I just need to vent, that job was a pain in the butt!!!. here is the story. I have an 84GS that I am trying to resurect from the dead. I have been working on it in my spare time for about a year now. one problem I have had all along was a very rusty fuel tank that kept giving me all sorts of problems. I got a replacement tank and preped and repainted it then waited to get some help puting in back in. well today was the day. the tank was off an 83 and is just a little bit different. it has slightly diferent fittings on top and a slightly different set of connections for the sending unit. it also didn't want to fit quite right between the frame rails. I struggeled with that *(&^&%ing thing for almost 3 hours finaly I resorted to some slightly desprate mesures. I got it squished in there as best as I could by hand ( was able to get the passenger side strap all the way one the way it should be then took a jack and a few boards to spread out the force and pushed it into place. I have the straps bolted the way they are soposed to be but wow was that way harder than it should have been. now here is a question, how much differeance is there from a 83 to an 84 gas tank? will I ever be able to wire up that sending unit so I gan get my Damn fuel gauge working again? Will/have I caused serious damage to my new tank? I belive the clearance around the frame rail and spare tire indentation is slightly different in the two tanks. It is working fine and seems to be running a little bit smoother the lines are flowing better and I suspect furter improvement when I change the filter (again) at least most of the really hard stuff is behind me ( I hope)
<<< end of rant, thanks guys >>>

 

i thought all fb tanks were the same. just the sa's were different. the sending unit should plug in like normal. when i switched sa tanks i managed to pop out one of the spare drain stoppers and it won't fit back in due to the tank. rusted tanks suck. i bought a clear performance filter that had a replaceble element. i would take it apart and spray it off with carb cleaner. i made it to an autox 4hrs away doing that. nothing like lying on the side off an interstate cleaning your fuel filter at 11pm or so. looked chunks of tank filling the filter. 3 more times off dropping and installing and you'll join us pros, lol.

 

I think the 84-85 tank holds a gallon or two more then 81-83.

 

Also, the 84-85 tank has a "resavore"(sp) in it that is a huge advantage in autocrossing or road racing. With the 84-85 tank you can run alot less fuel and not pick up air in the corners.

 

I didn't have any problem changing my fuel tank. The only problem was the stupid sender unit for the gauge on the side that is different from earlier models to the 84-85 model. There is a fitting on top of it thats different that is prone to leaking if you've ever replaced one. Also the screws on that sender unit tend to strip when they are rusted out.

But the actual removal and install are cake. You simply remove the filler cap bolts and the sender unit wire connector and the three fuel lines. Then disconnect the two bolts holding the holder straps on. There is no need to remove the front ones as they bend and allow the tank to come out through the back of the car. Just make sure the tank is nearly empty so it is very light in weight. I can remove and install a new one without assistence in less then 20minutes easy since I've done this before.

 

That sending unit i bought from you. what year tank was it off of? because it didnt have the empty light sensor, so it was minus one prong. but thats okay, because i got it to fit. it was the only ne out of the 3 that i had that worked, and not completly covered in rust. by the way, thanks for the sweet deal.

 

its off a 79. that unit was my original and the best i had. i just didn't feel like messing with the almost stripped screws in the tank i bought to switch them out.

 

I just did this! I replaced my 82 rotten (R-O-T-T-E-N !!!) tank with a pristine 84-85 model. The connector was differnrt, but I had just replaced the entire harness with an 85, as well. (goody for me), However, I did'nt know the third connector was for the "empty tank you moron!" light. I thought the 82 had a light as well. (I'll have to check the old cluster.)
I do remember reading someone recently mentioning that the sender unit operates in a different ohm 'band'...IE, you might read 1/4 tank when there's nothing in there?

Sounds like you did get it in there the smart way. I mean at least you knew to press it in without denting it. I had far less difficulty, however, the 84-85 tank (don't know which, or even if there is a difference) did give me some trouble.

Boy howdy did it fix the problem though!!!

 

After reading all these trials and tribulations (as well as remembering jeremy's sordid tale...), I'm glad I ponied up $186 to have the whole thing removed, professionally cleaned and re-installed by Mike (No, not that Mike...) of My Mechanic just around the corner...

 

Futher update, the tank is working fine and dandy and I wired the meter so I have an Idea of how much gas I have in the car. ( we'll see how accurate it is soon for now no long trips and a spare gallon in the car just in case. But it should be close because I put in around 6gal and it is reading a little under half. I may miss the drain plug from my 84 tank but just the same I am really glad to have a much better one. Now all you pros at car ID the car I got the tank off of was a FB with the older dash but had the electric fuel cover poper, I thought that ment it was an 83 but now I am not so sure. the tank didn't have the removable line connectors secton on top, (welded directly in locaton, and it may have the two prong sending unit. I really don't miss my (extreemely low fuel light) but I do want to know if there is truth to the rumor that the level will be off my more than 1/4 a tank. any one know for sure? yea! I can start figuring out how many MPG I am getting and what I can do next to make it worse next project tiers then carb rebuild.

 

i'm pretty sure you got a 79-80 tank. they had lines welded into the tank and no drain plug on the bottom. the fb's had all the lines in a removable plate.

 

how very odd, I wonder if the car I scavanged it off of had it's tank replaced. no matter it is clean and sound and not full of rust and works so all the better. maybe that tank has had a long and colourfull history

 

So that should get you about.... 14 miles?

Meh, enough to get to the next gas station...

Now if you had one of those great new Toyota Echos, you could go 55 miles on that gallon of gas.... think of the possibilities

Jeff

 

The tank in my 81 Right hand drive has no drain on the bottom and hard lines out of the tank, my old 82 tank was the same,
my car has been sitting for about 4 years but the tanks got some fuel in it so hopefully it hasnt rusted to pieces inside!

 

your from australia. you get different things. usually better, lol. like newer 7's, etc.