hoko

I must be missing something. On a 1994 Dodge Diesel I am trying to change fuel sensor and want to lower fuel tank. I have nuts on fuel straps removed and the straps do not budge. How do I loosen straps and lower tank. Thanks.

HappyCamper

Welcome to the board. Please take a moment and fill out your sig - folks here will be able to help better.

My experience with a '91 is that all I needed to do is to disconnect the vent and fill tubes, support the center of the tank, remove the tank strap nuts and that allowed the straps to be dropped. As the pressure and return lines do not have much slack you will need to carefully lower the tank a little to expose the electrical connector, pressure and return lines and remove them. Make the clips work. The return line is not bad, but the pressure line has a little plastic clip that needs to be pushed into the fitting on the line to release the fitting from the barb. IF you try to force it you will likely break the molded plastic fittings the lines plug into. Once you have that all free, you can lower the tank to access the top and remove the sending unit.

I am not sure that a 94 is much different. Just take care and make sure to take time and use caution - oh, drain the tank as much as you can, it makes it easier to control.

Someone else should chirp in about your reluctant straps.... I am thinking they should have dropped with the nuts removed.

HappyCamper

Just went out and looked at the truck. I have studs that go through the crossmmber - they need to be removed... See pics.

This shows the stud from the bottom. The nut removes the entire stud.


For Reference - this is the view from the top of the crossmember



Best of luck to you....

TIMMY22

just tilt the bed, it's faster.

TOMTOM

I'D LIFT THE BED IF POSS. I USE A FLOOR JACK & 4X4. WATCH YOUR BUMPER AND BED, EASY TO SCRATCH IT.

kawi600

Take a prybar and pry the straps away from the crossmember, I bet theyre just rusted or jammed in together.
You might want to get a pump and drain off as much diesel as you can first. I used a motorcycle jack from sears. Great stuff for dropping the tank.
You can tilt the bed too, Ive never done that since Ive needed to get access to the fuel lines on the frame rail

Racer9

I've done it both ways, if you have a decent way of lifting the bed, thats not bad, but dropping the tank isn't really hard either, unless it's full
The straps are probably just rusted in place. hit them with some penetrating oil, and a small bar.