Paxmanmerv

Active Member
Morning all!
Gotta replace the rear cross member on our Puma 90. Guess the fuel tank needs to come out to gain access for welding etc.
Any pointers, hints, tips etc to get the tank out?
Many thanks one & all!
 
Which engine - 2.2 0r 2.4? I have the official workshop manuals on my laptop and can post the relevant pages if you need them.

The Haynes manual is better (for a change), with decent pictures and a spanner rating of one spanner. However the author notes that on the 90, although LR info states the tank can be removed from under the vehicle, they found there was not enough room to move the tank forwards, (and therefore downwards). The only way they suggested it could be done was to raise the body off the chassis and take the tank out through the top.
Arm yourself with the Haynes and give it a go? (and post an update as to how far you got :) ).
 
Thanks for that, its the lovely 2.4 Ford motor.. Lifting the body sounds a bit drastic! Might neeed to cut the floor out instead..
:oops:
 
As far as I know they both have the same removal procedure. The only difference between the two is what's inside the tank, they have different sender units. Can't remember which way round it is, but one has an electric pump built into the sender unit - I think that is the 2.2. I will check -----.
One thing of note in the Haynes is -- you need to remove the bolts on the anti roll bar and swing it out of the way.

Edit; the 2.2 has the electric pump.
 
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From the 2.4 workshop manual;
 

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I would be amazed if the body has to come off.
Is it much different to a TD5?
The tanks have different part numbers, that's all I know. I'd also be surprised if the body has to be lifted. I might have a crawl under my landy tomorrow and see if there's anything obvious to stop the tank being dropped out.
 
UPDATE..
Got stuck in & things didnt go as planned.. Towbar off, nuts & bolts off the fuel tank cradle then tried to get it out. Looks simple enough, the tank sits on a plate that has 4 bolt, 2 each side & 2 nuts accessable through the cross member. Very little movement. Looked a bit deeper & there is a rubber buffer each side of the tank to prevent sideways movement. They are below the join in the tank which stops it coming down. Also means that the tank cannot be moved sideways to get the fuel filler out of the chassis. Looks like the only way is out of the top by lifting the front of the tank first pivoting on the tank filler until the tank is clear of the buffers then it would slide out easy enough. Oh well, back to the drawing board..
 
I did a bit of research (but not enough yet), it appears the 2.2 and 2.4 tanks for the 90 are different - when looking at the attached web info. And the 2.4 had a revised tank at some point. Wonder if there was a change so the tank could be dropped out on later models? I need to research more ---

 
Fuel tank fixings & a pretty rubbish pic of the buffers I was on about. But I did find out that an aerosol paint can cap works well to keep the dirt out of the tank once the filler hose is removed so not a total waste I guess😁
 

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If you've drained the fuel out of the tank I suspect you'll need to bleed the fuel system before start up. Useful thread in the Puma Engines section of the forum ------

 
If you've drained the fuel out of the tank I suspect you'll need to bleed the fuel system before start up. Useful thread in the Puma Engines section of the forum ------

Thats going to be invaluable! Many thanks.
Anyway, What ever happens, tank needs to come out.
My options are;
1, Body off. Not a weekend job..
2, Chop a big hole in the floor to get it out.
3, Chop the fuel tank carrier brackets off & weld back on once job done..
Any other options to consider before the grinder comes out?..
 
2, Chop a big hole in the floor to get it out.
3, Chop the fuel tank carrier brackets off & weld back on once job done..
Don't know the details so could be talking rubbish here, but can the floor be removed without lifting the body? And could the tank carrier brackets be altered / remade to bolt-on? maybe with rivnuts employed? this would save having to weld back on.
 
Don't know the details so could be talking rubbish here, but can the floor be removed without lifting the body? And could the tank carrier brackets be altered / remade to bolt-on? maybe with rivnuts employed? this would save having to weld back on.
Good call there Sir! Floor can come out, 9" cutter will soon do that. Do like the idea of bolting the tank mount brackets back on. Think i'm going to try that on this one & will keep you updated.
 
Watch out for cables, pipes etc when using the grinder. Fire extinguisher on standby. And don't slice through the tank, they ain't cheap.
 

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