[mike223]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and have a question about my '78 CJ7. I've had it since new, and had an Iron Horse 23 G tank installed some 20 years ago. It 's since rusted out and I'm replacing it with a stock 15G tank. Since I didn't do the install I have no knowledge of how to put the new one in. I have shop manuals from AMC that I bought when I bought the Jeep, but it's not very specific on the install procedure. My question is this:

Does the tank attach to the skid plate via the strap and then bolt up to the frame as an assembly? To what does the rolled tube on the end of the strap attach?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm doing a major rebuild of the fuel system and brakes, as the vehicle has been sitting in my garage for ten years. Thanks.

[Geer_hed]

Originally Posted by mike223

Does the tank attach to the skid plate via the strap and then bolt up to the frame as an assembly?

Exactly. The tank itself is not bolted to anything, merely held in place by the retaining strap.

Originally Posted by mike223

To what does the rolled tube on the end of the strap attach?

If I understand you correctly, the T fitting on the non-threaded end of the strap is there to hold that end of the strap, the strap gets tightened to the skidplate using a bolt on the other end (the threaded end). It slides through the rectangle cutout in the front of the skidplate and the T fitting catches the strap, preventing it from going all the way through (otherwise, it wouldn't be much of a "retainer").

Not such a great pic, but maybe it will help:

[mike223]

Thanks for the quick reply. I finally puzzled it out, and discovered in the process that I need a new skid plate, as well as the two side straps. They're on order now. Hopefully I can get her running again soon. No telling what else needs to be done. She's been sitting for 10 years.

[Geer_hed]

Oh geez... I forgot about those. On the two or three jeep tanks I've done, those things were a mere formality - so loose that they really only prevented a total shift of the tank itself, definitely not there for tension on the tank.

[mike223]

Yeah, I think they're just to maintain the shape of the skid plate, and possibly keep the tank from squeezing out during an impact. Just rank speculation though.

[ishcak]

I did not need to ask question but just read your conversation. Thanks

However, on my 85 I am also replacing it with a stock 15gallon tank and new skid plate. However, will a stock skid plate match up to the existing holes in the bumper and on the frame.

I did notice the old tank i removed is considerably larger than the new one I bought. WIll that be a problem.

ishcak

[mike223]

Mine's a '78. Came standard with a 15G tank. Some later year CJ7's came with a 20G tank from the factory, don't know exactly when they started doing that though. As to the new skid plate matching up to the holes, it should, as long as you have the correct model/year skidplate, and haven't removed the old studs for the plate. Before you buy the new 15G you might want to see if your's is a 20G and go with that. I'm assuming that the one that you removed is the original tank, not an aftermarket like mine.