I want to drop and clean out my fuel tank for several reasons. The shop says not to reuse the qucik connect clips or the seal on the big lock nut for the sending unit. The auto parts store carry neither. Do they typcially need to be replaced?


How about the fuel filter on the bottom of the sending unit. (They don't have that either .

 

The fuel line clips are re useable. Just be VERY careful they are fully released when you pull the line.

Unless very damaged the sending unit seal is re useable, too.

Back flush the sending unit screen to clean it

 

You can get the seal from Dodge. Not too expensive, especially compared to the hassle of dropping the tank again if the old one leaks.

 

I found It very easy when I replaced my fuel lines to take the bed off and clean my tank out.
Four strong guys to lift the bed and a impact gun to get the nuts off help alot to get the bed off. If you have resorces of a forklift even better. Get something to put the bed on so there is no need to lift it off the ground. After that just undo the straps and plate that holds the tank on and let her go. Take ALL the fuel out of her before you undo it all the way. Have a guy below the tank hold it up while you undo it. The clips are reuseable as long as they dont break while you are taking them off. It is a sunday job and plan to get fuel on you. Also after you clean it out make sure all the solvents and water are out of the tank. I cleaned mine with Purple power once, rinsed with water, wiped it out, let it dry, rinsed it out again, wash it with just water again, let it dry again and then toss it back in.
Any questions just ask.

Mitch

 

You wouldn't find it easy to take the bed off mine. It has an aux tank in the front, 5er/gooseneck hitch rails in the center and a rear mounted toolbox. I recently dropped the tank with about 25 gals of fuel in it, by myself with two floorjacks on a gravel driveway. Easier than lifting the bed.

 

Resources I said help alot haha
I lifted mine off with a forklift and that helped a bunch.
625+k respect for you man keep her going brother!

 

I've lifted my fuller tank down with a forklift before.
Easy but the only problem was I had to jack the truck up to get it out.

 

When I did mine, I did away with the stupid clips, and since my lines were rusted beyond belief I used hose clamps. Ran rubber fuel line as far up as I could to eliminate the rusted lines. As for the lock nut leaking... well how would you know, other than a drip or two on the ground after a fill up. The
1st and 2nd generation trucks had mechanical pumps run off the motor, so all that is in your tank is the sending unit for the gauge. Which has two different screens, they can be removed for cleaning, but be carefull not to break anything. Good luck it is not a bad job, I can do mine in about 15 minutes after so many times cleaning those screens.