Fuel Tank Replacement on S14……PICS/How to..Holla


Finally the day came for me and few of my GOOD HELPFUL friends to help replace my fuel tank on the S14 as it was leaking fuel. We replaced the soft lines before already and that didn’t solve the problem so the next big thing was it……..BUSTED FUEL TANK….

We wanted to put it a how to here for some reference as it’s a hard job to do and not a lot of info is available…….YES I SEARCHED….Shut your yap…j/k…

Here it goes……To all my friends that helped my ass as usual……I thank yah for all your help and sweat on a HOT Saturday.

1) Take off rear stabilizer bar if you have one
2) Take off the subframe’s bolts (8 in all, 4 main and 2 each on the bracket called Member Stay according to RA-4 in the FSM)
3) Disconnect the little hose venting the diff ( I have J30 diff btw)
4) Disconnect the driveshaft as well so the subframe can be dropped all in one piece including the differential. (Use tranny jackstands to help support the rear subframe and your good friends to balance it) IT IS VERY HEAVY SPECIALLY WITH THE DIFF IN IT AS WELL. We disconnected the parking brakes as well at this point since we went up to the driveshaft to take it all out. (its just easier this way)
5) Disconnect the bottom bolt on the shock absorber on both sides. Be careful at this point the subframe is totally loose and heavy and can tilt easily even with having supported tranny jack. Have few friends to help balance the weight as necessary.
6) Lower the tranny jack and have your friends (BUNCH OF THEM) pick it up and put it on the floor.
7) Inspect under the car for any other possible problems while you have a great look at the sorry ass gas tank on the S14….j/k
Open fuel cap to release any pressure inside the tank. (See FE-3 for a good view)
9) Get someone inside the car and open the access panel and MARK THE LINES FIRST and than disconnect the harness and the lines and pick up the fuel pump and assembly out of tank as well. There should be nothing connected to the body after this is done so when you drop the tank down, no harness or lines or fuel pump can possibly catch it hanging. Disconnect the soft lines on the bottom as well and don’t forget to mark them down there as well as to what they do.
10) Remove the tank protector shield.
11) Now, take off the belts by taking the clip out towards the front of the car and the belts will come loose. Have your friends help support it as its oddly shaped and could be heavy with gas still inside. ( I did not find any drain plug on the tank). Take the other belt off as well by doing the same.
12) Now on the other side, take the bolts off that are holding the belts towards the rear of the car.
13) After both belts are totally off……..Your tank still needs supporting, don’t drop it or bring it down just yet.
14) Have your friends tilt it slightly so that you can get access to the filler cap area from underneath.
15) Loosen the filler cap clamp and take it out of the filler cap.
16) There is one more clamped vent hose (smaller in size than filler cap), take that clamp off and than put the tank on the ground slowly. It is still full of gas and oddly shaped….DON”T FORGET THAT.
17) Inspect and clean.
1 Reinstall fuel pump into the new tank or fix the leak on your current one ( I replaced mine for a used unit as it way to much work to be dependent upon some epoxy.)
19) Install in the reverse of these steps.


Some tips

1) Have lift and airtools (helps out a lot)
2) Bunch of friends……More the merrier……(I had 6 total including me)
3) Wear safety goggles
4) Wear shoes and comfortable clothes
5) DO NOT SMOKE NEAR THE FUEL TANK AREA…..ITS RAW GAS…….SMOKE AWAY FROM THE AREA.

Imagestation has the pics here………
http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4286789209

Thanks to Adrian, Jesse, Jerry, Rob M, Robin (my cuz) for their help and time.
If I forgot anything, please feel free to add it in there and correct me fellas…..

RINKU

EDIT: I also replaced my tranny and diff fluid as its way to easy to do it now.......you should give that a thought yourself.

I also busted a brake line (rear) so i ended up getting a rear set from Adam at XAT (GOD BLESS THEM)

 

What a long day...At least we got yor car knocked out, too bad we didnt get to Robin's and Adrian's was a bust.

 

hahhaaha! o what fun! all in all a great learning experience and a good time with awesome people.

only thing i can add to complete Rinku's synopsis. remove wheels! hhahahaha! and also, remove the rear brake lines. we damaged one and thanks to Adam at XAT racing were able to secure rears lines at a moments notice.

Also, our little project would have been a 12 on a scale of 10 if it had not been for having a lift courtesy of McDill AFB hobby shop. props to Jesse and the USAF for providing this (salute)!.

i am suprised, but the rear subframe with diff installed and drive shaft isn't too heavy, just really awkward to manage with less than five people. if you try this at home, you must have a few friends on hand, otherwise you will have to remove diff and drive shaft to make removing subframe more manageable.

Great to see Robin again! and props for his snaps. sorry we did not have the time to service his car. we owe ya one bro!

also did not have time to service Adrian's Z. plus he got screwed around by getting wrong belts from the parts store (what a suprise!) sorry for your wrong parts Adrian, and i do not want to be the guy there that feels your wrath! i hope his life insurance is paid up!

Rob M: i expect to see a tech article in Downshift (shameless plug) in an upcoming issue.

 

dude MR Mandingo why do u have a non functional hoodscoop on your car...

 

Sucks Adrian had the wrong belt size. I thought the VG would be more of a nightmare but belt replacement isn't that bad at all.

You guys should check out my oil filter location on the VQ35, it'd make you SR owners cry. Anyways, glad to help out and I'll post soon on the next fix/install day.

Jesse

 

Big thanks to Jesse for Install day and shop use. It wouldn't be possible without his help. You ROCK BRO...

RINKU

 

to anyone out there that needs to do major work which requires a lift, and you have the parts, contact Jesse. this is the best way to learn about your car and the most inexpensive route to take. the facilities are top notch and if you need help, post up. there is a group here that will gladly assist. contact Jesse direct to get on the list.

Rinku's tank replacement would have cost easily $2000. at a dealer and i know we did it for somewhere around $300.00.

 

in that 300 we did oil change, tranny and diff fluid change, another fuel problem up front fixed...fuel tank of course and the subframe bushings( they are not alll on yet but will be soon), lift rental, some food and drinks...and rear brake lines (as we broke one)...and hell of a good company...

RINKU