1972 Aux gas tanks

[JJA1976]

I need a little help with theses saddle tanks. I could not get the bolts to come loose and had to grind the head off of the bolt in the inside of the box. I now have them off and need to get the rest of the bolt out. I was wondering if anyone knew exatcly how these were attached. Mine have the 3/8 drive hole in the bottom and that just twists and don't move. I am wondering if there is a nipple that is welded inside the tube that the bolt goes through or what. Do I need a BFH and just pound them out? If somone has any experience with these and idea's would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
J.J.

[WorkinLonghorn]

I can't remember having any trouble with mine.I think it was a carriage bolt that fit in the bed wood and it goes right on through the tank with a big washer and I think a locking tab and nut. I guess that's not much help,but there was nothing at all complicated on mine.
BTW,OSH has the exact replacement long carriage bolt,at least for mine.

[68caliRat]

JJ, I had to do the same thing as you. I ground off the head of the bolt in the bed. when I lowered the tanks down I found the head on the bottom of the tanks were russted/fused to the tanks. I gave them a good Hit with the BFH and they pooped right out.

[JJA1976]

Thanks for the information. Looks like BFH is going to be the cure. I just wanted to be sure before I started the madness.

WorkinLonghorn,
Forgive me but what and where is OHS??
Thanks again!

[jerry moss]

Orchard Supply Hardware=OSH

[JJA1976]

Thanks Jerry!

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by JJA1976

Thanks for the information. Looks like BFH is going to be the cure. I just wanted to be sure before I started the madness.

WorkinLonghorn,
Forgive me but what and where is OHS??
Thanks again!

You have your answer but being that you are from SD and my truck was from Wyoming and moved to Minnesota let me share.

I ground the heads off the bolts too only it wasn't a whack or two with a BFH to get the bolts out. I whacked the $#!+ out of them with a sledge hammer!

The tanks are serious duty plate steel. I don't recommend hitting them with the sledge but if you remove the sender you can get pretty aggressive which is what it might take to get the bolts out.

After they got whacked out I used a drill and assorted prodding tools to clean the Wyoming clay and MN rust out of the holes. Then I coated the whole works with POR-15 and top coated that with a can of rattle spray I had in the shop.

Since I'm sure you don't have an Orchard Supply Hardware around, just get a piece of 1/2" threaded rod and short 1/2" carriage bolts. Weld up a pair of bolts long enough and use regular nuts and washers on the bottom.

I did all this to my saddle tank in 2000. So far it is still hanging in there.

I also added an aux. fuel gauge sender at that time. It sure is nice knowing exactly what I have in there.