I dropped my pocket... literally.

Topic: I dropped my pocket... literally. (Read 2293 times) previous topic - next topic

I dropped my pocket... literally.

January 12, 2008, 05:44:52 PM

Hello All,

I am in need of some assistance. As I was driving down the road, minding my own business, I hear this noise coming from the rear-end; at first I thought I dropped my ler.

I did not. After the car stalled a few seconds later, I pull over and exit the car only to find.... I dropped alot worse than my ler. I dropped my fuel tank.

--ouch.

Okay, so I get the car home and up on axle stands; the two support straps are a write-off as is the anchor point of those two staps under the trunk. I must re-design the entire way my Cougar holds her tank before she can go down the road again.

ANY suggestions would be appreciated.

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #1 – January 12, 2008, 05:55:49 PM

get new straps and take a long bolt or threaded rod and go thru the strap and into the trunk, add a nut and a washer on top.

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #2 – January 12, 2008, 06:26:37 PM

Quote from: cougarman;197378

get new straps and take a long bolt or threaded rod and go thru the strap and into the trunk, add a nut and a washer on top.

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #3 – January 12, 2008, 06:43:07 PM

You can weld in some new metal with nuts welded in the proper location on the backside to accept the strap bolts.Although the other way above sounds quicker and easier.If the strap mounting points are rusted,I'd have some new metal added even if you are going to add longer bolts through to the trunk.safe and secure.If you don't add new metal,at least use some big ol' washers in and under the trunk.

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #4 – January 12, 2008, 07:16:15 PM

I had to do the bolt thru the trunk thing when I changed my pump. Impact gun mishap....

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #5 – January 13, 2008, 09:28:04 AM

LOL sorry man not laughing at ya but with ya!
I remember the days of rotted out fuel tank mounts on my (EX) 88, i did it the proper way and fabbed new mounts then riveted them on with steel rivets(not aluminum) worked until i sped it for various other rot issues.

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #6 – January 13, 2008, 10:38:34 AM

Quote from: dominator;197459

LOL sorry man not laughing at ya but with ya!

Lol, the first thing I did before phoning for a tow-truck was release a very strong urge to laugh all over the side of the road.

After a more carefull inspection of the mounts (the 'hinged' end is fine), they have deteriorated from rust/abuse. It may seem that my best chance may be the 'bolts through trunk' idea. Where it gets tricky is the bottom of the trunk as started to rust aswell. I think I need to re-inforce the trunk, just to provide the framework for a new way of holding in the tank.

I have a donor car (poor Cougar B), from which I can borrow some of the fuel lines and her tank straps; I guess tomorrow I'll hit the towns and start looking for sheet metal, nuts and bolts. So much for making it to class tomorrow!

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #7 – January 15, 2008, 04:24:20 PM

Okay,

So I managed to find two new fuel tank straps (from NAPA) and two replacement fuel lines (it will be a *custom* job). They'll be in tomorrow.

After a more careful inspection of Cougar X, I was able to piece together what exactly happened that Friday night. The strap on the driver's side literally snapped (the 'snap' pattern on the strap and the bolt, which after dragging on the ground, caused a wear in the threads are evident of a snap), which caused an imbalance in the weight distribution, causing the passenger side to buckle and with all the rust, the mount which the strap bolts into (on the passenger side) was torn to s**t dropping my tank.

The driver's side mount is okay, I can clean it up and use it again with a new strap. One side down; the question is what to do with the passenger side. The mounts themselves appear welded into the bottom of the body and trunk...

I guess my question, or the crux of my problem is, should I attempt a 'patch' job (using one strap and a 'creative-solution') or should I just do a complete rebuild on how the tank is actually held in? I never liked those straps, I always felt it was an accident waiting to happen...

If I ignore the straps and do my re-design, what are your thoughts on changing the orientation of the weight distribution (i.e. the straps are perpendicular to the length of the tank, could I run two new supports parallel to the tank)? There appear to be 'holes' in part of the frame itself running on either side of the tank, would it be possible (or safe??) to use these as a new medium of support for the tank?

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #8 – January 25, 2008, 01:08:22 PM

it is possible but how is the frame? rusty? but i see what your talking about running 2 more straps across. i thought of doing the same thing with my old 88 when i had the same problem lol. but it would be nice to see what you come up with. also ive even thought of relocating the gas tank to inside my trunk. cut and lower the floor a bit and just drop her in. she would be more protected that way. but idk if the laws would allow that.

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #9 – February 01, 2008, 05:57:54 PM

Slow work, but I am finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel...

I wish I had a digital camera to share my progress with you all, I guess words will have to suffice... to that end:
Mounts = The OEM welded mount attached to the trunk/chassie
Straps = The OEM straps that attach to the mount and to the 'hinged-end' straps.
Hinged end straps = The OEM straps with one 'hinged end' and one bolt end; bolted into the 'straps'...
Now that you know what I call each component...

I have decided on a combination approach thanks to all of your suggestions. I have 're-created' the driver side mount, effectivly mirroring the original with 21-22 guage sheet metal, bolting it through the upper trunk (i.e. where the old mount is welded to) and adding some steel rivits for added assurances, I have also laid out a new piece of sheet metal on the inner side of the trunk and rivited it in to balance the wight distribution. I recreated the original strap that the OEM bolt hooks up to the 'hinged-end' oem strap, with difference between my strap and the OEM strap, I have pre-moulded/bent my new strap so that the surface between the strap and the 'hinged-end' strap are flush, perfectly flat.

The passenger side I took on the same approach and mirrored the old mount and old strap, there are only a few minor differences to my approach and frankly, I needed much more sheet metal to fix the passenger side.

However, since I am still using the original mounts in conjuction with my new additions of sheet metal, I have decided to install a secondary 'fail-safe' system.

Using, 'All-Round' Galvanized steel 'bands' and the two brackets with holes convieniently located on either side of the trunk... I will run two straps rivited into sheet metal parallel to the tank and bolt in the sheet metal to those convienent holes.

I will then use Bondo w/fiberglass to patch the remaining holes scattered throughout the trunk.

For the future, I have leared that I must learn to weld and I need an air compressor & sand blaster... not to mention a heated garage.

Progress... slowly but surely.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

I dropped my pocket... literally.

Reply #10 – February 19, 2008, 03:08:13 PM

Well, mission accomplished. Looks almost like the OEM variety, with two additional straps running parallel to tank.

Thank-you everyone for your input; myself and Cougar X thank-you very much.