Our 86 TA has a gas leak where the filler neck enters the fuel tank. It will leak if the tank is filled all the way up and the car is parked slightly unlevel. The rear of the car around the driver's side rear wheel smells like gas after driving it.

My thoughts are to purchase a replacement Dorman tank and new pump from Summit Automotive and swap everything out for the new one. The car is an original 30K mile car. It has the 305 TPI engine, and it is a WS6. The original tank looks new on the outside, however the aggravation of removing the tank and replacing it seems to warrant the costs of new parts.

My plan is to run the tank empty before disassembling the car. It seems that will be safer then handling liquid gasoline?

I have a few questions. Thanks in advance for your insights.

1) Is there a best way to remove the stock exhaust so that it can be reinstalled?

2) From treads that I have read, it sounds like the differential can be unbolted and supported, but dropped down to the lowest point without damaging the brake hoses. Will this allow the tank to be removed and the new one installed back into the car?

3) This seems fairly straight-forward, but also looks like a lot of work. Are there any other things that I should be aware of tackling this job?

Charles

 

Easiest way to remove the stock exhaust is to cut it just in front of the rear axle. If you do not want to cut it you have to remove the RR tire, shock, coil spring, panhard rod and I'm not sure what else if you want it to come out in one piece.

It's understandable that you want to get all new parts, but I think you should consider getting your original tank repaired. It's quite a common procedure to get the filler neck resoldered that a good rad shop should be able to handle. The aftermarket tanks are quite flimsy and aren't shaped exactly right. Do put a new fuel pump in it while you are in there.

You are correct that the axle needs to come way down in order to remove the tank. The trick here is to unbolt the flex line from the axle, that will allow several more inches of drop.

And the best way to get most of the fuel out of the tank is by pumping it. Disconnect the line at the fuel filter, and connect some type of hose from there into a gas can. Then jump the fuel pump relay until it sucks air.

 

You might want to consider installing a plastic 4th gen tank (with built in baffles) and new pump.

 

Will a 4th gen tank fit a thirdgen?

 

I swapped the tank from my 91 into my dad's 89 TA. His TA had the same problem, leaking from where the filler neck meets the tank. I had that area re-soldered on the 91 tank before transferring it into the 89 to prevent further leaks and since it was already out.

I put a 4th gen plastic tank into the 91. The only thing I had to do was cut down the filler neck and get a new sending unit in order for the gas gauge to work.

 

I've read elsewhere on the forums that radiator shops can repair/refurbish tanks.

I bought my replacement tank a few years back from Classic Industries, thinking it would be the real deal. When it arrived, it was the same tank "Spectra" tank that Advance Auto and all the other chains sell, but I paid double for it. Made in France. Fit is close, but I would not buy another one, nor recommend it to anyone else.

 

I have used Dorman tanks before on other types of cars and trucks. So far they have all be exact replacements and seemed to be as good of quality as OEM. Is it a different situation with replacement tanks for F-body cars?

I can check around to see if the radiator shops will work on a fuel tank.