gas tank replacement

[midnite]

I have a 1979 V20 center console with a Johnson 150hp. After replacing fuel lines fuel seperator etc. it appears my tank is compromised. The fuel pickup is plugged and there is gas in the bildge. Does anyone know the dimentions on this tank? It is approx. 40 gal. Can it be removed thru the center hatch? Any info will help. Thanks,
Bob

[phester]

Welcome...in about an hour or two you'll be flooded w/ info from those who know...I am not in the know...there are a bunch of sharp guys on this board that really know their boats

[Franco]

If it's in deck it should be about 60 gallons, and yes it can be pulled from the access hatch in the deck - ck for other posts on this subject - several places to get tanks

[chumbucket]

Yup, 60 gallons it is unless someone else changed it somewhere along the line.

[reelapeelin]

Hey Guys..I's thinkin' 1st year of belly tanks were smaller than 60 gals...?...wouldn't that have been '79...whichever size, finding a replacement should be fairly easy, oh, and I'd go Aluminum for sure...

Can of Worms: did the gas get in the bilge B4 you replaced hoses, etc.?...if so your tank MIGHT still be good...can you pressure test in the hull...if good, clean the tank, then replace fuel pick-up...just a thought...

good luck w/it... :)...

[ranger]

My 79 V20 has a 46 gal tank in the center of the floor.

[midnite]

46 gal sounds about right. I've put 42 in her at the most. Pretty sure the tank has puked as bildge was gas free until last trip on Erie. I bought my V20 in 2002,it was an estate boat that had sat 12 yrs with old gas in it. The mechanic that worked on it at that time "boiled" the tank out and said he wasn't sure he got all the corruption out. It ran great till late this season and then started to plug up. Now gas in the bildge.... :( Running on 3 six gal. aux. tanks on the deck till I tow her home to the garage next month. Thanks all..
Bob

[reelapeelin]

Yup...sounds like a new tank in your future...while you gott'er out, can you increase VOLUME?...switchin' up to a bigger tank would make a lotta sense if it'll go... ;) :)...

[Mulv80]

I pulled my tank out of that same exact boat. It took alot of time trying to break all the foam out from around the tank. I used pry bars and long hand saw blades to cut and break it out. The tank is secured by two 2x4's that run between the stringers accross the tank, I just pried these out. The hardest part was being careful trying not to puncture the tank as I plan to reuse it. After I had removed all the foam from around the tank I hoisted the tank with a car jack. The foam at the bottom of the tank had a good seal that was hard to break. Good Luck and ask if you have any questions.

[reelapeelin]

Goin' on what mulv said, sounds like you could go w/larger tank...how large?...big as you can get up to 70- 80 gals or so... ;)...

Couple of weeks ago when gas stations were runnin' outta gas...I knew I had about 70 gals sittin' in the driveway...if I needed 'em...what, me worry?... ;D...

[midnite]

Sure gettin alot of good info here...I hope to get 2 more runs in on Erie for walleyes. I'll be starting on the tank replacement mid Oct. I will try to post pics of the process. Thnx... :)

[ranger]

The hole that your belly tank is in has enough space for the 60 gal tank. It looks like they planned ahead.

[Skools Out]

my 78 has two 75 gallon tanks in the belly. One is in the orig. Hole so a 75 will fit factory hole too.

[midnite]

Well....I've got the tub in the garage,removed the center console, hatch and excavated the foam from the tank top and foreward of the tank. I sawsalled the two 2X4s from above tank. Oh by the way 60 gals is the listed capacity on the tank nameplate. ;) I pulled the pick-up tube out and there is varnish like matter on the tube ??? I've used a maddock, wedges and blue as :-X language to pry the sucker out of the hull.No luck. What do ya think about filling the tank with water and cutting out the top and dropping in a welded replacement tank sized to the inside dimentions? I got the aluminum and a welder at work ;D Home job we call it 8) I've got pics of the project to date but have not posted till I get er done.

[Franco]

Crazy Idea ONE:I know its a lot of work, but if you can somehow get a length of wire long enough to go aroundthe tank and then some to hold on to, and work it down in front of the tank and get it under the tank and saw it out.

Crazy idea TWO : Collapse the tank using either a really strong vacum or vacum pump. Empty a C02 fire extinguisher inside first - once it collapses, you got room to work.

Not sure I'd use the old one as a liner, If it is disimilar metale, galvanic corrosion, Sparks or friction concerns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *IMHO

[reelapeelin]

Get that old tank out...it'll come...hack-saw blade around the end to start the wire Franco's talkin' about...glad to hear it's a 60!! Surprised!... ;)...

[macojoe]

Get the hole tank out! *You don't want to put something in there on top of the old and have it wear thur over time and you are in the same situation again!!

Do it right the first time and never do it again!!

My nephew has a wire saw, Have no idea were to get one?? But it is a cable like thing that you put around a tree branch and pull it back and forth, it cuts like crazy!!
He is in Boy Scouts I wil have to ask him were he got it, but the wire deal that was mention should work also.

Now don't come back till you have it out!!!!!!!!!!! ;D

[midnite]

HORRAY!!!! ;D
Got the old tank out . It had an inch or more of sludge in the stern section of the tank. :P Had to drive it out with a sledge hammer, foreward into the void dug into the encapsulating foam. I made a relief cut in the foreward end plate. :P New tank is being formed and welded. It appears it was holed , yeah it had a hole in it,(see earlier posts)by the sending unit rod. Iv'e got pics of the process and will post as soon as my first mate shows me how.

[macojoe]

Great news!! Te hard part is over, now the rest will be a breeze!!

[reelapeelin]

Good deal!...sounds like a hard-fought battle, but worth the fight...specially if ''holed''... ;)...