"Holy Gas Tank Straps, Batman"

[lelandEOD]

Ok, WTF?

Why don't my tank straps seem to reach the floorboard? This is yet one more fun element to building a truck that you bought in pieces. The tank was out of the truck when I bought it... does anyone know what's going on here? I've got the straps anchored to the lugs behind the seat, but with the tank fully seated in the floor, I've got maybe 1-3/4" between the strap and the tub.

AAK!

I've done a search and saw some photos of what appeared to be earlier style straps that have an adjustment screw which these straps do not have. You may notice there are no holes in the floor boards for the straps to bolt to... this is because I replaced the floor panels and need to drill and nut-sert them for the straps, but I can't figure out why these seem to be too short.

Are there different strap lengths for different years? I guess there's a chance I got the wrong ones with the truck. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?


Pics of the offending straps:

 

[woytovich]

What year tub is that?

From the sor.com web site:

68-72 - straps, no cover

73-78 - cover, no straps

 

[CPro721]

I have a 71 and the straps look the same. The two bolts should be approximately 2.5 inches long and when it is tightened down there is still an inch or so gap between the strap and the floor.

CP

 

[lelandEOD]

Thanks for the replies, guys. The tub has a build date of 5/73. But, it gets confusing because some of the mid-model year changes are on this truck but not others.

CP, any chance you could snap a photo of your gas tank mounting points for me?

Danke!

 

[lelandEOD]

The SOR images also confuse me... I have the '73-'78 style gas tank but it does not have any provisions for the tank cover.

Weird.

 

[jbee]

2 piece

I'm in the same spot. Straps too short.

I had the 2 piece straps from the factory on a '72 FJ40. My '73 had the 2 piece ones.

My 74 has the tank cover.

I found out that when you're ordering them from Specter, you have to order a front and back for each strap, so total of (4) parts. The part numbers are 168-08B-FT-U for the front half of a strap and part number 168-08B-RR-U is the rear half of one strap. To get 2 complete straps you need quantity 2 of each number. These are used original Toyota straps.

I have used plumbers tape, primed and painted black and cut to length, it will hold just fine. I guess it's called galvanized steel hanger strap.

Did the tank increase in fuel capacity and therefore need a longer strap?

Link.

 

[woytovich]

The tank you show is the style that had a cover (with the tubes on top)

 

[CPro721]

I am actually out of town and won't be able to take a pic for a week or so.

 

[lelandEOD]

My truck must have been built between the changes. The truck has the later style tank but there are no holes where the later style tank cover attaches.

Strange. Don't worry about the photos, CP. I think I get what you mean.