To access the brake line on my 73 F250, I believe I'll have to drop out those two monstrous dual tanks, and I have no clue about the best way to go about that. If I'm right the tanks are 20 gallon main, and 18 gallon auxiliary. For the first step my guess is either siphon the gas out, or just let the truck idle for a while. The Main tank only has a little gas in it, and auxiliary tank hasn't been used in years, its empty as far as I know. So what exactly do I need to do?

Thanks,
Sam

 

Where are these tanks mounted? If you have the tanks I am used to, one in the rear, and one on the drivers side, inside the frame rails, the rear one should't need to come out at all to get at the brake lines. And if you are just replacing lines, I have just pushed new lines along the frame rail between the tank and the frame (after taping over the open end to make sure no crap gets in from being pushed along there). Just make sure you secure them as close to either end of the tank as you can, so as not to have too long a stretch of unsupported line. If you are restoring the truck or something then you may want to remove the tanks so that you can get exact routing and factiry line clips, etc. As I recall, the front tank on my '78 F150 4x4 was a real pig due to one of the bolts being in a difficult to access spot, so I wouldn't remove it unless I had to.

 

The straps that hold them in need to be taken loose, they are held on with nuts or bolts at one end, and hinged at the other. Get most of the gas out then put a jack under the tank, loosen the one side of the straps letting them swing down, and lower the tank some, so that you can reach up and disconnect the lines/ electrical connector. Be careful with the valve on top- its plastic and could break. Other than that is just your filler hose, then just lower the tank down. Not hard to do, just akward because everything is so big or possibly rusty.

 

Ok, thanks. I think I'll have to drop it out just so I can get some of that rust off the frame, might as well do that while I'm working with the brake line.

Sam