saddle tank removal?

[GreenMystChevy]

Well, it seems that when I put a 2" body lift on the truck, the bottom of the saddle tanks hit the front of the rear spring mount.

Long story short, it won't fit without removal from what I can see, so how do you take these things off?

I see that there are some things on the bottom that have square holes in them that look like they might unscrew from the bottom but I am afraid those will strip out. They look like they wanna do battle with me! Prolly going to have to drill out the bolts from the top. Will I be drilling into the tank then?

Also, has anyone done the body lift with the side tanks and did you get them to fit? If so what did you do?

Thanks guys

[lewi]

The tanks have longgg bolts that go thru a sleeve in the tank with a nut on the bottom (at least mine did). If yours is the same you can drill it out where the bolt and oblong washer rest against the bed. I remounted mine after having them cleaned and the filler altered to accomodate the mid 80's fuel doors.

[MStokes]

Attached is a picture of what mine looked like when I dropped it out. I had to grind off the heads of the bolts in the bed and then use threaded rod when I reinstalled it. I looked for carriage bolts but couldn't find any long enough. The holes for the bolts go all the way through the tank.

[71GMC_3/4T]

Like Lewi said, cut the bolts in the bed from above. I used a portable grinder to grind the heads off, but a 3/8 or 7/16 drill and a good center punch mark should do the trick too.
After I got mine dropped, there was no way in hell the bolts were ever going to come out of the tank. They went to the dump with the tank. The sleeve that passes through the tank is much larger than the shank on the bolt, but many years of crap must have been in there. I didn't care about the tank, so I took a sledge to them. They didn't budge. I hope yours aren't that rusted...
If you do get it off and want to reinstall it, I would suggest sealing the top end of the bolt where it enters the tank with silicone or something. Then drill a small hole through your "nut" on the bottom so any crap that gets in there can drain out.

[lewi]

Brings back a couple memories, your right I couldn't find bolts long enough either. I had my brother (fabricator) weld a bolt to a threaded rod and we cut it to length. Not a problem in 2 1/2 years since. this picture looks like mine but mine didn't have what appear to be "extensions" where the bolts went through the tank.

[MStokes]

Before I reinstalled mine, I had the inside coated to take care of a leak. Then I used short carriage bolts and welded threaded rod onto the end of them to make them long enough. I also drilled drain holes in the washers and nuts that I put on the bottom. Here is a picture of the tank just before I reinstalled it.

[GreenMystChevy]

Thanks for the replies guys. Shouldn't be too big of a problem removing them from the bed.

I just wish I could find a way to still have saddle tanks with this body lift. Hmm, maybe find someone with a welder and lets do some cutting.

[71GMC_3/4T]

Please don't cut and weld on your tank!!! Unless you know exactly what you are doing...
I kind of enjoy reading your posts...