Gas Tank Replacement

[rebelyelltex]

ok so i pulled the rear bumper off so i could get to the wiring for the rear tail lights. got one side of the tail lights fixed, and all of a sudden gas starts to drip out of the skid plate protecting the gas tank. i pull the plate off to see whats going on, and the whole gas tank falls out. well, it didnt fall completely, i just lowered it onto a jack stand and let the gas drain out. now it is just sitting there i think being held up by the jack stand and i think just a piece of hose that connects to the tube where you put the gas into.

the gas tank wasnt bad, but i figure i might as well just replace the whole thing. i want to get one of the plastic ones off here so i wont have to worrie about rust. but now im at a new problem. what else do i need to get from here? i think i can patch up the old skid plate, or should i just get a new one? also, what all do i need to secure the gas tank in place? because it didnt appear to have anything holding it in other than the skid plate. do i need to get those upper and lower straps?

 

[Yardape]

Should be bolted up from the bottom. I would get a steel tank, you will have it the rest of your life and I'll bet it will never rust out. Dont mess with old crap when you have a chance to get new, if you can buy a new skid plate, go for it.

 

[pinson27]

ok so i pulled the rear bumper off so i could get to the wiring for the rear tail lights. got one side of the tail lights fixed, and all of a sudden gas starts to drip out of the skid plate protecting the gas tank. i pull the plate off to see whats going on, and the whole gas tank falls out. well, it didnt fall completely, i just lowered it onto a jack stand and let the gas drain out. now it is just sitting there i think being held up by the jack stand and i think just a piece of hose that connects to the tube where you put the gas into.
the gas tank wasnt bad, but i figure i might as well just replace the whole thing. i want to get one of the plastic ones off here so i wont have to worrie about rust. but now im at a new problem. what else do i need to get from here? i think i can patch up the old skid plate, or should i just get a new one? also, what all do i need to secure the gas tank in place? because it didnt appear to have anything holding it in other than the skid plate. do i need to get those upper and lower straps?

First off,you really need to check all of your hoses and wires for damage,if that tank's been bouncing around on the skid plate,something is bound to be broke or loose.When you replace the tank,check all the pick up tubes and return lines inside the tank and if equipped,check your fuel pump and screen.....and you definately need those straps!!!!

 

[Justshootme84]

On some 80-96 Broncos, the skid plate is what holds the gas tank in place. There should be some rubber strips between the tank and skid plate, to keep from rubbing a hole in the tank and help reduce rust from moisture buil-up. The skid plate also helps keep objects from puncturing the tank, since it hangs down so far below the frame. For you 88 model, it has two fuel pumps. One is inside the tank, in an assembly with the sending unit. While this assembly is expensive (around $150), it's worthwhile to replace it while the tank is off. Another problem area is the vent tube inside the filler neck. The tube is plastic and can get kinked. This is what causes problems with filling the tank at many pumps that have a check valve. It can take 20-30 minutes to fill a 32 gallon tank, as the pump nozzle constantly shuts off thinking the tank is full. Lastly, a plastic tank will be fine, and won't rust out like the metal one. Just be sure the hole for the sending unit and pump is the proper size. A 25 gal and a 32 gal version of the tanks are available. JSM84

 

[rebelyelltex]

On some 80-96 Broncos, the skid plate is what holds the gas tank in place. There should be some rubber strips between the tank and skid plate, to keep from rubbing a hole in the tank and help reduce rust from moisture buil-up. The skid plate also helps keep objects from puncturing the tank, since it hangs down so far below the frame. For you 88 model, it has two fuel pumps. One is inside the tank, in an assembly with the sending unit. While this assembly is expensive (around $150), it's worthwhile to replace it while the tank is off. Another problem area is the vent tube inside the filler neck. The tube is plastic and can get kinked. This is what causes problems with filling the tank at many pumps that have a check valve. It can take 20-30 minutes to fill a 32 gallon tank, as the pump nozzle constantly shuts off thinking the tank is full. Lastly, a plastic tank will be fine, and won't rust out like the metal one. Just be sure the hole for the sending unit and pump is the proper size. A 25 gal and a 32 gal version of the tanks are available. JSM84

yeah it has the rubber down there like you said. what all would you recommend doing if you dont mine me asking?

 

[Yardape]

Depending on the availability of whatever tank you decide on, get it and put it in. I would also suggest a new sending unit and fuel pump as well. I have the larger tank in mine and I wouldnt trade it for nothing.

 

[rebelyelltex]

im wanting to go wit ha 33 gallon, seeing as thats what was in the rig. i thought about the 45 that is available, but i dont have much access to any good tools, so im just going to stick with the same size. that and im a high school student so the cash is hard to come by.

 

[Justshootme84]

rebel, I got your PM but can't respond, so I'll reply here. I looked in my Bronco Graveyard catalog, and a new plastic 33-ga tank is only $120, the steel is $100, the sending unit/fuel pump assly is $175 for your 88 Bronco. I wouldn't buy a new skid plate ($115) unless yours is badly damaged. A few dents or dings don't matter ,and these are pretty stout. You might luck out and find a used tank in good shape, but if it were me, I'd rather spend the money on a new tank. You can re-use your original su/fp assly, but those can go out without any warning. If you have over 100K miles, I would replace that, too. I don't know wher you can find the rubber strips, but perhaps you can improvise something out of a used rubber mat or bedliner or similar. In my area near the Coast with lots of rust, I recommend painting the tank and skid plate to fight rust I've used the Dupli-Color spray-on bedliner for small jobs like this. I am running a 15-gal fuel cell mounted inside the bed instead of the original tank. But that may not be legal for a street truck in your state. JSM84

 

[rebelyelltex]

how are you enjoying the 15 gallon tank? im making the bronco into mainly a pavement pounder since there isnt many places to 4 wheel up in these neck of the woods, but i do enjoy going off roading when i get the chance, nothing too extreme though.

i found a 75 gallon diesel tank that would fit right into the bed of my bronco, but i dont really find that to be too practical. the skid plate seemed in good shape, but upon closer inspection its looking to be shot. think i would be best off just going to the local junk yard and pulling one off?

 

[Justshootme84]

The fuel cell is nice, but I'm building a metal frame to mount it on to reduce vibration. You can prolly pick up a used skid plate for under $40, but have the yard remove it. I've had hella time getting those rusty bolts loose before!!! IF you cannot find one anywhere near you, I do have a spare or two. Also have a good tank from the 88 Bronco. Shipping may be a bit costly, but I'll sell those parts cheap. You can reach me by e-mail or thru the superford.org link in my profile, since I'm having trouble with PM's, Randy

 

[jwc191]

The fuel cell is nice, but I'm building a metal frame to mount it on to reduce vibration. You can prolly pick up a used skid plate for under $40, but have the yard remove it. I've had hella time getting those rusty bolts loose before!!! IF you cannot find one anywhere near you, I do have a spare or two. Also have a good tank from the 88 Bronco. Shipping may be a bit costly, but I'll sell those parts cheap. You can reach me by e-mail or thru the superford.org link in my profile, since I'm having trouble with PM's, Randy

i have a 96 bronco with a 33 gal. tank, the skid plate is rusted thru, does the skid plate have to be replaced too? or just new straps on the top of the tank? seems like the skid plate is more expensive than the tank? does the skid plate hold up the tank?

 

[rubberdust]

The skid plate is what holds the tank in.

The next thing you will need is the tool to disconect the fuel lines going to the pump, before you end up with the tank dangling from them (learned that the hard way) should be able to pick one up at most any parts store for under $10. Spending the extra cash on the fuel pump probably sounds like a lot of extra money right now, but I've had to replace it every Bronco I've owned before it hit 150,000 miles. Unless you want to go through the fun of pulling the tank again, now is the time to do it.