Fuel tank - rear beam access

[RustyMojo]

Hey guys,
Hoping to lean on some of your experiences removing the rear beam. I am 95% through dropping the rear beam for refurb or replacement. I have opted for the route of leaving the brackets and dropping the two beam attachment bolts, everything is now disconnected and the NS bolt is removed. However I can’t get the OS bolt out as it fouls the fuel tank. Read on here that you can lower the tank to remove the bolt. However typically I have 3/4 tank of fuel in the car (day dreaming at the pump when I last put fuel in) Is there a way to lower the tank enough to remove the bolt? Or am I going to have to revert back to removing the brackets through the floor....I don’t fancy draining the tank!!! Appreciate ant tips, videos or photos that could help.

TIA

Russ

 

[Amos91]

Hey guys,
Hoping to lean on some of your experiences removing the rear beam. I am 95% through dropping the rear beam for refurb or replacement. I have opted for the route of leaving the brackets and dropping the two beam attachment bolts, everything is now disconnected and the NS bolt is removed. However I can’t get the OS bolt out as it fouls the fuel tank. Read on here that you can lower the tank to remove the bolt. However typically I have 3/4 tank of fuel in the car (day dreaming at the pump when I last put fuel in) Is there a way to lower the tank enough to remove the bolt? Or am I going to have to revert back to removing the brackets through the floor....I don’t fancy draining the tank!!! Appreciate ant tips, videos or photos that could help.

TIA

Russ

Just use something to support the weight of the tank to lower it down a touch. Tricky bit is you kind of need to tilt the tank one way to get enough room on the bolt. May as well give it a try before you go through the pain of the coach bolts through the floor.

 

[RustyMojo]

Just use something to support the weight of the tank to lower it down a touch. Tricky bit is you kind of need to tilt the tank one way to get enough room on the bolt. May as well give it a try before you go through the pain of the coach bolts through the floor.

cheers, that’s kind of my thoughts. How many bolts are there holding the tank? I have found 2, albeit I have not looked overly hard yet....

 

[Martin_172]

4 bolts, 1x at each side and 2x in the middle.

Just lower the tank on a jack. Just finished doing mine

 

[RustyMojo]

Perfect thanks... do I need to remove the filler as well?

 

[Amos91]

From memory you don't have to as there is a flexible rubber section that will take some movement.

 

[Martin_172]

As above there is a flexible bit and s clamp but I didn't touch it and removed the filler as it's only a 30 sec job and s good time to clean behind it etc

 

[RustyMojo]

As above there is a flexible bit and s clamp but I didn't touch it and removed the filler as it's only a 30 sec job and s good time to clean behind it etc

I have just repaired the rust behind it! Could eat your dinner off of it 😂 but you are right it’s only the two screws so I’ll drop them out as well. Just hope I don’t wash the floor of the garage in a tank of Tesco’s finest 😂