Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

[Ara G.]

I recently verified that I have a partial tank sticker on my tank in my 67 coupe. I can not discern if it's legible without seeing it up close and personal. Any advice on dropping my tank, as I've never dropped one before. I know I will have to remove the spare tire carrier, but any other help would really be appreciated. I have restored a 69 Camaro in the past and am somewhat familiar with the tank straps and how they work. In theory I assume they would be similar in the vette. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks and happy motoring.

[Steven B.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

Ara, I have droppped a couple of tanks and it is pretty straightforward. Empty the tank. Remove the tire carrier. Go in through the gas lid and disconnect hoses and wire. If hoses and clamps are OK I leave the clamps on the hoses so I won't lose them and they are easier to reconnect. If not OK replace them and save alot of anguish later. When all are disconnected go under the car to disconnect the straps---but be sure to prop the tank up as the first time I did it the tank came down and cracked a couple of ribs. I used a floor jack and 2X4. Double check to make sure everything is disconnected before lowering the tank. Also, the straps can be sharp.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

Don`t forget to disconnect the battery FIRST as you don`t want any sparks when removing the float assembly.

[Michael S.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

A sawzall across the back deck works well also. You can also add a hinge for a door to access the tank sticker.

Sorry, I could not resist!

[Bill I.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

Mike, should the hinge be chrome or body color? I couldn't resist that one. Bill

[Michael S.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

Stainless steel.

After all, this IS a Corvette!

A Herringbone Gold chain to limit door travel would be proper so as to restrict the over extension of the stainless steel door hinge.

[William V.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

I'm sure the gold chain was a dealer option. An NCRS Judge may pick this up.

I couldn't resist either

BV

[Chris E.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

Ara,
When you get the tank down, it will probably have a lot of dust and junk on it. I went to Wal-Mart and bought a ladies makeup brush to help clean off my tank sticker. Worked great. The brush was $2 or so.

Good luck and post a picture when you get it down!

Chris

P.S. On my sticker, the guy with the glue must have eaten his Wheaties that day. About 80% of the surface area of my sticker is SOLID glue. Ergo, I can't separate the sticker from the tank without destroying it. So, I'm just keeping the sticker and tank as one unit in the basement. Food for thought (after, of course, you drain the gas out)

[Ara G.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

Appreciate it Chris. Will post a pic when I get it down.

[Thomas N.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

I find the use of a floor jack, kind of gets in the way, or is tough to balance the tank onto the jack, without damage/scraping to the tank. So what I've done is take some galvanized wire, and run it through some holes in the side frame sections forward of the tank, and then route them under the tank but over the lower gas tank mounting cross brace and pick up a hole in the center rear frame cross piece (kind of about where the mount for the rear spare tire bolt mounts), and loop it around and go back to where you started. That way, your can remove the tank straps, and the tank cross piece, and get firmly planted under the tank, and then cut the wires, and remove the tank. You will need to kind of push the tank rearward, to allow one of the front corners enough room to drop the tank. Of course you will need to remove the fuel line hoses, and don't forget the drain hose. If I remember correctly, the mufflers need to be removed also to allow room to pull the tank out without doing any scraping/damage.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

Here is a picture of my '67 tank when I dropped it from my "rust free" West Virginia car. I scrapped the sticker off later with a single edge razor blade in a holder. I took many pictures like this one, linking it back to my license plate. Took another with my business card etc. PT

[Mike M.]

Re: Advice on Dropping my 67 tank

If you feel the car may have any specific intrinsic value, like red or black, highly optioned, or may be rare in any way, I would recommend staging a video cam to record an uninterupted view of the event and zooming on the tank sticker to document the originality to that car.
In addition to the use of a hoist, the "Centipede Effect" works better, that is, have as many extra hands as you can muster ready and waiting.
Good Luck
HaND