Blaster would not hurt before you start.

 

What size gas tank does your '87 have? I'm guessing it has something bigger than the 22gal tank that was standard on this era vans.

 

Rebocardo - Thanks for the tips. I plan on working on it tomorrow and will send a note back on my progress (or lack of progress).
83Van - Not sure what size tank. I haven't had the thing running yet and so haven't been to a gas station and filled the tank. With the 460 engine, the fuel pump is in the tank. Does that make for a larger tank size? Does it impact how the tank is removed?

 

Do you have one or two tanks?
Do you have a carb or is it FI?

 

One tank.
Carb, not FI.

 

I am guessing you have a 460 and have the hot vapor return fuel system.
Have you checked for power going to the pump yet?
If not check for power to the pump and if it has not been used for 13+ years and it had gas in it the tank when parked the filter/sock in the tank would be plugged and very hard to clean. You need to plan on replacing the pump/sock and check for holes rusted in the tank.

 

The vehicle only has 8,000 miles on it and has been parked on asphalt for the entire time. That makes for a fairly clean under carriage with little rust. However, the tank shows 1/4 full so I'm sure that whatever is still in there has little resemblance to gasoline. I know that when I disconnected the line going into the fuel filter, what came out didn't look or smell very good. I'll probably get the tank out and see what it looks like inside before I go out and buy a new pump. You're probably right about the filter sock being plugged. That will no doubt cost a lot less than a new fuel pump.

 

By the way here is a diagram of the fuel system if you need it.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9...986460fuel.gif

 

Thanks to all for their input. The tank came out pretty much as suggested. Put a floor jack under it then loosened up the bolts on the rear of the 2 tank straps. Lowered the tank a couple of inches to get some clearance, then removed all of the hoses and electrical plug. Had to block it up in order to get the floor jack our, then gradually took the blocks out and slid the tank out the back till the tank was on the ground. Didn't have to take the front of the straps off at all. Had to jack the frame up a couple of inches in order to have enough clearance to slide the tank out.
Took the fuel pump and sender assembly out and what a mess - looked like someone dipped it in molasses! I won't even try to clean it up, I'll just replace the whole assembly. The tank still had about 10 gallons of goo in it. Trying to clean that out will be the subject of my next posting.
Thanks again!!