Fuel pump died and it's been sittin for at least 2 months. Bought the racetronix in-tank kit to replace the 14yr ol V6 pump and I'm ditching the ATI inline pump.

There's constant debate on making a trap door over the top of the tank or dropping the tank completely. I need to fix a gasket leak on the 9in anyway so I went for dropping the tank

got started around 8pm last night. Put it up on jackstands, unbolted TA bracket, DSL loop, swaybar endlinks, panhard, panhard brace, shocks, removed the rear section of the exhaust and the heated shields, lowered the rear out of the way and drained another 5gal out of the tank. At this point the tank was empty and the only things holding it in was the straps...too late, have to work on that tomorrow.

Started on it this morning, unbolted the straps and the tank came loose. Glad I drained it. The filler neck is a bitch, plain and simple, no way around it. I wiggled, twisted, and pulled the tank for an hour before it finally let loose. It's one of those deals where it finally just slides right out like it could have come out that easy about 45 minutes earlier. Anyway, it out....and it's full of crap. I'm happy that I went this route so I can take care of it outside the car. Take a look at the pics.

I'm going to need some help here on the best way to clean it out. If you look at the one pic of the inside you can see what looks like rust bubbles on the side baffle. Are there any good sealers out there that I could use or is the tank junk? Should I try to find one of the newer plastic tanks? What pisses me off is that I sold my extra tank last year cause I was tired of tripping on it in the garage.

 

I would just get me a whole new tank, I wouldn't want all the rust to eat at the new pump.

 

anyone have experience with these guys. It's hard to understand what there pricing is from the info on the site. Can't tell if the tank is included in the "Stage 1 Street Kit" or if you have to buy the tank for $599 then add on a kit if you need the pump, regulator, injectors, etc....

http://www.nastyperformance.com/93-97F-Body.html

 

Hot soap and water. I believe the nasty tank is for external pumps only.

 

I thought so at first also but if you look at the different "stages" they mention a Walbro in-tank pump.

 

nope, the tank is a external pump configuration only. Spoke with them today. The "stages" are just upgrade packages for those with the stock tank.

 

you can do both. after you drop the tank, its so much easier to do the trap door method for future repair/replacement

 

Yea, you're not the first to mention that. Looks like I'll have some time to do it since I've got a find another tank before I can do much else.

I wanted to put in one of the newer plastic tanks but I haven't been able to really verify whether or not I would be able to use the whole pump/sender assembly from my old tank in the new style tank.

 

That appears to be dirt, not rust. if so, just wash with hot soapy water until clean, rinse, wipe dry with a few small rags & let dry in the sun. You should be fine.

This is why I recommend that all my customers remove the tank.
aren't you glad you did?

 

nope, it's rust. All those little silver bubbles you see on the metal have rust under them. I couldn't get a pic of it but looking further into the corners of the tank it is much worse. I had wishful thinking at first and did clean it out with hot soapy water, then I started scratching at those bubbles only to find rust behind them.

 

i just did my tank this weekend, i have a lift so it was a littlle easier then on the ground i only dropped the right side of axel instead of the whole thing and had the same problem getting the tank out so before i put it back in i trimmed the sheetmetal that neck was getting hung up on by cutting some slits about 1.5' then banging them up flat ,sprayed some undercoat on it and it looks like new the tank went right in so easily i dont think id have to drop the rear end on the right rear ,perhaps this is a old trick but it worked great
and makes the tank removal alot easier