The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors 1950 Chevy PU Remove Gas Tank Straps

Hi all,

does anybody have a suggestion on how to remove the gas tank straps. They're held in place with pins and a retaining clip. Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,

The pins are secured by spring steel push nuts, which can be a PITA to get off. If you can take a propane torch and heat them cherry red, they'll bend a lot easier. If you can't use a torch (already painted truck), then you'll just need to pry them off using the brute force method. Or maybe if you can get some nippers in there, you could cut them loose.

One of mine had rusted completely away, so that was easy.

Good luck.

Mike,

I relocated my tank so I just drilled out the spot welds securing the tank brackets and straps and removed the bracket completely.

Wasn't too hard.

I thought he was trying to save them. The real easy way is to get out the blue-tip wrench.

Those dang-it retainers may well be the most frustrating things ever. It doesn't help that these particular ones are hard to get to.
I used stainless steel; nuts and bolts as replacements in hopes to prevent the next guy, only slightly weaker than me, from killing a random, innocent passerby due to built up frustration trying to get dang-it retainers off.

Very smart Charlie.

Mike, the idea he gives enables you to take the whole thing to the bench to do whatever it is you are doing. Looks like new set is $75.

Thanks for all the help guys. What a resource Stovebolt is. Just so you know, i was able to take a punch and drive the pin out. The spring steel nuts were stubborn at first but the pins slid out easily once i got them to budge.

Next, I need to figure out how to weld huge holes someone made over and under the rear window.

Good Job, Mike

As far as patching holes, head on over to the Paint and Body Shop Forum here on Stovebolt, and check out this sticky thread by MPandC. Robert is the resident metal artist around the web, both here and on other forums.
Good info.