Need Help on 1979 Lincoln Continental Gas Tank Removal!

"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5) 03/21/2015 at 12:46 • Filed to: PROJECT CRUISE MISSILE

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Is there a trick to removing the gas tank? The 2 bolts that hold the gas tank on are at minimum 3" long Why the fuck would they use such a long bolt? Because of it a deep socket won't reach the nut so I have to use an open wrench. I've been at the same bolt for an hour and I'm about one 20th of the way. I can only turn about 1/8 of a turn at a time as it is and the bolt is rusty and I barely fit under the car to begin with, none of this is helping me.

I could cut the straps since I have new ones but I still need to get those bolts off no matter what so I can install the new straps. And I don't want to grind down there since the tank was leaking.

Please tell me there is an easier way.

A booty for your time.

EDIT: Apparently there is such a thing as an Extra deep Socket that is 5" long for situations just like this.

505Turbeaux > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 12:53

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when you are putting it back in you will see why long tank strap bolts are a good thing. Gives you not only room to let it down, but also to get it back up in the correct position. if you have a lift with a tranny jack you can do it easy and use shorter bolts, on the ground it is a different thing. Look at the 6" ones on a Suburban or Tahoe

XJDano > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 12:55

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Although they don't get used often ratcheting wrenches are the tool

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 505Turbeaux 03/21/2015 at 12:57

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Make sense but what's the trick to getting it undone . I won't spend 4+ hours per bolt. Because the bolts are rusty it's making it very(VERY!) exhausting to turn 1/8 of a turn at a time.

Funktheduck > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:00

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Air ratchet?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:01

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im confused. Why cant you just stick an air gun/ratchet on the bolt. Isnt there a bolt head on the bottom?

XSeriesWalkingDead > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:01

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you need to buy or borrow a socket set designed to allow the bolt to pass through the center. Costs about double a standard socket set, but for a job like yours, saving time, well worth it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/27104…

Coty > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:03

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Oy.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:03

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in a few hours I could look at my set of 76 manuals

505Turbeaux > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:07

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what about the other side of the bolt? The chevy ones are just bolts so an impact wrench and a socket are all you need. Nuts are on the downside? Extra deep socket? Ratcheting box wrench?

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time 03/21/2015 at 13:10

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no it's the opposite. The bolt head is on top and the bolt is about 3"long so a socket wont reach the nut because the threads stick out too far.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:12

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Maybe those longer sockets, similar to a spark plug puller.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire 03/21/2015 at 13:13

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I have the manual for the 79 and it just says to remove the 2 bolts

lone_liberal > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:17

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I have a Gearwrench set like this one for such occasions. They allow the bolt to go through the center of the socket wrench but a racheting box end wrench would make it easier too.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > 505Turbeaux 03/21/2015 at 13:18

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Yeah nuts are on the down side. I just found out about extra deep sockets and thats exactly what I need.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > XJDano 03/21/2015 at 13:19

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This is the tool. 5" long deep socket.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/21/2015 at 13:20

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5" long deep socket it the tool I need I didn't know it existed until 5 mins ago.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:21

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Nice, my grandad has a few of those lying around. Used them to get the cat bolts off my turbo a couple months back.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/21/2015 at 13:22

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So what ever happened to that? Did you rebuild the turbo?

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:24

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Oh gotcha. that sucks i would say ratcheting wrench then

505Turbeaux > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:25

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expensive, but divide the cost against 10 hours of labor...

XJDano > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:31

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Go get you one.

Do you have Sears with craftsman tools in the malls in the north?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 03/21/2015 at 13:32

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Yeah I rebuilt it, driven a few hundred miles since. Seems to run okay, fingers crossed.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > XJDano 03/21/2015 at 13:41

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We used to have huge craftsman stores inside sears but not it seems sears is no longer interested in selling the stuff. They have one small corner with the stuff and I doubt they will have this there. They would of before in the big tool section.