What a Nightmare!!!
You would think changing a petrol tank would be a straight forward affair, but oh no, mine fought me every step of the way.
I pulled the old one out ok, and noticed that the two left hand holes had been cut into slots, presumably due to body manufacturing 'tolerances' so I expected to have to do this to the new tank. No probs there.
Proceeded to remove the fuel outlet pick up pipe from the tank and managed to snap it off. It appears to have a hole in the side of it right at the bottom and this got caught and twisted off, so I duly bought a new one.
The new one arrived and was installed in the tank. Difficult to see, but I estimate that it is at least an inch off the bottom of the tank, possibly more. I need the car on the road, so it will have to do.
The new tank has the drainage outlet in the bottom, the old tank doesn't so I don't have the appropriate bung for the boot floor.
As I suspected, the two left mounting holes need to be cut into slots in order to fit.
Tank trial fitted to car.
With the Drainage outlet bolt lined up with the hole in the boot floor, the front right mounting hole wouldn't line up with the mounting bracket, so out with the tank and enlarge the hole by 1/4" or so.
Tank back in the car.
The vent pipe that runs back to the top of the filler pipe is about two inches longer than the one in the old tank and too long to attach the pipe to so tank out of the car again. Chopped an inch off the end of the pipe. Hopefully not getting too much swarf in the tank.
Tank back in the car.
Just managed to get the vent pipe attached, but it only just matched up with the outlet in the filler pipe.
Started to bolt the tank down. Front left bolt refuses to go in, Bracket a bit twisted so the bolt would not go in. Tank back out again to enlarge the slot.
Tank back in the car.
Finally got the tank bolted in and all pipes connected.
On to the fuel sender. The locating slots in the new tank are smaller than the old tank so the sender wouldn't fit. Started swearing profusely at this point!
Out with the dremel and trimmed a bit off the lugs on the fuel sender.
Finally got that installed.
Off to petrol station.
6 litres in can, 50 litres in tank of 'modern'.
6 litres in Stag, petrol pump ticking like crazy, not enough to reach petrol pick up pipe.
Off to petrol station, 6 litres in can.
6 Litres in Stag - still not enough to reach pick up pipe, but fuel gauge reading 1/8 tank.
Off to petrol station - 6 litres in can.
6 litres in Stag. Finally enough to get going.
Off to petrol station in Stag. Filled up tank.
Decided I deserved a treat so bought a large Latte from Costa in Petrol station.
First roundabout, coffee tips over, lid comes off so about a pint of milk/coffee all over the passenger carpet. Started swearing again.
Got home. Coffee had been completely absorbed by the front carpet - very absorbent the original Stag carpets!
Yanked carpet out of car so now off to Newlands tomorrow with one front carpet!
Now letting off steam sitting in front of the computer writing this!!!
Phew!
Rgds
Dave
...
...and now my internet connection has gone down and this post won't submit. Grrr!
I pulled the old one out ok, and noticed that the two left hand holes had been cut into slots, presumably due to body manufacturing 'tolerances' so I expected to have to do this to the new tank. No probs there.
Proceeded to remove the fuel outlet pick up pipe from the tank and managed to snap it off. It appears to have a hole in the side of it right at the bottom and this got caught and twisted off, so I duly bought a new one.
The new one arrived and was installed in the tank. Difficult to see, but I estimate that it is at least an inch off the bottom of the tank, possibly more. I need the car on the road, so it will have to do.
The new tank has the drainage outlet in the bottom, the old tank doesn't so I don't have the appropriate bung for the boot floor.
As I suspected, the two left mounting holes need to be cut into slots in order to fit.
Tank trial fitted to car.
With the Drainage outlet bolt lined up with the hole in the boot floor, the front right mounting hole wouldn't line up with the mounting bracket, so out with the tank and enlarge the hole by 1/4" or so.
Tank back in the car.
The vent pipe that runs back to the top of the filler pipe is about two inches longer than the one in the old tank and too long to attach the pipe to so tank out of the car again. Chopped an inch off the end of the pipe. Hopefully not getting too much swarf in the tank.
Tank back in the car.
Just managed to get the vent pipe attached, but it only just matched up with the outlet in the filler pipe.
Started to bolt the tank down. Front left bolt refuses to go in, Bracket a bit twisted so the bolt would not go in. Tank back out again to enlarge the slot.
Tank back in the car.
Finally got the tank bolted in and all pipes connected.
On to the fuel sender. The locating slots in the new tank are smaller than the old tank so the sender wouldn't fit. Started swearing profusely at this point!
Out with the dremel and trimmed a bit off the lugs on the fuel sender.
Finally got that installed.
Off to petrol station.
6 litres in can, 50 litres in tank of 'modern'.
6 litres in Stag, petrol pump ticking like crazy, not enough to reach petrol pick up pipe.
Off to petrol station, 6 litres in can.
6 Litres in Stag - still not enough to reach pick up pipe, but fuel gauge reading 1/8 tank.
Off to petrol station - 6 litres in can.
6 litres in Stag. Finally enough to get going.
Off to petrol station in Stag. Filled up tank.
Decided I deserved a treat so bought a large Latte from Costa in Petrol station.
First roundabout, coffee tips over, lid comes off so about a pint of milk/coffee all over the passenger carpet. Started swearing again.
Got home. Coffee had been completely absorbed by the front carpet - very absorbent the original Stag carpets!
Yanked carpet out of car so now off to Newlands tomorrow with one front carpet!
Now letting off steam sitting in front of the computer writing this!!!
Phew!
Rgds
Dave
...
...and now my internet connection has gone down and this post won't submit. Grrr!
Comment