I assume your replacement was due to rust issues on the tank? DId you end up just replacing the tank, or other parts too. My guy is worried he going to have to run new fuel lines filler tube, whatever else. Basically every part in the fuel system. (his worst case scenario)
That's all what I was assuming when I took it in. I'm not in the mood to mess with it and was ready to pay someone else to put in the time, and suddenly the guy thinks the frame is going to crack in half or something (it's not that bad outside of the one spot) I wondered how bad could it really...
I agree, rust is a cancer, but I live in upstate NY, rust is a fact of life for any vehicle driven in the winter... I've sprayed fluid film everywhere but the rear crossmember (anticipating the weld repair) but it's an endless fight.
I am looking at a similar situation. Though my tank seam doesn't look like yours, my skid is the same (half gone). I had a shop give me a quote (I'm not feeling like tackling this repair) on finding and fixing a fuel vapor leak. They reported the strap bolts are rusted to nubs and are afraid to...
The shop can't identify the cause without dropping the tank and think it might be too much to fix when they do. If I pay them, they'll of course do it, but its an all in situation. I could have however many hours shop time and it's a point of no return.
Might not even be the tank, could be evap lines, probably not fuel line. I Don't have a pic of the crossmember, but it has surface rust on the passenger side, (normal 20 year old frame if you ask me) and a rust hole 5 inches in from the driver's side. The last 8 inches is bad. I have seen...
I got a 99 with 185k. Just asked a frame shop to patch the rear crossmember, (particularly rusty) but once they got up close, they smelled fuel, so no thank you they said. I do a lot of my own work, but I don't have indoor repair space, so I took it to a local for the fuel leak... evap system...
Hows is the front, or is it middle? crossmember, the one that supports the transmission mount. I just bought a '99 and that piece isn't looking too hot.
Shipped to NY, zip 12180