How can I remove a gas tank from a 1994 camaro convertible

[aeschweiger]

Hi, I have a 1994 Camaro convertible that I have to remove the gas tank to replace the fuel pump. I have remove the exhaust system and remove both shock and spring and lower the rear end and remove the heat shealds . The gas tank will not come out . The tank drop about 12 inch on the passenger side but the fill neck get stuck on the driver side. I can not slid the tank over to the passenger sid because it hit’s the bracket for the rear end Is there any body that known how to get the tank down. Thanks Andy

[geteurdone]

check out this web page, it should help you

http://www.ehow.com/how_4583859_inst...vy-camaro.html

[DukeOfHurl]

Removing the fuel tank from a 3rd or 4th gen Camaro is a MAJOR PITA!!! It's been a few years since I've done it on my '86...but if memory serves here is the process. Run the tank empty before hand if possible.

1. Release pressure on fuel system (schrader valve on fuel rail of my car) You can also turn the car on and pull the fuel pump fuse and wait for it to run out of gas in the fuel system.
2. Jack up the rear of the car as high as you can. By this I mean top-out your jack, put in jack stands, re-jack with 4X4s on the jack, adjust jack stands.
3. Disconnect your fuel lines and vent when accesible
4. Don't disconnect both lower control arms at the same time as the rear end will become misaligned. But the LCAs will not allow the rear to drop enough any more than what is necessary so I would recommend not even touching them.
5. Disconnect Panhard bar (track bar) This should allow the rear axle to hang down much further than before.
6. Remove rear exhaust if you can, much easier with a clamped on aftermarket exhaust.
7. Remove fuel tank straps
8. Here comes the tricky part. At this point the fuel tank will be loose and hanging only by the the filler neck on the inside of the body. Push up on the passenger side of the tank and rotate the rear of the tank down to about a 45 deg. angle and allow it to fall out and slide towards the passenger side. This is easier said than done. Even with the most well laid plans this will envolve tons of straining, cussing, forcing and thoughts of selling the car rather than fixing it. Don't pry the filler neck down no matter how much you want to, it can be done without doing that but it is very tempting after hours of being so close to having it out. The key to the whole thing is achieveing the angle under the car with the tank that will allow it to drop. Kind of like the little puzzle you can buy with 2 large bent up nails that come apart somehow but you have to mess with it a while before it happens.
9. Strictly a personal choice, but after the tank is out alot people will take a sawzall to the inner fender to cut a notch to allow the filler neck to pass in and out more easily. Some people says this hurts nothing, some people say it allows that part of body to flex decreasing handling.
10. Some people will even resort to cutting the trunk pan to lift the fuel pump assembly through the car without doing the other steps. I guess it all depends on you brother, if you want your car to stay the way it was build or possibly compromise the sturctural integrity of the rear of the car.
Good luck, and I've been there dude...twice done it the "correct" way. The first time I did it I waited a few days before putting the tank back in and the sun ruined the gas in my tank, but a full tank of fresh gas took care of it.

And on a side note, I'm not a mechanic. I did this 100 deg. heat in a gravel driveway with nothing more than basic hand-tools. If I can do it, then you can do it. Mechanically inclined friends are invaluable in this project.

[DukeOfHurl]

If you wanna talk over the phone just PM me and I will send you my phone # if I can help anymore.

[grousehunter61]

I know that this is way past but, the easiest way to do it is to leave it in and buy an external pump, ( I used a Holly) cut your fuel line just in front of the tank, and install the fuel pump there, it will pull through the in tank pump no problem. Splice your hot wire to the new pump, ground the pump and you are back in business.