Fuel tank removal

I had already removed the pump and drained the tank previously so that made it much easier for me. 

Undo the 10mm bolts and remove this panel. 
Peel off the plastic sheet.  
Undo the 2 13mm nuts that secure the tank straps.  
After looking at the shape of the tank I thought that it would be easier to start by working it out from the bottom, it was a bit tight here.  
Once I had it to this point it came out without further problems.  

It was a way easier for me because the tank had already been drained and open for a while so I think that it had shrunk back a lot.  

My guess would be that in the factory it is heated significantly to soften it and then pushed in and possibly pressurised to fit the available space by blowing in compressed air.
Having said that the image of the tank on Rimmers looks “rather robust”
At £312 inc vat it looks an absolute “snip”. Cheap at twice the price!
But how on earth it is persuaded into its final position I’d be interested to hear if you chose to fit one. I can only wish you good luck if you chose to replace the tank.

And, as our Australian friend has already alluded to..the use of  a  pry bar/ crowbar was employed..

What the hell is that?
is the tank really holding a bit of fuel in it that will never get out unless you drive it on the wall of death?

I think that a new, unused tank would go in without any problems, even one that had been out for a while wouldn't be to bad. 

Apologies for previous last comment- crossed whilst typing
Fantastic photos, that is certainly a job I hope never to have to do.
It is very interesting to note that the tank is easier to remove after standing empty for a while. That presumably means that the tank “softens” a bit in service and expands as a consequence.
if so the implication might be that if left too long it might become a bit brittle.

wrote:

What the hell is that?
is the tank really holding a bit of fuel in it that will never get out unless you drive it on the wall of death?
 

I for the life of me can't imagine why anyone would design it like that, the only reason I could guess what happened was at a planning meeting by a bunch of suits who wouldn't have a clue, came up with the desired specifications, one of which was fuel capacity, the engineers could give them the capacity, they wanted but couldn't find away to make it all usable capacity, in the confines of the av available space so didn't bother....it had the desired capacity, but just not all of it was useable!
 

generous_dad wrote:

What the hell is that?
is the tank really holding a bit of fuel in it that will never get out unless you drive it on the wall of death?



DAVID AIKETGATE WROTE:-
It used to be a well known fact that if you were low on fuel, a quick wizz round a roundabout, would see the gauge lift back up, 😂

Of course, not applicable for those who drive on the wrong side of the road!😜 

 

Wow! I actually experienced that phenomenom when I bought my car,!
The seller had left an egg cuo full in and said drive up the dual carriageway about 5 miles, you will see a garage on the otherside, go to the roundabout and back down to it.
The gauge was on less than zero and I drove like a vicar. After going around the roundabout the gauge movef upwards. I couldn't relax as I thought it was faulty but I made the garage.
These cars do have character...

I am still utterly banjaxed by the thought of any car maker employing that design.
Use it a reserve tank.
And releases around a UK roundabout not a Frence carrefour.......

Well cleaned the tank out, amongst the delightful detritus found in there was some globs black sort of soft rubbery muck, a shit load of rust, flakes of old paint from who knows where, water and various UFOs unidentified foul objects!
the pump is totally buggered and I might yet have to replace the gauge sender/pump mounting unit.
With the interior out of the car there is evidence of a high tide mark, so either the car got flooded some time in the past (which is cause to be a statutory write off if ever an insurance claim was submitted) or it got caught out in a pisser of a rain storm with the roof down., the floor isn't rusty but I can see it has had a gut full of water @ 50mm deep at some time in the dark distant past.
One of the rubber floor bung plugs/grommets under the fuel tank is missing So I assume that was removed to bail the bilges.

Good luck getting it back in. Let's hope that process is easier.