1980 Tasmin 280i Petrol tank removal

[Tony Trans Am]

I believe one of my petrol tanks has started leaking on the nearside where the balance pipe enters.
Question is how do I remove fuel tank?.

[mrzigazaga]

Tony Trans Am said:

I believe one of my petrol tanks has started leaking on the nearside where the balance pipe enters.
Question is how do I remove fuel tank?.

Hi mate

The tanks are held in place via metal straps which invariably break when removed or have rusted...The bolts are on the rear parcel shelf...
The passenger side (UK) is removed with the help of plenty of wiggling around, the driver side is a different story...

[Tony Trans Am]

So does the tank come out through the boot?

[mrzigazaga]

No...From underneath....The straps fix at the top..The rear parcel shelf carpet needs pulling back and then you will see them...

[v8s4me]

This is a bastrd of a job. You will have to remove the rear trailing arm and drive shaft to get everything out of the way and enable you to wiggle the tank out. Don't wast time taking bits off in the hope of edging the tank out, just bite the bullet and get the big parts off and out of the way, You'll need new hoses for the top and bottom connections as it's not worth trying to save the old ones, just cut them off to free the tank.

A second pair of hands would be helpful as would a ramp. I did this job single handed with the car on axle stands and I wouldn't want to do it like that again.

Having said all that, if you can get some help and can get the car up on a ramp I reckon you could get the tank out in about three hours. Good luck!

See HERE and HERE.

[Sireatalot]

Ive recently taken the passenger side one off the car.

Had the car on axle stands and removed the passenger rear wheel - the tank came out through the wheelarch with ALOT of effort and a small amount of crowbar jimmeying, however, half of the hoses between the tanks were still attached due to the jubilee clips rusting solid ( i cut through the central sections of hose.) and these were preventing some movement of the tank.

I wasnt looking forward to getting the tank back in but without the sections of hose attached - 5 min job !! ( again with wheel off and car on axle stands)

Didnt even attempt to remove the drivers side tank due to the filler neck etc...

Oh, and use plenty of wd40 on the nuts for the retaining straps ( 2 behind seat and 2 on parcel shelf per tank)

Good luck with it.
Cheers
Dom

[adam quantrill]

Useful tip - I suppose if you cut off the pipes as close as possible to the nearside tank then it will make things easier.

[v8s4me]

When refitting with the new hoses spend some time cleaning up the top and bottom link tubes so that you can easily slide the new hoses almost all the way onto these tubes. Then once the tank is back in place you can slide the hoses back again and onto the tank. Sort out where you want the tightening screw on the jubilee clips to be before you get everything in place.

The wise man learns from his mistakes, but the really smart man learns from other peoples

[Tony Trans Am]

I'm sure it's leaking from the bottom tube link point.

[v8s4me]

Maybe you won't need to take the tank out then, just replace the hose?

[Tony Trans Am]

I replaced the hose, but this think it's the weld around the tube of the tank.

[Grady]

Not an ideal repair but since once in place it's all pretty static, you might be able to clean and epoxy (JB Weld over here) to make a seal. Or there might be something specifically formulated for fuel tanks.

[SEvans]

Would this help? May be as cheap as getting a repair.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/tvr-tasmin-wedge-fuel-ta...

Cheers Steve

[v8s4me]

You'd want to be pretty dam sure any replacement tank wasn't leaking before you went to the trouble of putting it in. If you opt for this route I'd suggest you look at having it professionally sealed before installing it. Also be sure the fitting are the same. There are some differences to look out for so best to make sure it's identical.

[mrzigazaga]

v8s4me said:

You'd want to be pretty dam sure any replacement tank wasn't leaking before you went to the trouble of putting it in. If you opt for this route I'd suggest you look at having it professionally sealed before installing it. Also be sure the fitting are the same. There are some differences to look out for so best to make sure it's identical.

+1

[Tony Trans Am]

Agreed, I'd rather get mine repaired, mine is the signal blue car that had one owner much of its life, it's all very nice underneath and everything seems to come apart quite nicely having been garaged most of its life. I'm going to try the hose again tomorrow just in case my mechanic damaged the new hose and go from there. So pleased I did not sell it, it's really proving to be an enjoyable car in daily use.

[Tony Trans Am]

Quick question there a drain tap/hole for the fuel tanks?

[v8s4me]

Not on mine but I can't really say for others. It would be handy though wouldn't it?

[Tony Trans Am]

Help! Removed everything, how do I edge it out, which corner comes out first?

[mrzigazaga]

Sireatalot said:

Ive recently taken the passenger side one off the car.

Had the car on axle stands and removed the passenger rear wheel - the tank came out through the wheelarch with ALOT of effort and a small amount of crowbar jimmeying, however, half of the hoses between the tanks were still attached due to the jubilee clips rusting solid ( i cut through the central sections of hose.) and these were preventing some movement of the tank.

I wasnt looking forward to getting the tank back in but without the sections of hose attached - 5 min job !! ( again with wheel off and car on axle stands)

Didnt even attempt to remove the drivers side tank due to the filler neck etc...

Oh, and use plenty of wd40 on the nuts for the retaining straps ( 2 behind seat and 2 on parcel shelf per tank)

Good luck with it.
Cheers
Dom

Hi Tony

Dominic removed his N/S...I guess you just need to be a tad more brutal...Not too much...