Whats the weirdest thing you ever found in your gas tank?

[JohnJL]

I have owned a 1974 FJ40 for 15 years and it always had something metal tumbling sound whenever braking or turning fast (I was going to say accelerating too but who are we kidding?) I thought a bolt was rolling around inside the frame, but could never find the offending piece.

Today I took the gas tank out and was surprised to hear that metal tumbling sound was coming from inside the tank. I poked a light down in there through the filler neck and was shocked to find this:

Its a filler door lock! Someone must have been installing the lock and it made SWISH shot down the filler next. Seriously, it took quite a bit of fishing with a magnet and grabber to get it out the neck. It is a tight fit!

Mystery solved!

Oh, and the lock in the tank matches the unused spare key on the ring!

Now, does anyone recognize this as their old cruiser? Anyone ever lose a lock down their filler door?

 

[JohnnyC]

You solved one of the mysteries in life ... the “disappearing directly from your hands” phenomenon

PO is probably still thinking “where did it go?” “I just had it... its got to be here”

 

[brian]

Im normally surprised that theres gas in it

 

[bikersmurf]

I found the Center of a locking gas cap in mine. In my case, the PO of the tank broke the locking cap to siphon the fuel... or perhaps some bastard opportunist.

 

[TCEd]

Since you said "tank" this allows me to hijack the thread ! I once found a couple ping pong ball in a Abrams M1A1 tank hydraulic reservoir. The balls has to have been there prior to the reservoir being attached to the manifold.
Back to the original subject.
ed

 

[B Bear]

Restored a couple of military jeeps and dodge's over the years, found a couple of old style lighters in the tank.

 

[65swb45]

Dead bee...in the pickup tube.




Twice.

 

[reddingcruiser]

Keys......definitely hidden

 

[kblomquist]

Several years ago in my father's shop... a gentlemen had an fj40 that kept cutting out at different times and different conditions. After replacing fuel pump, filter, etc.... they pulled tank and found a condom. The condom was blocking the fuel line at random times. Owner of vehicle was completely dumbfounded. Throughout the years I have always wondered how it got in there.... bad practical joke, revenge.....?

 

[1MOA]

Several years ago in my father's shop... a gentlemen had an fj40 that kept cutting out at different times and different conditions. After replacing fuel pump, filter, etc.... they pulled tank and found a condom. The condom was blocking the fuel line at random times. Owner of vehicle was completely dumbfounded. Throughout the years I have always wondered how it got in there.... bad practical joke, revenge.....?

Man I hope your FJ was not a victim of a sexual assault.

 

[ridefastflyfar]

Found two cigarette butts and a popsicle stick in mine. Thought I had solved my fuel pickup problem when I fished the first butt out, but then earlier this year I cut the tank open to put in an in-tank pump, only to find another one stuck (and mostly blocking) the fuel pickup tube.

 

[greenbeasty]

Kind of says something about condoms that the gas did not eat it! What brand?!