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Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500


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rzbishop
Novice

Apr 22, 2022, 9:42 AM

Post #1 of 15 (2141 views)
  post locked   post icon Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

I am in the process of replacing the fuel pump, and I just got the straps loose on the tank. The front end is trying to drop freely, but the rear end of the tank is suspended, as if it is rusted to the bottom of the truck. Is this possible/common? Is there something else I need to disconnect to allow the rear end to drop? I was unable to disconnect the filler hose due to rust and corrosion on the clamps. But, I unscrewed the actual nozzle that secures into the filler port (the part where the gas cap goes). I removed the 3 screws holding that into the truck and it is loose, so I figured the whole thing could just drop with the tank. It is still moving loosely, so I don't think the tank is hanging up on that. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 22, 2022, 10:04 AM

Post #2 of 15 (2131 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

There should be "tar paper" sticky stuff up top for some effort of not rusting + some rubbing insulation.

Neck, new whole tank then an OE grade fuel pump in the cards for you.

TMK just those straps, neck hoses when you get at them and wiring plug it drops down - and GROUNDING wires!

You said rust so I won't say you could take off the truck's bed easier on some it's rusty where I am so nobody would.

Bad location for the filler neck - your not the first,

T



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Apr 22, 2022, 10:06 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 22, 2022, 10:05 AM

Post #3 of 15 (2129 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

The tank has at least 3 lines attached along with wiring and the filler. Rust is not the issue. Something is not disconnected properly. The lines and filler have to be disconnected before lowering the tank or you will damage them.

I personally have found it easier on some to just lift the bed off and leave the tank in place.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 22, 2022, 10:17 AM

Post #4 of 15 (2122 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

I doubt any tar stuff unseen is that strong? It would IMO be rare to be a '98 and not the first time who knows what last person did up there or add a ground I thought was just a thing around fuel neck to rear body metal?

Hope it's quite empty of fuel too these should be able to siphon out almost all,

T



rzbishop
Novice

Apr 22, 2022, 11:20 AM

Post #5 of 15 (2106 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

In the videos and posts I have read regarding this process, I haven't seen or read about the process for disconnecting the lines before dropping the tank. I was under the impression that the tank would drop a little bit, allowing me to access the lines, then after disconnected I would be able to lower the tank fully.

Any further advice/description, or info on where I can find a good video or post about this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for commenting on this as well. I need all the guidance I can get.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 22, 2022, 11:39 AM

Post #6 of 15 (2101 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

You might be able to drop the tank a little but these are plastic lines and will get damaged if pulled on. These lines need to be disconnected very early in the process. You will be working more by feel than sight. Releasing these lock clips can be very difficult.
Dropping these tanks is no picnic, especially if there is any fuel in them.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



rzbishop
Novice

Apr 22, 2022, 11:49 AM

Post #7 of 15 (2095 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

Ahh, I see. Well, I'm going to grab a mirror and see what's going on up in there, so I know where's about to start feeling around for these lines. Will I need a special disconnect tool? I feel like 1 of the videos I watched mentioned that.

Luckily the tank is near empty, probably only a couple of gallons. I was able to keep the tank held up with 1 hand pretty easily so I could prop some 4x4's under it while I figure out my next move.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 22, 2022, 11:53 AM

Post #8 of 15 (2093 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

You are going to need some sort of jack support. This tank needs to be lifted and lowered slowly.

I think the hose connections for this one may be between the tank and the frame rail.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 22, 2022, 11:53 AM)


rzbishop
Novice

Apr 22, 2022, 11:56 AM

Post #9 of 15 (2087 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

I have a floor jack that I planned on using with a piece of plywood to lower safely. I guess I will see what I can do and come back here if/when another roadblock or issue with this process arises. Again, I appreciate the info!


rzbishop
Novice

Apr 27, 2022, 7:45 AM

Post #10 of 15 (2038 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

@Hammer Time @Tom Greenleaf

I managed to drop the tank. I had to cut the filler hose and vent hose, as there was so much rust that I couldn't get the clamps undone. I'm going to the parts store to get some more hose today at lunchtime.

I did have an issue with the disconnects not coming off. I can't quite get tool into the side of the disconnect fully, as there is a protruding piece of plastic in the way. Looks like some sort of plastic brace that secures all 3 lines to the pump assy.

I'm going to break it off so I can get a better grip/angle on the lines. Shouldn't be an issue, as the new unit I have has this as well so I can replace it. Hopefully I can manage all of this and get the new pump in /tank back up today.


(This post was edited by rzbishop on Apr 27, 2022, 7:47 AM)


rzbishop
Novice

Apr 27, 2022, 10:16 AM

Post #11 of 15 (2001 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

So, I got the old pump assembly pulled out, but in the process, a very small amount of rust/dirt debris fell into the tank. The inside of the tank looks great though. Am I going to need to empty the tank and clean that debris out, or will it be fine to leave? If it is going to be an issue, then I will do what I have to do. But, if a little debris in the tank isn't a huge problem, I'll leave it. There is roughly 3-5 gallons of gas inside.


(This post was edited by rzbishop on Apr 27, 2022, 10:16 AM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Apr 27, 2022, 11:25 AM

Post #12 of 15 (1975 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

Yes, debris in the tank is a problem. It can ruin the new pump. That's going to make this job a lot harder. That's why we use a blow gun on the top of the tank before removing the pump.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Apr 27, 2022, 11:26 AM)


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 27, 2022, 1:36 PM

Post #13 of 15 (1961 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

Debris :(
Get as much out as humanly possible. A well held magnet AND the air if you have to take it where there's copious volumes of air pressure.

Should have a new sock of some sort on fuel pick up - if not what came out?

Just don't let a little more time risk anything now you've done well.
Note: This or any don't like running low of now liquid gold GAS will cost a fortune I/we know so does doing this all over again it really isn't saving to run low on fuel,

Tom


rzbishop
Novice

May 2, 2022, 5:10 AM

Post #14 of 15 (1833 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

Welp, I got it done. Took some doing, and I learned a few mistakes the hard way, but that's how you really learn I suppose. I managed to get the debris out of the tank (most if not all). Took some doing, but alas, I got the tank raised back up.

Went to start it up and realized that the battery was dead, which I expected. Couldn't hold a jump, so I replaced the battery and boom! Started right up and drove her around multiple times during the weekend. Feels good to have completed, and even better having my truck back. And, I feel completely confident in the process if I ever have to do it again.

Thanks for all the advice and tips guys, both of you (@Hammer Time & @Tom Greenleaf). I will be getting more hands on with all of my vehicles from now on, so I expect to be back on here very soon with more questions (I have a few projects and repairs that I need to take care of between my 3 vehicles). Thanks again!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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May 2, 2022, 6:18 AM

Post #15 of 15 (1825 views)
  post locked   Re: Need advice on dropping tank on 1998 Chevy C1500  

Glad to hear that cheers to it lasting for you.
Hey - can't beat qualified help right there pointing out what, where, tools needed.

Best of luck - really. I'll close it you can ask to re-open it as needed or wanted,

Tom



(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on May 2, 2022, 6:20 AM)






 
 
 






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