Damn I damaged my fuel tank

[xtreme patrol]

My truck which i call Jinxed has lived up to its name

After driving up a very difficult track on the weekend i noticed that the contents of my long range sub tank was dumping its full load of fuel :furious: 80lts of it grrrr

After looking at it we all come over the conclusion that the tail shaft has flexed sidways under stress and given the tank a wack

So the tanks out already and is going the the welders to get fixed and some extra angle iron over the edge
but how do i stop it from happening again ??

One thought is to put in some adjustable panhards in and move the diff over a little as the lift has moved it over towards the tank anyway (Not much though)

The other is that the uni has a large ring around it (see pics) that i have not seen on other patrols so i would need a different uni or tail shaft?

http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx51/04R1pilot/4wd/IMAG0022-1.jpg

http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx51/04R1pilot/4wd/IMAG0020-3.jpg

http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/xx51/04R1pilot/4wd/IMAG0027-2.jpg

Cheers

[NissanGQ4.2]

ouch, did you loose it all?

[xtreme patrol]

Yep the whole 80lts of it .... NOT HAPPY

[nowoolies]

bugga ....bugga ....and bugga
what a mongrel of a trick , you gunna have to drop the tank out ?????
is it the main or a reserve

[xtreme patrol]

bugga ....bugga ....and bugga
what a mongrel of a trick , you gunna have to drop the tank out ?????
is it the main or a reserve

Yeah Tanks out and washed out ready to be welded and it was my long range sub tank and my only petrol tank as im on gas

[Finly Owner]

Still becareful, even after washing out fuel tank, unbelievable how much fuel vapuor will be in there! Safe way is to pump carbon dioxide into tank while welding.



Tim

[Silver]

If you are going to get the tank welded anyway, ask the fabricator to indent the line of the tank where the ring hit it?

[xtreme patrol]

Still becareful, even after washing out fuel tank, unbelievable how much fuel vapuor will be in there! Safe way is to pump carbon dioxide into tank while welding.



Tim

I did mention pumping exhaust gas into the tank when talking to the welder he said that after washing the tank out with detergent several times and letting it air for a few days it should be right but i have my doubts it still has a slight petrol smell so im going to tell him to just pump it full of exhaust gas anyway


If you are going to get the tank welded anyway, ask the fabricator to indent the line of the tank where the ring hit it?

Good idea but one of the mounting brackets are in the same spot you can see in the last picture it hit the bracket as well.
The welder is a patrol owner too and he thinks that some adjustable panhards would solve the problem but im going to get him to weld some angle iron over the edge just in case


Thanks for the suggestions guys i will see what the welder can do

Cheers

[chester]

I had the same problem in my GQ ,adjustable panhard rods is the go like you said.
I had to cut a section out of my tank due to the upper control arm slicing a hole in it,so don't have the tailshaft drama anymore.

[Maxhead]

Bugga, you were able to get home on gas then?

[rottodiver]

Bit of a worry... Is this a common problem, as I am getting my long range tanks in a couple weeks...well 1st December it is booked in, maybe I should just do the main and not the sub???

Scotty

[YNOT]

Most people never have a problem with this so I would go ahead and get both tanks fitted.
In the future if you fit big suspension, bigger than 2" lift, check clearance around the sub tank carefully. Superior engineering make a bent upper control arm that stops the arm touchin the top of the tank as the suspension extends, and you can get adjustable panhards that will move the diff flange away from the tank.

Tony

[Bigrig]

Bit of a worry... Is this a common problem, as I am getting my long range tanks in a couple weeks...well 1st December it is booked in, maybe I should just do the main and not the sub???

Scotty

As said mate - adjustable panhard on the rear so you can slightly adjust the assembly away from the tank side when it compresses - I had the same problem, as many others, so yep, it's common ...

[vortexoz]

Hi,

First time to poster long time reader.

This is my situation. I currently have a 4" lift lifted patrol GQ LWB 1991 ST. I currently have adjustable draglink, tierod, f/r panhard rods. I do not have adjustable upper control arms or extended lower control arms. I have a long range auxilary fuel tank (the one the the lower section jutting out approx 80-85L) that is not yet fitted. Now apparently I need a bent upper control arm (right hand side). I wish to be able to adjust the diff pinion angles. Apparently the bent control arm gives the same distance between the centre of the bush mounts as the original upper control arm. I believe this will essentially not do anything for me as far as diff rotation goes because it will be the same length between bush centres as the original. If this is the case can the fuel tank be modified and have a channel cut and then patch welded where the control arm would articulate so as to allow adjustable upper control arm on both sides. I do not want longer lower control arms as they do not technically correct diff angle and would not solve the fuel tank problem anyway. If is is not possible without cutting the tank (if that's even possible), will the 4" lift be fine with the bent upper control arm or cause dramas (essentially its like a 4" lift with no upper control arms and no sub tank).

wojtek_81@hotmail.com

regards

[my third 256]

[QUOTE=vortexoz;184601]Hi,

First time to poster long time reader.

This is my situation. I currently have a 4" lift lifted patrol GQ LWB 1991 ST. I currently have adjustable draglink, tierod, f/r panhard rods. I do not have adjustable upper control arms or extended lower control arms. I have a long range auxilary fuel tank (the one the the lower section jutting out approx 80-85L) that is not yet fitted. Now apparently I need a bent upper control arm (right hand side). I wish to be able to adjust the diff pinion angles. Apparently the bent control arm gives the same distance between the centre of the bush mounts as the original upper control arm. I believe this will essentially not do anything for me as far as diff rotation goes because it will be the same length between bush centres as the original. If this is the case can the fuel tank be modified and have a channel cut and then patch welded where the control arm would articulate so as to allow adjustable upper control arm on both sides. I do not want longer lower control arms as they do not technically correct diff angle and would not solve the fuel tank problem anyway. If is is not possible without cutting the tank (if that's even possible), will the 4" lift be fine with the bent upper control arm or cause dramas (essentially its like a 4" lift with no upper control arms and no sub tank).

wojtek_81@hotmail.com
hey vortexoz just a courtesy thing mate go to the home page and introduce yourself first before posting
then you can get all the help you want from the fantastic members

[vortexoz]

Thanks mate

[chester]

Was asked by vortexoz to email some pic's of my fuel tank,not being very computer smart and not having a clue how to send a email,i thought it easier to put them in here.
so hope this is what your after mate.