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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Drake 39 gas tank install

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Drake 39 gas tank install -- page: 1 2     MICHV8 10-16-2017 @ 4:17 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 428 Joined: Jul 2010 Has anyone ever installed one without removing the body? I have a new in the box that came with the car and it simply doesn't fit. The body of the tank hits the driver side frame before the passenger side can be lifted over the frame. It's not a matter the inner fender, simply too wide to slip on top of the frame. Thanks for any insight. I am aware of Yogis and actually have one on another 39, but the Drake came with the car... pauls39coupe 10-16-2017 @ 5:12 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 205 Joined: Jul 2014 Oh yeah, nice tank but has a few issues. There is a bump out on the left side bottom that needs to be flattened about 1/4 inch or so with a body hammer. This will gain enough room to slide it to the left. The flange on the right side needs to be trimmed 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch to allow the tank to clear the frame. With the body off it would drop in as is but if you are replacing the tank with the body on it needs to be trimmed. Slide the tank over the frame on the drivers side, then push the passenger side up in place. Use a new rubber sleeve on the filler pipe as the old one will be hard as cement. Check the fuel line fitting to be sure some idiot didn't cross thread it before you try to install the tank. Big item, your factory fuel sender is too large for the tank opening and you will be forced to buy one of theirs. Before you install the tank take a die grinder and enlarge the tank opening to fit a stock sending unit. Do this with the tank upside down, so that the filings don't end up in the tank. Vacuum after and maybe even slosh it out so that the tank is clean. These tanks are a good deal for the money, I just wish they had paid more attention to the details. I had my old tank sealed at one time but ethanol was a solvent for the sealer. It was impossible to completely remove the old stuff, and who knows what the next gas additive will be. New tanks are the way to go. This message was edited by pauls39coupe on 10-16-17 @ 5:20 PM pauls39coupe 10-16-2017 @ 5:25 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 205 Joined: Jul 2014 Just noticed you are a Michigander. We are RG 126 from the Jackson Lansing area, but we cover most of the state outside of the Detroit metro area. Check out our website on links. Glad to help out any members. MICHV8 10-17-2017 @ 4:57 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 428 Joined: Jul 2010 Thanks for the reply. Nice to know that I'm not a complete idiot (close though!). Yeah, its the driver side of the tank that hits the frame before I can slide it over to lift the passenger side up. I did have to grind the seam on the passenger side about 1/16 just to get the tank past the lower lip of the passenger side frame. I'll look for the bump you mentioned....I only recall that the driver side is angled downward, but not enough for the necessary clearance. I actually emailed the club years ago to join, but never heard back... MICHV8 10-17-2017 @ 1:47 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 428 Joined: Jul 2010 Had to modify the driver side gas tank panel inward at the tank flange and grind the passenger side tank flange about 1/8 and cut the inner fender 1/4...It's in, but ridiculous he doesn't warn you that it doesn't just slip in. JohnJAS 10-18-2017 @ 8:30 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 19 Joined: Jun 2014 Hello MICHV8, was also thinking about replacing gas tank in my 39 Deluxe. Tank was gummed up along w/fuel line. Was able to clean out tank, and had thought bout coating tank (POR 15 type), but pauls39coupe experience tends to confirm why I haven't done it yet. So first things first, if it's difficult to install new tank, did you have a challenge removing old one? Speedway has a 'poly' (plastic) tank but notes small differences in shape to reduce 'trimming' issue. I know plastic tank not Original Equipment (OE) but cleaning that steel tank in the car thru the fuel sending opening working around those baffles and spraying total of 6-7 gal of carb cleaner and similar into corners w/long handled weed killer type of sprayer (pneumatic pump), capturing thru drain plug, and disposing of used cleaner environmentally correct, was a Gosh awful job and now left w/rust present above the gummed area (and in some areas under the gum), a plastic tank would at least reduce rust issue. Stainless tank is possible solution to reduce (most) of rust, but then again not OE. I've owned this car for 48 yrs, but wasn't able to keep it running for about 5yrs and this is result. And as you have said 'any Insight would be helpful', Thanks. JohnJAS 10-19-2017 @ 12:33 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 19 Joined: Jun 2014 39 Ford Deluxe 91A-70B All Original Hello. Would have hoped to have heard from either MICHV8 or another member regarding removal of old gas tank from this vehicle, but unfortunately have heard no response. Have been a member of EFV-8 on and off over the years. Not a lot of time avail to spend on website. Not sure I executed the 'reply' function correctly yesterday (10/18/17) so I just copy/pasted org reply. Hello MICHV8, was also thinking about replacing gas tank in my 39 Deluxe. Tank was gummed up along w/fuel line. Was able to clean out tank, and had thought bout coating tank (POR 15 type), but pauls39coupe experience tends to confirm why I haven't done it yet. So first things first, if it's difficult to install new tank, did you have a challenge removing old one? Speedway has a 'poly' (plastic) tank but notes small differences in shape to reduce 'trimming' issue. I know plastic tank not Original Equipment (OE) but cleaning that steel tank in the car thru the fuel sending opening working around those baffles and spraying total of 6-7 gal of carb cleaner and similar into corners w/long handled weed killer type of sprayer (pneumatic pump), capturing thru drain plug, and disposing of used cleaner environmentally correct, was a Gosh awful job and now left w/rust present above the gummed area (and in some areas under the gum), a plastic tank would at least reduce rust issue. Stainless tank is possible solution to reduce (most) of rust, but then again not OE. I've owned this car for 48 yrs, but wasn't able to keep it running for about 5yrs and this is result. And as you have said 'any Insight would be helpful', Thanks. supereal 10-19-2017 @ 1:12 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 I have yet to see a replacement tank that just fell into place without some modification. When I replaced the tank in my '47, I found that it was missing a dent to clear part of the chassis cross member. With a bit of persuasion with a hammer, clearance was made. Obviously the original tank was placed before the body drop. You don't have to remove the body to install a tank. The job may introduce you to some language in the process. JohnJAS 10-19-2017 @ 1:41 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 19 Joined: Jun 2014 39 Ford Deluxe 91A-70B All Original Thanks, supereal, and any other member with any insight to removing old tank Is it just as 'exciting' (new language included) to remove old tank as installing new tank? Any tips, insight or tools that might help? 42merc 10-19-2017 @ 2:20 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 126 Joined: Dec 2010 I recently replaced a damaged gas tank in my '40 coupe. Hit some road trash & hurt the original tank. Removal was simply remove the filler pipe & hose, gas line, disconnect the gas gauge, then the three 3/8" bolts, slide the tank to the filler side, lower the passenger side, pull the filler pipe from over the frame & lower to the ground. Really simple. Replaced it with a "Tanks" 16 gallon steel tank (I wanted the extra 2 gallons). I had to clearance the body sheet metal around the filler a bit to allow the filler pipe to protrude. After that the fit was good. With the TANKS tank, the gas line hook-up is in a different location & I fabricated an adapter to use the stock fuel gauge. EDIT: for tank removal the rear tailpipe hanger may need to be un-fastened. This message was edited by 42merc on 10-19-17 @ 3:36 PM

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