Petrol tank cradle
Discussion
Barry S1 said:
how easy is it to fit ?
Scale of 1 to 10 maybe a 4 ?You'd need to get the back end up reasonably high (unles you have access to a ramp)and then its fairly basic nuts 'n bolts job.
So decent trolley jack, car up on stands then use jack to support tank when you drop the cradle away.
Can't see the cradle on the parts list so, while I can't imagine it being wildly different, I couldn't be sure it is a straight swap?
if you look at my web site at http://www.tvrgit.com you'll see that I'm in the middle of doing mine. There are step by step instructions for removal. None for refitting -= haven't done that bit yet!
I must say that is a very fair price indeed. I also made my own but at £55 I would have snapped it up. Pretty sure they are the same. Mine is an S1 and it certainly looks the same. Yes you can take it out with the tank held in place but I am not sure it makes a lot of sense to do so unless the tank is obviously a lot newer. If the cradle is getting dodgy then there is a good chance the tank needs a clean up and repaint as well and I wouldnt want to take the cradle out again to do the tank. When you have the tank ou you can also give it a good clean out! (See other threads). I would agree with the 4 out of 10 rating, if you can raise the car enough. It is awkward rather than technically difficult.
Hardest bit is painting inside. Not sure if it helps but I washed it out with a little petrol to remove any oil, left it to dry, taped over the holes and sloshed a slightly thinned down etch primer inside, then synthetic again slightly thinned then painted the outside in the same way, unthinned. Fitted then waxoiled inside and out. Cradle does get a lot of water/muck/salt inside and I do not want to change it in the next 25 years! You have an alloy tank, resumably it has some form of surface protection. It might just be worth carefully checking all the points where it comes in contact with anything else to check there are no signs of electrolitic corrosion. Doesnt need to be steel in contact, it can happen if salt gets into anywhere wet, such as a mounting point rubber. I am of course jealous!
Barkychoc said:
The problem with the tank cradle is that water gets inside it and it is a water trap up to the lower bolt hole - the water cannot escape so corrodes its way out.
I just refitted my tank cradle today and I was looking at those holes and thinking "blanking grommets". Don't know where to get them that big though.Blanking grommets? Try Car Builder Solutions www.cbsonline.co.uk page 316 of their catalogue. Anything there big enough or adaptable? Good firm to deal with, catalogue a source of many goodies!
Got to go now, need more Aldi mince pies!
Got to go now, need more Aldi mince pies!
greymrj said:
Blanking grommets? Try Car Builder Solutions www.cbsonline.co.uk page 316 of their catalogue. Anything there big enough or adaptable? Good firm to deal with, catalogue a source of many goodies!
Got to go now, need more Aldi mince pies!
I'm still pondering on this. Will I put in blanking grommets to keep the water out (but risk trapping even more water inside if any DOES get in), or just leave it (it's waxoyled inside) or drill a couple of holes to let excess water out (but risk letting more water in)?Got to go now, need more Aldi mince pies!
It's a quandary!
Blanking grommets AND drilled holes sounds like the best solution!Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff