Anyone?
Dropping the fuel tank, replacing the skidplate, questions... (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter scottm
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
On my 01 LX they come down together.
Thanks. Not what i was hoping for.....
Anyone who's seen this post please tell me if I'm crazy...
The reason this method was successful is b/c there was a gigantic hole in the skid plate. How could the skid plate be dropped down if there's no rust hole? I am overhauling the undercarriage of my 02 LC this summer to get rid of frame surface rust and I would like to do the job the right way. My gas tank skid plate is not rotted through and I would like to use this method to free up the skid plate for refurbishing. I also would like to replace the straps holding the tank up. I have an idea for a homemade jig that would essentially go through the gas tank skid plate drainage holes and hold the empty gas tank in place long enough to get the ratchet straps in place and tightened. The skid plate would slide down the posts roughly 4-6" allowing for enough clearance to get the straps secured. Reference the picture below - it should make sense. Basically the exact same procedure as this but this jig could make this job much easier if your standard floor jack cannot fit inside of a rust hole to hold the tank in place. I wanted to get some feedback before I jump in the deep end and fabricate this jig. All of your input is appreciated!!
The reason this method was successful is b/c there was a gigantic hole in the skid plate. How could the skid plate be dropped down if there's no rust hole? I am overhauling the undercarriage of my 02 LC this summer to get rid of frame surface rust and I would like to do the job the right way. My gas tank skid plate is not rotted through and I would like to use this method to free up the skid plate for refurbishing. I also would like to replace the straps holding the tank up. I have an idea for a homemade jig that would essentially go through the gas tank skid plate drainage holes and hold the empty gas tank in place long enough to get the ratchet straps in place and tightened. The skid plate would slide down the posts roughly 4-6" allowing for enough clearance to get the straps secured. Reference the picture below - it should make sense. Basically the exact same procedure as this but this jig could make this job much easier if your standard floor jack cannot fit inside of a rust hole to hold the tank in place. I wanted to get some feedback before I jump in the deep end and fabricate this jig. All of your input is appreciated!!
Last edited:
I used metal snips to cut a hole in between all those holes, opening a rectangle in which i could place a piece of wood held in place by a jack. Once the tank is pressed in place, remove the straps and cut the old skid plate away. Then I used straps to hold the tank in place while I placed the new skid plate in place. Kinda of a pain to do it all, but still only took a couple of hours.
That's a pretty good point - it might just be easier and quicker to buy a new one. The jig would be pretty basic and take an hour or two to create. I'm crawling underneath the rig soon to really inspect the current skid plate's condition and if it's worth the headache of preserving. Thanks for the insight!
Where is your brother's shop? I'm interested in checking it out - can you post a link? Thanks man!
Ahhh...that sucks. Thanks though!
Yes, straps hold up tank and skid plate. Skid plate was in bad shape with center rotted out. I put a jack on the tank and held it up. Then released both straps on one side and slipped skid plate out. Then reattached straps. There were pieces of rubber between tank and skid plate. I put those back between straps and tank and it seems secure.
Ah I see, good idea. I haven’t taken mine off yet, but I’m planning on it. If the tank isn’t moving around I would drive like that until I put the plate back on. I was thinking it may not hold it tightly enough since the straps seem sized for the extra space the plate takes up.
I'd think you'd have to add some depth to account for the skidd plate - but some 1xX bits of wood should do it temporarily.
Good idea. Thanks!
scottm
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #37
Bummer you took the old one off without having a new one ready. Double the work, even more if you are looking for spacers/shims to fill in the space. I had considered fabricating my own skidplate at work out of sheet metal, but a new one was cheap enough it wasn't worth it. I don't know that you really need spacers, you might have to just try without and see if there is excessive movement.
Tackling this in the spring. Thinking I should be able to remove the fuel pump and suspend the tank itself from the opening with a toggle bolt type arrangement as long as the tank is empty. Not sure if I'm going to replace with stock or weld something up.
