bigvette1

Reading the Haynes manual it says to drop the tank I need to disconnect the exhaust at the trans mount and slide it out. Is this correct to get the tank out?

OHSIXX

I have never done it, but have an old magizine article that says, "Unless your car has side pipes begin by removing the mufflers and their pipes. With the exhaust out of the way you can access the spare tire carrier."

Chris@VetteFinders

Here's some info: http://www.vettefinders.com/index.cf...101Story&ID=10

Todbo

I removed mine without removing exhuast , I think I had to loosen one muffler , but I had no spare tire carrier in the car. 30 mins coming out , like any corvette project - 2 hrs going back in :smash:

sb69coupe

The reason that the manual is written that way is due to the configuration of the original exhaust system from the factory. The mufflers were welded to the pipes that ran from the transmission crossmember all the way back to the muffler as one piece. Assuming that you do not have a welded system on there now, you can just unclamp the muffler from the pipe and remove just the mufflers. This should allow enough room to get the tank out.

Shannon

1LE

Replaced mine last year, All I had to do is remove the spare tire carrier, and unbolt the hanger clamps at the mufflers.

honaker

Until i read this, i didn't think you could drop the gas tank with out lifting the body off. Learn something new everyday i supose.

bigvette1

Thanks for the input. Guess the mufflers come off to gain clearance. Like most C3 projects - plan on an hour and 2 days later .........

Richard Cooper

bigvette1
I dropped my gas tank last year and I just removed the both mufflers, left the pipes in place. This is on my 81. Actually went very well. :cheers:

Paul Borowski

Did three this week-just loosened the rear muffler hangars, let the mufflers hang, removed tire tub and upper plastic tub cover, then loosened lower tank side to side support beam. Had all three out in less than an hour. Most important thing-get out or DRIVE out as much fuel as possible BEFORE attempting this. I had all three cars showing less than an 1/8 of a tank and still had 4+ gallons that I put into a 5 gallon can.

Skyhigh82

Took me a good 6 hrs, in my 82. Bolts were rusted up real good. I might have to do it again to replace my fuel pump. Found a rotted hose and replaced it but I don't think I'm not getting enough fuel pressure. Mufflers were rusted out so I took an industrial grinder I had left over from working on the oil rigs and cut them off.
The pain was getting the anti-squeak pads back on and in the right place.




[Modified by Skyhigh, 7:33 PM 9/22/2003]

theandies

I just finished this project also. I did loosen the trans hanger clamps and removed the muffler hangers to let the exhaust pipes/mufflers rest on the floor. It did help that I had my headers out being Jet-Hot coated. After that I had all kinds of room (after removal of the spare carrier). I agree that the worst part was the anti-squeak pads and I was also disappointed in what I ordered. All they were from the vendor was 40# tar paper. I have a whole roll of that in my garage :cuss :mad It wasn't the same stuff as the originals. I took some 3M spray contact glue and used it to hold the anti-squeak pad in place while installing the tank. The straps were a pain also and I solved that by placing the straps on the tank and used some wire to hold the together during installation. It's not a bad job. I POR15'd the entire frame while I was waiting on my new tank to arrive. It may be some time before my son and I do the body off thing. He gets the car when he turns 16........he's only 3 1/2 now :thumbs: :thumbs:

73jst4fun

I removed my tank in a 73 and didn't have to remove the mufflers/tailpipe section. Just drained the tank and removed the tire carrier. Then remove the tire carrier bolt , then the straps and the tank came out. Sand blasted the straps, tank, primer coat , then zinc coat. Reinstalled the tank and that was it. The job was fairly easy, could of used some extra hands but a floor jack worked fine..... :steering:

java0881

my new tank is still in the shipping box.i am replacing the fuelline while i'm at it. very important: DISCONNECT THE BATTERIE while you work on the tank
a little spark and booom
good luck :thumbs:

theandies

Good suggestion. Whenever I do major work on my car I gravitate towards the battery compartment like a zombie. I also subconsciously pull the coil-to-distributor wire.........you never know.............