1985 V20 fuel tank removal

I need to replace the fuel tank and would like to know if there is any easy way to get around removing all the foam around the tank and where the mounting points are.

[chumbucket]

Overlooked this thread. Sorry. Welcome ;D
You've probably already dealt with this by now. I don't think there's any trick or easy solution other that trying to cut the foam in sections and you can possibly replace it when the new tank is installed. Or, pick up some new two part expandable pour-in foam when completed. I just think it'd make the job go easier by removing and getting everything cleaned up nice before the new tank gets dropped in.

If there is a easy way I didn't find it. I removed mine two weeks ago started by cutting foam with a sawsall then digging it out with garden shovels and had to cut off the top of the tank. I drilled holes in the sides of the tank used a hoist and put pressure on the tank then carefully pried the tank away from the foan on the bottom. It took time but the tank did come out. This was on a 81 with a 65 gallon tank. The tank appeared to be glued to the foam and had two pieces of wood across the top was not attached in any other way.
Good luck :P

[bradford]

I had to replace my fuel tank three years ago--hated it!

The old wise man that welded my new tank told me some tricks to make this job easier. He said go to a do-it yourself car wash and cut the foam with the pressure washer. He warned me to do this when nobody was around because small chunks of foam will go everywhere and the owners of the car wash will definantly not appreciate it. He also told me to wear my scuba mask because water and foam bits will go into every orfice of your body!! Let me tell you he wasn't kidding!!! :o I dropped about ten bucks worth of quarters into the machine and let her rip. Foam bits flew everywhere, but the pressure washer made quick work of the foam. After that getting the tank loose of the bottom foam was a pain. Only after THOUROUGHLY flushing the tank of ALL gas AND fumes I drilled a couple of holes in the tank with a hole saw. I then ran a chain through them, and placed a pair of 4x4 posts across the gunnels. I then placed a floor jack on top of the posts with the chain across the jack attached with a shackel. I gently applied pressure with the jack until the tank popped loose. Now the problem was that the tank was about a quarter inch bigger than the hole it had to come out of. This explains the crack in the deck(or is it a "character line") between my fuel tank hatch and the live well. When i went to install my new tank I squirted eight "cow patties" of 5200 evenly spaced in the bilge and set my new tank on top. By using a lot of 5200 I have space all around and underneath the tank for air to circulate and for water to drain away. By the way my old tank had NINE FREAKIN HOLES IN IT!!, and two were big enough to put your fist in!! I would never put the expanding foam back in because it holds moisture and causes corrosion on a dangerous and vital part of your boat. Hope this helps anyone who is in this situation. Shoot me a pm if I can be of any help :)

[macojoe]

There have been more then a few that have replaced there tanks, some are worse then others, and none come out the same way!!

some people use foam for the reinstall others don't. But more then one have reinstalled with some string on the bottom of the tank on one end. Be it weed whacker string, 100# Mono, stainless wire, what ever.

then if they ever have to remove again, they just grab the string and start moving it back and forth like a saw and pulling it along. This cuts the foam and the tank comes right out!

[Geekie1]

An old chainsaw chain worked under the tank after removing the side foam cuts through the bottom foam relatively easily. Still a PITA no matter how you cut it. Just my $.02!!

Geek

[Pipe_Dream]

Holy thread revival, Batman! :o