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Hello all, new here and glad to have found you. I'm looking for some advice with my auxiliary fuel tank. I was given the truck knowing that both the tanks were very rusty, so to get by and enjoy the truck I just never let the tanks get below half full. At this point there is a pinhole leak in the front auxiliary tank that in front of the rear axle between the left frame and driveline. There is a skid plate that is full of dirt and such that of course is saturated with fuel now. When I try to remove the nuts to remove the plate they just spin and there is no room to get a wrench above the from to find a bolt head or something to secure the stud to get the nut off. I cant think of anything I can use to cut the straps without making a spark in risk of igniting all that fuel soaked material between the tank and skid plate, I can't find any literature or video's that address this issue. In all of my repair manuals there is no mention of this skid plate. Any thoughts or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. I want to get the old girl back into the garage for the winter.
Thank you!!
Are you speaking about the original support bracketry for the tank or an actual skid plate when off road or both?
1) If the original bracketry is still in place be real careful taking it out. They are very rare, if you can find one at all these days even if it needs repaired.
2) Take a picture of what is in your way and post it. It will be way easier and you'll have many pairs of eyes to help you. You've already figured out dropping the tank is going to be your best path forward here.
Waiting for pics
So you are talking about the metal support/skid plate, on the front tank, on a 4wd yes? It should be a plastic tank, but there are also metal tank set up's I think on Super Cabs? A 2wd front tank is metal and suspended with straps. Water soak it and see if you can use a sawzall to cut the bolt heads off. Run it on low speed with a hack saw blade to help keep the sparks to a minimum. A cut off wheel will be a spark maker. Does your tank support look like this?
Are you speaking about the original support bracketry for the tank or an actual skid plate when off road or both?
1) If the original bracketry is still in place be real careful taking it out. They are very rare, if you can find one at all these days even if it needs repaired.
2) Take a picture of what is in your way and post it. It will be way easier and you'll have many pairs of eyes to help you. You've already figured out dropping the tank is going to be your best path forward here.
Waiting for pics
Thanks for responding. I can't tell yet what kind of shape the original brackets are in until I can remove this "skid plate" thing. Lmc truck does have replacement hanger brackets if I end up needing them. My grandpa ordered this thing in early 77 so he could have the side bed tool box. He pulled a small trailer for hunting a few times a year and drove it around in the woods while doing so. So no telling how much crud is in between the plate and tank yet. I will get some pics when it gets light tomorrow.
Thanks for your input.
Confirmed. Plastic tank. Do you know if I get the new metal tank from LMC if I get the straps I would be good to go? I can't seem to find the metal tank holder anywhere, or a plastic tank for that matter. And yes 4WD.
Confirmed. Plastic tank. Do you know if I get the new metal tank from LMC if I get the straps I would be good to go? I can't seem to find the metal tank holder anywhere, or a plastic tank for that matter. And yes 4WD.
If your truck is a 77'-79' withh eec (evap). Then your good with their steel tank and the straps are extra but most importantly available from LMC here.
So yes you will NOT find the OEM plastic tank (metal) support/skid plate any where on this earth. Most folks repair theirs's the best they can or get a new one made by a fabricator. $$$ If you have a plastic tank now, I am not sure about changing over to a metal tank without some mod work. Yes most vendors that carry the metal tank, should carry the straps.
Fill out the rest of your profile (with your truck info), or add it to your signature and I will look for a repop plastic tank. We are all good, but we are not all mind readers. Might be Poly repop tank time?
I updated what I could find. I have 78 F-150 ranger 4WD 351 4spd Dual tank. As of today confirmed front tank is plastic. Steel "mount or mounting bracket" is pretty well rusted through and the tank is leaking somewhere towards the front I think.
The fuel lines run inside the frame rail above that tank. I'd check those for leaks before buying the new tank. Use a pressure washer to clean the dirt between the tank and hanger to eliminate some of the gas fumes.
I bet it you get under there and look around, you might find a fuel leak/seep from the top or near the top (curved top part) from a vent line fitting or from the main filler neck, I have seen that before. I have also seen some 4wd farm trucks (with plastic tanks) with heavily damaged skid plates and they never leaked.
That tank is pretty thick, I guess you could get a pin hole from some gravel getting in there and over a long time of vibration you wear a hole in it. But I doubt it. Once you get the tank off it will be easier to figure out. And come up with a plan to get the skid plate/support part repaired.
Thank you guys. I will look into these options. Kinda makes sense, this last trip to get hay I topped off the tank on the way home which is only about 5 miles from home and had terrible fumes in the garage after parking. This is what prompted this.
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Fuel tank help.
