Dented gas tank

[Scuba]

Well this past weekend at the hammers left me with a nasty sized dent in my gas tank. Anyone ever had luck hammering a dent out? I think Scott mentioned something about seanzorz having a similar issue so I was hoping for his input. I'm no stranger to pulling a gas tank, just need to know if it's possible to hammer the dent out without cracking the tank on or near what I think would be a huge crease where it's dented... Thanks for any input guys, I'll post a picture later tonight.

[Obi..]

I predict a new piece of armor in your future..

If it's w/i reasonable reach of the sending unit you can run the tank as low as possible, then drop it, remove the sending unit, and use a 2"x2" or 2"x4" and a mallet to push it back out from the inside.

If not you still might be able to lever a piece of wood against the opening against the dent and at the very least make some headway.

[4x4mike]

Yep, X2. Do the Tacomas have a factory skid on the gas tank?

[Scuba]

Thanks for that Shane, Didn't think about using a 2x4 through the sending unit hole.. Was just gonna stick a BFH in there and have at it.. LOL..

Yea the Tacoma's have the stock skid. Sure it may be sufficient for most uses, but when you're high centered on the the skid, you're bound to dent something. When I get this sorted out I think I'll be beefing up the stock skid..

These pictures may not be the best to show the extent, but may give you an idea..

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/Sycosurfer150/Truck/IMG_0782.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/Sycosurfer150/Truck/IMG_0781.jpg

[Obi..]

:D No worries, just be sure to grab yourself a recirculator/breather so you don't go keeling over while working away.

*The reason for the wood, as unlikely as it may be, is to avoid any possibility of creating a spark when using a metal hammer.

Another old trick is to completely drain the tank, fill it up with water, seal/cap everything off and and freeze the thing, as the water expands, it'll pop the dent out if it isn't a hard crease. The thing is for that, you need a walk-in, or a deep freeze that someone will let you use, and I don't have any mafia connections. :angel:

[BruceTS]

I simply drop the tank, remove the pump assy, take a modified 2x4 (rounded corner) and pound away. You'll get most of the dent out this way. Then you'll need to straighten out the bracket on the fuel pump, it usually gets bent upwards as well.....

[4x4mike]

Never heard of the freezer trick. I won;t know the first place to take mine if I needed to.

Scuba, the skid looks the same on the 4runners. I've bent mine up a couple times and straightened it. I should make a new one and use the stock one as a template before I mess it up too bad.

[Scuba]

Kool, Thanks for the advice fellas. Doubt I'll be able to do the freezer trick, sounds too time consuming and I'm hoping to get this straightened out (pun intended) this coming sunday.

Mike, I believe I have the same 18 Gallon tank as the 4Runners. I have a feeling the 4Runners and the Single Cabs have the same wheelbase and relatively the same placement of Xmembers and junk..

[calrockx]

Scuba, your gas tank skid looks so familiar. *looks at my 4Runner's mangled tank*

[Seanz0rz]

i took a 2x2 through the sending unit hole and a big hammer. took me 20 minutes of careful but forceful pounding to get it more or less back into its original shape. still have yet to build a better skid, that will be soon though, maybe as soon as im done with this vw...

[Scuba]

Finally got this taken care of, hopefully my range will be back to normal and my gauge will work once again. I really wish I could have replaced the gauge sender and the fuel pump while I was in there but I don't have the dollars. I just used a good sized pipe and a mini sledge hammer with my old welding gloves wrapped around the tank opening.


Some pics

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/Sycosurfer150/Truck/IMG_0998.jpg

The skid, 2" at the most dented place
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/Sycosurfer150/Truck/DSCN0076.jpg

The tank
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a168/Sycosurfer150/Truck/DSCN0075.jpg

[Crinale]

damn, ur tank is worse than mine! i have decided however that my next major mod is gonna be relocating the gas tank behind my axle like bruces...

[troyboy162]

glad you got that fixed up. friggen aftershock...you almost made it without issue

[Scuba]

glad you got that fixed up. friggen aftershock...you almost made it without issue


I know right, sooo close. But no, I had to go over that rock instead of around it!!