gas tank replacement

[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''... ;)...