access panel to fuel tank fj60 rthn

[2020 Rocks]

I am in the process of dropping my fuel tank, I have the spare tire cross member off, but the two screws holding down the access panel in the cargo area are not budging. Am I right in assuming I need to get in there prior to dropping the tank in order to disconnect the wiring to the pump, or can I drop the tank and disconnect this stuff once it has been lowered a bit? Surprisingly the hoses from quarter panel came off pretty easily, I think the fuel tank recall has been done at some point in the past as I was expecting of have to cut off the hoses.

 

[rover24]

You can drop the tank and them remove the wires. If it's a 60 it will be the sending unit wires. The fuel pump is mechanical on the engine block

 

[cruiser88]

just let the tank down at an angle then unplug the sender

its much easier on a 60

 

[Granite Grinder]

You should be able to lower the tank enough to get your hand up there, but I'm sure I took the cover off to remove the sending unit wires, here's a good link, doesn't help you with the wiring though
https://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wagons/243203-fj62-fuel-tank-removal-need-some-help.html

 

[cruiser88]

its a 60

 

[Granite Grinder]

its a 60

I'm guessing there's not much difference between the two, other than a high pressure fitting and a couple extra wires for the pump. The link was more about the sway bars, but I don't know if an '87 60 had sway bars.

 

[2020 Rocks]

Thanks, thought it was best to ask before I started lowering it. This is the first weekend in a number of months that my wife did not have to work which gets my 2yr old daughter out of my hair. No rear sway bar to contend with, I believe only the 62s came with those. Oh, and if I am not using the stock spare tire carrier is it alright to ditch the crossmember I took off? Does it provide strength to the frame? Maybe I should just clean it up and reinstall, it would provide some protection to the bottom of the fuel tank.

 

[Granite Grinder]

Spare tire hanger adds nothing to the structure of the frame, not a bad thought on the gas tank protection though. Make sure you lube up the bolts with anti-sieze, next time (or any time) you take it off it'll be that much easier.

 

[2020 Rocks]

Trust me, the bolts did not play nice so I used a cut off wheel to remove them. My pos hf grinder just crapped out on me. The chock pin broke, I was about to move on to cutting of the rear exhaust, drop the tanke and then remove rear the axle. Guess that will have to wait until tomorrow.

Spare tire hanger adds nothing to the structure of the frame, not a bad thought on the gas tank protection though. Make sure you lube up the bolts with anti-sieze, next time (or any time) you take it off it'll be that much easier.