Fuel tank screws removal question

[hottvr]

The fuel tank on my 76 B is leaking and must be removed. I have a question about the screws. The large washer and screw are 1 piece on the car but in the catalog they are a separate screw and washer.Is the 1 piece washer and screw correct and can they be removed by a ratchet or impact wrench from the trunk without having to go under the car and holding the retaining clips? Also, will the tank from my 78 B fit on the 76? The V.B. catalog contradics itself with the years tanks will fit different cars.
Thanks
Rick

 

[PAUL161]

Rick, Jack the car up, and for safety, put the rear up on jack stands. You have to go under the car to unhook the fuel line and gas gauge sender wires anyway. Are you sure the bolt and washer are one piece? They probably look that way from age. Put a floor jack under the tank, preferably with a piece of plywood between the jack and tank, and remove the fuel filler pipe and all the tank bolts. What kind of wrench you use, ratchet, impact, box, makes no difference as long as it fits. I think the 78 tank will fit the 76. I'm not sure that the tank vent pipe has the same hook up. I think it does. The early tanks had a screw on vent tube and the later years had a slip on type with clamps. Don't be intimidated by it. You can do it! Just remember, patience is the virtue. Jump in there and start cranking bolts! Good luck! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif PJ

 

[hottvr]

The large washer is part of the bolt. Hit them with PB Blaster last night and left because I ran out of sunlight. Car is up on ramps with a jack and wood under the tank and everything is disconnected.
Time to hit a junkyard with a fresh B a frien told me about
Rick

 

[tony barnhill]

Some of the bolts are permanently attached to the car, some come completely out...look in your trunk & you'll be able to see which are permanently attached......as for the ones that have a clip on the tank, you should be able to remoe them without messing with the clip - so long as its still held in place on the tank lip....& the large washers come off separately from the bolts.....be careful with the bolts along the rear of the tank - they're the ones where the clip underneath will most probably turn loose from the tank.

Oh, IMHO, toss that Vickie catalog & get a Moss one.

 

[hottvr]

Finally got the tank out. Every bolt that had a retaining clip had to be cut out,this took a long time. The nuts on the studs came out nicely though. I was going to put the tank from my 78 on the 76 but the vent tubes are in different places. The 78 has it coming out of the sending unit area and the 76 has a brass fitting in a different place for the vent tube so I don't think I can swap tanks. Time to do some repairs to the trunk floor now.
Rick