Gas Tank Straps... October 25, 2009, 11:18:20 PM OK... it's been quite a while since I've even really touched my t-bird, much less done any real work on it (read last cat jam). But I've had it outside for the better part of the summer at my mom's house and with the recent rain I decided to move it back into the garage the other night before the bad bad weather starts. I get it into the garage and I notice that my car has grown a tail.... that's right, there's a gas tank strap sticking out behind the car. Now these straps were in great shape (the bolts even went in & out without breaking off) a couple years ago when I had to replace the fuel pump. I didn't get under it to inspect, but it's probably safe to assume that the bolts and the 'pad' things they bolt into are rusted beyond usefulness. I'll fix this the way I have with my past TWO thundercats and just use some allthread rod and big washers inside the trunk floor... along with some new straps of course. What I'm trying to gauge is... does this happen to everyone? I've had four fox cars, one of them was an LTD... had one '84 TC, one '84 Cougar and my current '85 T-bird. With this one, they've all officially had gas tank straps rust through except for the LTD. Share your thoughts/experiences... Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #1 – October 25, 2009, 11:32:08 PM Well...........also had it happen to my E250, and a 78 Monarch. the Cougar was the 2nd car I ever bought for myself, until the vert. Those still look good. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #2 – October 26, 2009, 12:44:53 AM Only one I've broken was on dissembly of a rusty northern TC and I junked it... You could se all day under mine and not come up with enough rust to fill a teaspoon... Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #3 – October 26, 2009, 04:42:45 AM I'm the same as Tom....California car with 77K miles until it became a race car. Matter of fact I took the gas tank and straps and all out when I was home last time in favor for a fuel cell. The bolts almost took themselves out. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #4 – November 11, 2009, 05:00:39 PM Had one break on my '80 Bird, replaced both with new stainless steel ones :D . So far, so good on my LS. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #5 – November 11, 2009, 06:12:35 PM I had the passenger side bolt break not because of rust (my car is from California) but because I over torqued it when I removed it. My simple fix was to drill a hole right next to the broken bolt and use a grade 8 bolt and nylock nut to hold the strap. Worked like a charm :hick: Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #6 – November 11, 2009, 06:44:34 PM I've never had one break on a Fox, but I had the gas tank fall clean out of the vehicle while driving not once, but twice. First time was with my second '87 Cherokee in heavy traffic, second time was with my '87 Dakota 4X4 on an old country road. Skidoo straps held the tank in place on both vehicles enough to get me home.Coincidentally, I've got my brother's 2000 F-150 4X4 in my yard now with two broken gas tank straps. It's been here for about six months now (needs a WHOLE LOT of work). Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #7 – November 13, 2009, 12:02:25 AM Not here.Mine look new....after all these years.So did the ones at the boneyard where I got my replacement fuel tank. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #8 – November 13, 2009, 11:08:55 AM 7 people here have had this happen but only four on the pole never had this happen to me though i know others that have.as a matter of fact when we replaced the fuel pump in my brothers mustang some people were warning us of that happening. thankfully it was rust free back there when we got down to it. bolts came right out and went right back in. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #9 – December 07, 2009, 11:06:37 PM It hasn't happened to me but we'll see what happens when the tank gets dropped in the spring to replace the fuel pump. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #10 – December 07, 2009, 11:36:34 PM I have an excellent pair of straps in the garage just doing nothing. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #11 – December 08, 2009, 01:29:14 PM Had this happen, it sucks. Replaced after trailering it home, one of the last times I drove it before blowing the transmission into little pieces. Note this usually happens with a full gas tank. Quote Selected
Gas Tank Straps... Reply #12 – December 08, 2009, 01:49:29 PM Well i bought my first linc with just the ends stuck there nothing else so I guess I can say I have I have a brand new set in my shed, and my brand new tank still too. Quote Selected
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