VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Trucks and Vans 1934 gas tank removal

Howdy,

Happy New Year's!!

I am looking to remove my below the seat gas tank in my 1934 Chevy 1.5 ton truck. I removed the strap that sits below the passenger seat and I oddly thought that this was the only bracket holding the tank down, but I quickly realized that it was secured on the driver's side as well. I see that there is a bracket that is attached to the crossmember that looks as though it is held by a pin with a spring on one side and a cotter pin on the other. It's a bit tough to see, so is this correct? If so, I am not sure how to remove the pin since one side sits next to the frame and can't get a punch to know it out toward the frame or a punch to know it out the other way since there is no room with the frame in the way.

Any advise/tricks to remove the tank would be greatly appreciated.

Warm regards

There should be threaded studs on one end of each tank strap. I can't remember if front or rear end. If they are rusty and stubborn, be careful not to twist the strap. It would be better to split the nut with a Dremel and cutting wheel, or one of these purpose built nut splitters.

Mike

I removed the one tank strap, but that is all there was. On the driver side, there is a bracket that looks to be glued or attached somehow to the bottom of the tank and then it is secured onto a crossmember. There isn't 2 straps holding down the tank. The only other strap goes across the middle on top of the tank, but it doesn't seem to server much of a purpose. I should've looked at my other rig to see if it was the same.

My memory of the mounting of your tank goes something like this. The tank is independent of the cab. It is mounted to the truck frame below the seat cushions. One strap goes direct to the frame and the other one attaches to a pivoting or rocking bracket so that frame twisting, in rough terrain, will not be transmitted to the tank. I can't visualize your setup. Persistence should solve your puzzle. Brute force and awkwardness is another, but less desirable, alternative.

Mike

You are correct in that it is on a rocking bracket. I will try again tomorrow and hopefully brute force will not prevail.

Well, I just can't figure out how to pull that pin out, so I decided to pull out the filler cap and sending unit to look in the tank and other than if there is a hole in it, I think I will simply leave it in place. It looks very clean with no rust and just a very, very small amount of gummed up fuel. I just don't think it would be worth to go through it as good as it looks inside.

I agree. If it looks good inside, I would leave it in place. I have had some luck using E85 gasoline to soften the gummy fuel so it can be drained out. Good luck.

Mike

Thanks Mike.