Removing the fuel tank from a 360 saloon

[Alanovich]

Hi all,

Just had my MOT done today, all is well and no advisories! Sweet.

But. A few weeks ago when I filled the tank right up, there was a fuel leak running down the side of the tank from the top, which disappeared after driving 10 miles or so.

Whilst the car was up on the lift today, we had a look, and yes, there's a little tide mark on the tank just below the breather hose outlet.

Obviously I want to get the breather hose changed, but the chap at the garage told me he'd have to remove the gearbox to get the fuel tank off in order to replace the offending item.

Is that right or not? Is there any other way to do it?

Thanks for any advice. The car is a 1986 Mk3 360 2.0 GLEi saloon.

[L14MNP]

He is correct unfortunately!

[pettaw]

No you don't need to take the tank out to renew the breather hoses. You do it from inside the boot. Remove the panelling on the RHS and also the boot carpet and you'll see the hoses and can see where they go underneath the car. They'll be attached to a metal pipe which you can unbolt and then drag up a bit to get at the top clips. Then you can trace where they go into the fuel tank. They don't go that far into it and you should be able to get a screwdriver in to pry off the clips. Whilst you're at it, my pipes were extremely rusty just where they go through the rubber grommet, you'll understand what I mean when you do this, so a bit of rust converter and a spot of paint might be in order on the parts exposed to the elements.

Definitely DON'T let him take the tank out. Its a complete PITA, because you have to drop the g/box first, and its entirely unnecessary. TBH if you don't mind getting a bit dirty its a pretty easy job for you to do yourself.

[L14MNP]

Guess I half read that lol. I meant if you want the tank out then the 'box must come out.

[Alanovich]

Thanks, all. I'll have a go at doing it through the boot myself.

Cheers.

[Ride_on]

If you do need to remove the tank you might get away with just dropping the whole drive and real axle, which might be easier than removing the gearbox, which is messy and fiddly.

Disconnect the rear shackles on the springs, and the gearbox/diff crossmember and whatever other parts need removing, then pull the tank out backwardss and sideways. Although I'm imagining it won't work now, maybe you need to leave the axle alone and disconnect the halfshafts then drop the drive, need plenty of room underneath, and the bonnet open, loosen the engine mounts maybe.

If the tank is rusted it will need welded well and sealed, possibly brazed around the pipes if its cracked. Otherwise just replace the rubber tubes insitu, the exposed steel pipes at the car side maybe corroded in which case you may need to replace them from the boot area (tank pipes are not steel I think). They do always corrode, the rubber tubes should be longer and be pushed up onto the exposed pipes to protect them.