Club 80-90 Forums

Hi Guys

Any quick pointers on how to remove the top bolt of a tank strap without having to remove the tank?

Ady

It just might be possible to get at from under the wheel arch....not done it but have wondered while looking at a few times...

From memory I don't think you can remove them without taking the tank out. They usually hold up well compared to the bottom straps and can be reused soak the bolt and nut in oil for a few days and clean the bottom threads before undoing the nuts. If you are in that far you may aswell take the tank out just careful of your sender

Taking the tank out is no fun...gearbox off, loads of muck in your face...and then finding what lurks behind...but as paul says it might be worth the effort...I'm sure one of the straps could be got off...the left one might be more of an issue however.

Also if you do have remove it don't put any strain at all on the breathers on top...extra brittle those.

To be fair it is the bottom section of the strap that is shot, cos i'd bought some new stainless ones thought i'd fit the whole lot......................sparkly things my precious and all that

Tank out is a bit further than I had planned to go, just trying to restore practicality

Thanks

Got to say the tank strap design is a back to front set up from vw...it would of been totally possible to put the nut on the strap and have the bolt coming in from the engine bay...but oh no...to easy...

Lots of swearing and grunting is the only way it can be done!

Unless....if the captive nut on the body could be chopped off flush so the strap could be removed a nut could be welded to the new strap and then the lot could be put from the engine side instead...maybe.

a customer from mull called me and asked if i could change his tank straps on a 2.1 caravelle, he said he'd rather let me have the business than the local garage. i said just let them have the business as i have enough to do here! i stupidly said if they werent keen on the job,i'd do it if he was stuck! so it came in, still with years of dried in mud from when CJ had it! so (just the tank straps) turned into engine, box,water pipes,welding under the filler pipe,every water pipe and hose on the engine,rotten 2wd hanging bar and burst mounts, new clutch, broken and rotten exhaust studs. new gearbox mounts,diff lock stripped out to free off, new fuel pump,brackets,fuel pipes,breathers on top of tank,in the tank also to sort fuel sender leak, engine rocker covers perforated,burst shocks and a broken spring!oh and........phone call...... the MOT is just up,can you get it done for me?... more welding on sill plus whatever else is picked up...... oh... and there is a leak coming in the windscreen rubber if you can manage it?

ITS NEVER JUST A TANK STRAP..... NOT IN MY WORLD!

Heh heh...that sounds like a typical syncro story there...

yep, it wouldn't feel right just doing the job you planned..

Umm no..as it happens my tank, as of today..is done! First of all it leaked from an unknown area so out it came...breather pipes looked spent so did those and back in...but it dripped when the engine ran...that turned out to be tiny hole in the sender pipe fitting (£110+ ) new sender fitted...but oh...it leaks....rubber seals on sender were to blame and took some getting..sorted that at last...but oh..no...still leaks...looked like the rubber on the filler pipe this time so got one of those....fitted and...leaked....turned out the filler tube had a titchy pin hole in it where it was a bit pitted ( it had made it though the powder coaters un noticed..) got a good used one and finally and about £200 later the diesel stays in the tank!

I hope..


Simples!

Oh...just remembererd my tank straps could be better as well!

mcgill5 wrote:a customer from mull called me and asked if i could change his tank straps on a 2.1 caravelle, he said he'd rather let me have the business than the local garage. i said just let them have the business as i have enough to do here! i stupidly said if they werent keen on the job,i'd do it if he was stuck! so it came in, still with years of dried in mud from when CJ had it! so (just the tank straps) turned into engine, box,water pipes,welding under the filler pipe,every water pipe and hose on the engine,rotten 2wd hanging bar and burst mounts, new clutch, broken and rotten exhaust studs. new gearbox mounts,diff lock stripped out to free off, new fuel pump,brackets,fuel pipes,breathers on top of tank,in the tank also to sort fuel sender leak, engine rocker covers perforated,burst shocks and a broken spring!oh and........phone call...... the MOT is just up,can you get it done for me?... more welding on sill plus whatever else is picked up...... oh... and there is a leak coming in the windscreen rubber if you can manage it?

ITS NEVER JUST A TANK STRAP..... NOT IN MY WORLD!

That just sounds like any Syncro that comes into us.

You are a Syncro virgin until you have done your tank straps!

Just put a ratchet strap on it