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travisantonissen
Samba Member
Joined: August 28, 2014
Posts: 8
Location: United States
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 Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 8:58 pm Post subject: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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Hello all,
I bought the fuel tank reseal kit from VanCafe, and i attempted to reseal the fuel tank.
I quickly ran into a problem, when I didn't have enough room to take the braces off from underneath the fuel tank.
Has anyone taken the fuel tank off without a proper lift?
I'm thinking to use jack stands, and using my flat tire jack on top of some 2x4's to give me enough room. Is this a bad idea? Can this job not be done without a lift?
Thanks. |
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minsk
Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2008
Posts: 901
Location: pittsburgh
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fxr
Samba Member
Joined: December 07, 2014
Posts: 2660
Location: Bay area CA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:05 pm Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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I've just done the re-seal. I used HF polypropylene ramps under the front wheels - these gave just enough room to undo and wiggle the braces off. I used a scissor lift under the tank to allow me to lower it under control.
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Jim Crowther
1984 1.9l EJ22 Westy Wolfsburg Edition
Vespa GTS 300 |
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djkeev
Samba Moderator
Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Forthwithtx
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 717
Location: Fort Worth
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| travisantonissen wrote: |
Can this job not be done without a lift?
Thanks. |
Absolutely. I've done it with jack stands twice.
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Cheers!
-Karl
'84 GL with 2001/2004 Subaru 2.5L |
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Ahwahnee
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Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 10246
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| minsk wrote: |
ive seen people use rail road ties.
which are incredibly strong
kind of like cribbing  |
Or just use cribbing. I built mine from lengths (10" & 13") 2x4s:
Strong, secure and easy to make. The other end of that vehicle was on jack stands but I don't feel totally secure with the whole thing on stands - the cribbing gives one end a nice solid stance. |
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thummmper
Samba Member
Joined: November 25, 2009
Posts: 2015
Location: Meadow Valley, California Republic
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:39 pm Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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definitely jackstands just as high as they will go
drain as much fuel out as possible
hose clamp a bolt in the drain tube so you don't get gas onya
those straps were installed on a proper lift and they need to swing down to clear the bent corners that capture the rear strap ends, so you can either flatten them with pliers like previously mentioned or swing them inboard until they pry themselves out of the oval holes.
if its empty, you can simply lay under it and catch it with your legs, especially the new unit upon installation.
the vent tank tubing will be the most difficult part to separate without breaking the tank nips, so cutting them will work if they are difficult. the wire plug to the level sender will need unplugging, and with 4" you can reach up in there o the left side and unplug it. good lick, should you choose to accept.
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minsk
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Joined: March 17, 2008
Posts: 901
Location: pittsburgh
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rubbachicken
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2004
Posts: 3058
Location: socal
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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i carefuly bend the tabs on the back end of the tank supports, i do this job regularly without a lift, more than a dozen so far.
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lucy our westy
lucy's BIG adventure
meet 'burni' |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52486
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| Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2015 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| I just drive up on a few blocks to get some extra room. You can take advantage of a curb on one side if you don't have enough blocks though the curb will make access from that side pretty hard. |
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Jens Brownstar
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2015
Posts: 20
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 4:14 am Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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High enough for a Subi swap:
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'87 Caravelle GL
Blue Star Hannover Edition Interior
Ex JX, now Subi EJ22 powered |
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snowsyncro
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Joined: January 11, 2009
Posts: 1557
Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 6:28 am Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| minsk wrote: |
| umm did you make that tank....thats insane...whats the material? |
Al 6061-T6, you can see it there in the inking on the side.
RonC |
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vanagonjr
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Joined: October 07, 2010
Posts: 3640
Location: Dartmouth, Mass.
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 6:43 am Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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I've done it on ramps twice and did not have to bend anything.
I actually prefer lifting the rear of the van as opposed to the front. If done that way, there IS some clearance problem with the straps - but being on a dirt drive way, I could tunnel a couple of slight indents to get them out. Having the front wheels on a 2x8 would have likely made that unnecessary.
Disadvantage of raising the rear of ramps is draining the tank is not as easy as when the front is lifted, of course.
Jens Brownstar, I would be supper cautious of using non-solid concrete blocks. Those look a bit different than ones on the USA, so perhaps OK, but there are horror stories of the US ones breaking - be safe, please!
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John - 86 Wolfsburg Westfalia "Weekender"
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LiMBO is on Facebook too! https://www.facebook.com/groups/
FAQ thread: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525798 |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8436
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 7:37 am Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| vanagonjr wrote: |
| ... be super cautious of using non-solid concrete blocks...be safe, please! |
x2...I already see a crack... <snicker> (sorry - cheap shot) 
Seriously...another vote to be safe out there.
- Dave
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"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Forthwithtx
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2014
Posts: 717
Location: Fort Worth
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| thummmper wrote: |
definitely jackstands just as high as they will go
drain as much fuel out as possible.
...
[pic] |
You got a thread for that project?
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Cheers!
-Karl
'84 GL with 2001/2004 Subaru 2.5L |
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rubbachicken
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2004
Posts: 3058
Location: socal
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winddude
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Joined: October 30, 2013
Posts: 160
Location: South Vancouver Island
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 10:55 am Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| You can do it with normal jackstands. Let the back of the tank down onto a support. Then you have to muscle the front to remove the front of the braces. The harder part is getting it back in with the crossover line. But it can be done. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52486
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 11:14 am Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| You probably don't need to remove the tank you can do most tank repairs by just lowering the tank a bit.. |
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Jens Brownstar
Samba Member
Joined: November 15, 2015
Posts: 20
Location: Germany
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Removing Fuel tank without lift |
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| dhaavers wrote: |
| vanagonjr wrote: |
| ... be super cautious of using non-solid concrete blocks...be safe, please! |
x2...I already see a crack... <snicker> (sorry - cheap shot)
Seriously...another vote to be safe out there.
- Dave |
This is/was absolutely save, they build houses with several floors out of those bricks...
Important are the wooden plate under and the bar on the brick to have an even support and spread the forces. Don't wanna make my kids to half orphans just for a cheap engine swap, believe me!
- Jens
_________________
'87 Caravelle GL
Blue Star Hannover Edition Interior
Ex JX, now Subi EJ22 powered |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
Posts: 32989
Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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