Dropping the fuel tank, replacing the skidplate, questions...

[scottm]

Poking around under the truck last night, thinking about ways to do this. Has anyone dropped their fuel tank? I'm wondering how difficult it is to get the filler, vent, and fuel lines and wires unhooked, and more importantly, hooked up again? I don't see a simple way to replace this fuel tank cover without dropping the tank.

Abnormal ways include using the holes in the cover to support the tank, or flipping the truck upside down, or filling the fuel tank with helium. Or, my thinking during my drive to work came up with cutting the cover in half, and putting it on half at a time if the tank would stay up with one strap at a time. That idea is sort of sticking with me, as I can easily make a joining nut-plate that would join it back together and cover the gap.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Haven't crawled under for a look today but could you pass some webbing or tie downs between the skid and tank and then use that to take the tank weight while you R&R the plate and mounts?

I can feel the rust under my eyelids just thinking about this job... be careful.

I'll pass on the nut plate, seems like a lot of work to do right so it won't rust out again. My other thought is that the fasteners might be a risk to the tank if you drag the plate over a log or prius or such.

Wondering what Toyota gets for that plate? Mine is flaking away as well.

 

[SmoothLC]

The cover on my LC's tank is no where near as badly deteriorated, but am interested in how this can be approached.

Subscribed!

 

[scottm]

Haven't crawled under for a look today but could you pass some webbing or tie downs between the skid and tank and then use that to take the tank weight while you R&R the plate and mounts?

I can feel the rust under my eyelids just thinking about this job... be careful.

I'll pass on the nut plate, seems like a lot of work to do right so it won't rust out again. My other thought is that the fasteners might be a risk to the tank if you drag the plate over a log or prius or such.

Wondering what Toyota gets for that plate? Mine is flaking away as well.

Straps are a good idea. On the left side the tank is tight against the frame, so I could go over the frame rail on that side with straps. On the other side I may have to fab some rings to hold the straps, possibly using the screws that hold the current straps up.

The cover is over $300 list, cDan gave me a better price, thanks Dan!

 

[Lx470iH8Mud]

I'm going to do the same thing, that tank protector seems to be a perfect place for rust and dirt to hide. I would recommend rhino-lining both sides so it doesn't happen again.

 

[scottm]

Back at it. Painted the cover with two cans of rubber undercoating.



Let dry a couple days. Kept putting a few gallons at a time in the tank, waiting for a day to install.




Removed the drive shaft (14mm wrench), loosened the parking brake cable (12mm wrench). Put the floor jack under the tank, my cover was rotted away enough, you may need to cut some.




Unbolted the straps (14mm with two extensions) and the cover came down.




A little cleanup



Now I ran ratchet webbing straps over the frame on one side, and through loops I screwed in using the bolts that were holding the steel straps up. Ideally the webbing straps aren't where the metal straps will hold up the tank, as that would make the webbing harder to pull out. Cross fingers and slowly remove floor jack.



Now set the cover on the floor jack



Raise it into place



Pull out the webbing straps, with a little wiggling of the cover. Put the steel straps back up, attach the parking brake cable, install the drive shaft (after lubricating), done.

 

[Bueller]

Going to be doing this soon, so thanks for the detail and pics. Do you mind sharing the part # for the cover?

 

[badlander]

Well done!
That's a great idea using the straps like that. I think you may be the first to actually repair or replace the skid pan.
I'll be doing mine eventually, as well.
Thanks for taking the time to share the info.
I could never figure out how to do it and you made it look easy!
cp

 

[scottm]

My part number was wrong, cDan hooked me up, I'll look for the reciept.

 

[scottm]

Well done!
That's a great idea using the straps like that. I think you may be the first to actually repair or replace the skid pan.
I'll be doing mine eventually, as well.
Thanks for taking the time to share the info.
I could never figure out how to do it and you made it look easy!
cp

@AimCOtaco gets credit for suggesting straps, that was a good idea. Two hours including putting it on jack stands and fabbing the loops, not including time I spent fiddling with the driveshaft on the bench, and removing a loose heat shield. I highly recommend pulling the driveshaft apart and hitting the splines with moly grease while it is out, another ten minutes.

 

[spressomon]

Good post! Needs to be in FAQ.

Hijack related: Who's moderator in here now? Noticed silver stars for both Trunk and e9999

 

[WiscoProud]

Has anyone else attempted the method above? I need to replace the cover bad.

 

[scottm]

Has anyone else attempted the method above? I need to replace the cover bad.

Sounds like you don't have much choice but to be the next to try it! My brother has a shop in Milwaukee you can pay to use, lifts and everything, Hands On Garage. Wish I lived close to there, I'd be in all the time.

 

[uHu]

You could have gone the whole hog, like Bob Murphy here: http://www.landcruiserclub.net/forums/showthread.php/52627-Replacing-the-Diesel-Tank-and-Cradle (sharing a bit across the puddle)

 

[WiscoProud]

Sounds like you don't have much choice but to be the next to try it! My brother has a shop in Milwaukee you can pay to use, lifts and everything, Hands On Garage. Wish I lived close to there, I'd be in all the time.

I just looked up their website. Very interesting concept, didn't know they existed.

 

[WiscoProud]

You could have gone the whole hog, like Bob Murphy here: http://www.landcruiserclub.net/forums/showthread.php/52627-Replacing-the-Diesel-Tank-and-Cradle (sharing a bit across the puddle)

That is impressive and considerably past my skills.

 

[WiscoProud]

Side note, turns out its near impossible to find a used one in the Midwest. Many places have the tanks, but none had the skid. I ended up calling TLS Auto and luckily they had one.

 

[badlander]

I pity Bob Murphy. That truck in the link is right up there on the scale as being one of the rustiest trucks I've seen on here....Scaaary.

 

[freightdog]

Awesome article...mine is just as rusty

 

[ILcruiser]

after reading this post and another, from the original poster, i still have a question. On a 2000 LC do the straps holding the protector also hold up the tank. in other words, can i remove the straps and protector without the tank coming down? I believe i read that a 2003+ it is all one unit so to speak but that on earlier years the protector and straps are separate. Thanks.