86 fuel tank removal

[jetblue319]

Wedsday I will try again, this time I will wrap the rope around the fuel inlet and fuel vent, using the eng lift. If that fails, I will try to use the steel pipe in the tank method. I haunt had any luck finding a cable saw to cut under the tank. Since the tank is the original one I don't trust it's integrity unless I have it inspected or replace. I also wish to inspect the area under the tank and the PVC drain line that runs from the two forward wells. Thanks everyone your inputs
Jet

[mannydvk11]

if i am not wrong there is some type of belts on the side of the tanks you will need to cut deeper in to those and close to the bottom at the tank as possible
i pull my out in trow the small gate valve in the tank

[awthacker]

Manny, your boat looks a little different than my '82 cuddy, but still very similar as well. I did not have anything around my tank but foam and the two braces across the top.

Titan, these tanks are absolutely problematic, but not all have the problem. They are aluminum tanks surrounded in open cell foam. Once water gets in the foam, it stays there. The foam holds the water against the tank for years and corrosion sets in.

One of the causes I think is the way the boat is plumbed to get water from the cuddy and the front of the deck to the bilge. There is a 1" PVC pipe laid across the bottom and through each bulkhead - 1beneath the cuddy door, 1 forward of the fuel tank, and 1 behind the tank. The holes where the pipe passes through the bulkhead did not appear to be sealed in any way, (much like the holes drilled through the stringers against the transom to allow water into the bilge that may have snuck in through the rod holders??) Very poor and lazy design, IMO. As we know, water takes the path of least resistance and always obeys the laws of physics, so it eventually rots out the bottom of the bulkheads and gets into the foam. This was what I found on my '82, anyway.

Another problem that I found with my tank was the fill inlet. The clamp was too heavily tightened to secure the fill hose and I believe it pinched through the rubber, exposing the wire inside. As the wire corroded, it rubbed against and corroded the underside of the fill inlet to the point where there was a large hole and that was the primary source of all the fuel I smelled when I refueled. Escaping fuel also settled into the foam from this source, so I think my tank was in worse shape than most.

[awthacker]

Regarding the full hose, if its dry rotted I would replace. It's expensive hose, but replacing after 30 years means you will never have to do it again. Especially with today's gas, you do not need the debris from the inside of any of your fuel lines getting into your carbs.

[mannydvk11]

my tank was just like yours if you see my pic foam was all around the problem is the bottom of the tank the foam under is stuck to the tank so you need to free as much as possible close to the tank all around in order to lift the tank free also look in my pic and you will see some type of black rubber that is also holding the tank

[awthacker]

Okay, yeah I had those. I thought they were like rubber shims between the tank and the supports that ran across the top. I guess I don't remember for sure. I used the longest "pruning" blade I could find for my sawzall, then finished the cut deeper with a handheld pruning saw. Chainsaw woulda made quicker work, but I guess I was a little skeared.

After looking closer I can see one piece of rubber bedded into the foam. I'm not sure mine was that way.

[BERB]

I have the same tank as you! :-( used a power washer to get as much foam cut away as possible! Then i used a car door thin metal lock shim used to open car doors when you don't have the key. Its about 18-24" long and has a gap on both sides on one end, I used that to slide it under the tank and scraped away more of the foam and then i put a piece of angle in the fuel opening and attached it to a chain and attached the chain to a 4x4 across the gunnels. I put pressure on it with a pry bar and was able to pop out one end! It is a PIA! however when i got it out i found there were 2 Quarter sized holes in the Tank and I was glad I pulled it. You should be able to get a shim like i used from a boby sop or auto parts store. Let me know if you would like a picture of it and I will send it to you. :-) good luck!

[macojoe]

another way is to use a cable saw, like in boy scouts. start at one end and go under the tank back and fourth till you have cut away the foam and the tank is out.

[reelapeelin]

Originally Posted by macojoe

another way is to use a cable saw, like in boy scouts. start at one end and go under the tank back and fourth till you have cut away the foam and the tank is out.

i REMEMBER SOMEBODY HERE DOIN' THAT...WORKED GOOD!...DAMN CAPS LOCK...

[franko]

thanks for sharing