Fuel tanks removal tips?

[PhilBell]

Anyone got any tips for removing the fuel tank from my 3.8 fhc?

I've removed the rubber filler pipe and breather pipe, all three tank-mount bolts, bracket for the mount nearest the spare wheel, sump, fuel tank top plate along with the pump, fuel line and pump wiring.

The tank is free to move until the filler neck stub catches the bottom of the inner wing and the rearward fuel tank flange binds on the rear of the boot floor fuel tank recess. There's no room to move it forwards because the forward flange binds on the front face of the boot floor fuel tank recess. Lifting it vertically is prevented by the way the boot floor panelwork overhangs the fuel tank/spare wheel recess.

Clearly, it must be possible because the previous owner fitted the nice shiny new/restored tank without scratching it or the paintwork in the wheelwell/fuel tank recess.

Nothing about the body panels looks bent or misaligned and the resto was done on a largely rot-free car where all of the rear panelwork needed nothing more than media blasting.

[abowie]

Brute force, bad language and a second pair of hands.

[Mich7920]

If I'll have to do this work, I'll disassemble the rear diff to have access to the fuel tank support which is removable.
I think it give really more space to take off the tank.
But it's not a simple work
Mich

[265bhp]

Phil
If you have nimble fingers And a good torch....you should be able to get to the 4 bolts that hold that additional tank support..and leave the IRS in place.....it’s essential for this to be removed...the factory manual explains the procedure

All the best
Jonathan

[Mich7920]

Right Jonathan, i just have a look and no need to fit ou the IRS to do the job. Good news!

[PhilBell]

Thanks Andrew, Mich and Jonathan.

I'd already tried all of the above, apart from brute force. The reason I wanted to remove the tank was to check the condition of the paintwork and panels beneath the tank for any paint damage and subsequent rust caused by a previous bad fuel leak from a leaking top plate gasket, since cured. Hence my reluctance to get too brutal when removing it, which would mave damaged the boot floor paintwork. Instead I discovered that with everything disconnected I could raise the tank just enough to check underneath it with my illuminated inspection mirror. Everything looked perfect so I just replaced the foam gasket that sits around the sump aperture in the boot floor and reconnected everything to the fuel tank.