• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Anybody put a new fuel tank in your 68-70 b-body?

Clay Dots

Clay Dots

Well-Known Member
Local time
6:05 AM
Joined
Nov 13, 2009
Messages
341
Reaction score
35
Location
Boise ID.
Been tryin to get my new tank to fit in right and it seems like the old straps just fit to loose and soppy, really hard to tighten up the screws at the front of tank, sockets not deep enough so lots of frustraition trying to get it tight enough with a open end wrench, had this thing on and off about four times now, and resorted to puttin some high density foam rubber on straps to make them fit tighter, anybody go through this? did u have to buy new straps to use with new tank or did you use your old ones.? also the shop manual shows a l shaped bracket on the filller tube, but mine doesnt have one? and my electrical connecting wire to the sending unit is missing in action as well? any ideas or suggestions???Thanks much!
 
G'day. I just put my old tank back in my '70 GTX after cleaning and painting. Even though the nuts do go up a fair way they do tighten the tank. Did you put the tank mat between the tank and the floor? I put in a new one as the old had fallen apart. Even though its not overly thick it might make the difference your looking for. As for the bracket, I think that's to keep the filler tube stable in the rear panel. Mine didn't have one either so I was thinking of making one to anchor it down. Sorry, not sure about the wiring. Cheers.
 
I replaced mine and re used the original straps because they were in perfect comdition.Yes it is a PITA tightening them with an open end wrench but I got mine secure. I bought a new filler neck from Vansauto and it had the bracket on it as mine was missing also. It keeps the filler tube from rotating when tightening the cap.The sending unit wire comes off of the rear lights harness and is blue in color and just goes thru a rubber grommett just above the sending unit. Hope this helps
 
As red-runner said, look for the fuel tank sending unit wire inside the trunk coming off the tail light harness. The sending unit also needs to be grounded to the body of the car or (as in the factory unit) to the steel fuel line. I soldered a wire to the sending unit when it was out of the car and grounded it to the frame above the tank.

Get yourself a cheap extra-deep socket from harbor freight. It's awful trying to get a box wrench in there...
 
I just bought a new Goodmark tank from Summit and couldn't get the straps to go on at all!! I even ordered new straps thinking that might be it. Summit is now sending me another tank since my old one goes right back in a few minutes but the new one does not fit. And it looks like the correct tank....weird.
 
Thanks so much for your help guys! really appreciate people like you willin to take the time to help you fellow moparian figure this stuff out. Yep my new tank looks pretty much the same but nothing fits at all like the old beat up rusty one..its as if the straps have streched out. So that wire comes down through one of the trunk holes is that right? yep put the new mat on above tank as it should be. thanks for all the tips ! you guys are awesome!
 
Hi Clay,

Not sure I can add much to what has been already said. I just replaced the fuel tank in my 1970 Road Runner. It is a California car, so it gets a special "CAS" tank. It was a perfect match to the old tank, and the install was quite easy. I will agree with the others that the nuts go up pretty far, but that's the way they fit.

With what you have said, it certainly seems like the new tank is not the same as the old one. Perhaps a way you can check is to lay them side by side. Lay a level from one tank to the other and make sure the other tank isn't smaller. The other dimensions should be checked too, but they should be more obvious.

I reused my old straps and even felt blanket, as mine were all in decent shape. If it would help, I can take some pictures of selected areas - just let me know...
 
I just installed a repro tank in my 70 Runner a few months ago... agree that nuts seem to tighten up for ever but did snug up fine. I also thought the straps had "grown" but they did fit.

Good luck
JON
 
Get a deep socket with an extension and keep tightening until it fits. I did mine a couple of years ago with new tank and straps from Year One. Fit perfectly, but I doubt I could have installed it with an open-end wrench. Good luck.
 
As mentioned.. gear / ratchet wrench. Just be careful on that sharp new tank edge when it slips!

jan1518p.jpg jan1518i.jpg
 
You can also take a piece of steel tubing the will fit over the long bolt, cut to length and paint to take up all that slack. Slide the tubing on before you put the nut on and you will not need near as deep a socket. The tubing also protects the threads from rocks and rusting, making it easier to get off at a later date.
 
Get an Extra Deep socket 9/16" socket (about $20), it makes the job easier.
I used my old straps with the tank that had the sump welded on, and the nuts ran way up before it was tight.
When I replaced that tank with the Spectra EFI tank, I used new straps, and I think the fit was about the same.
 
Maybe the one you took out wasn't the correct one?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Help with new fuel tank install (fuel lines)!
Replies
1
Views
242
TheWheelXp
T
19bee70
New fuel tank and pad
Replies
19
Views
2K
dadsbee
dadsbee
Big Bad Dad
New gas tank sucked in. "Vented" cap? Hmmm... help!
Replies
17
Views
3K
toolmanmike
toolmanmike
wwheel
AMD door and QTR glass - 70 B Body
Replies
5
Views
1K
wwheel
wwheel
YoungGun87
  • Locked
SOLD 68-70 B body clutch pedal assembly (refurbished)
Replies
5
Views
1K
YoungGun87
YoungGun87
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top