The bolts that anchor the front of the gas tank on my 96XJ are rusted to the point of being unusable. I have soaked them with several different chemicals including PB Blaster for days and I still cannot budge the nuts. The entire bolt is just twisting and I worry I will break the mounting brackets.

Two questions:

(1) If I am reasonable careful would it be okay to cut the bolts with a cut off wheel on a grinder? It would require me laying on the ground under the truck outside and using a jack to hold the tank in place. I am just a bit afraid I might start a fire with all of the sparks...

(2) Outside of going to a JY to take them off of a salvage vehicle are those bolts / nuts available anywhere?

Thanks for any ideas or info you have on this.

 

if the lines to the pum are still on and the pumpis in and the filler neck is still connected all the way to the cap yuor good but i think a sawz all will be safer less sparks

 

Use an impact wrench. Rent it if you have to, but I'm very sure this will do the job with no cutting. (If you don't have an impact, obtaining one may exceed the hassle of cutting... but we all need an impact wrench don't we?)