schadelh

So my jeep's PO put in a kicking sound system, and a nice sub, but apparently he is also a dumbass. When screwing down the sub box into the floor, he screwed it straight into the gas tank.

I took the sub out today (I am moving, and needed the space), and the jeep kept smelling like gas. Took my nose to one of the holes and it damn near curled my nosehairs

Besides leaving a flaming bag of **** on the PO's doorstep , what can I do to fix this? Would installing a screw slathered in RTV seal it up safely enough? Or will I have to drop the tank and patch it with something (fiberglass? drop a weld-berry on it? drill and plastic plug?)? How should I remount the sub so that I dont puncture the tank (how much room is there between the floor and the tank?)?

The jeep is a non-smoking vehicle until I get this done, and I am a man who needs his cigarettes.

96_xj

they make a tank patch kit. but a new JY tank would be best

schadelh

What makes the YJ tank better, and how difficult would conversion be? Looks like it is only 15 gal, and if im getting a new tank, I might as well get a bigger one, not a smaller one.

Mendax13

i think he meant JY as in junk yard.. i think... could be wrong....

schadelh

ah, not used to seeing "new" and "JY" as adjectives of the same thing

Mendax13

well hopefully the "new" "jy" tank wont have holes from screws.

nows the time to get a fuel cell. just a thought.

Killabrew

How long are the screws the po used?

VTJeep

What an ***!!! I'd say if ya wanna keep the sub bolted down, drop the tank and fix it (or just hit the JY!) and while tank is outta the way, find out how long the bolts to hold sub in NEED to be, cut em to length, and reinstall everything..

Dan91

Haha, once upon a time I was putting screws into the cargo floor to mount stuff too...but I measured them first so they wouldn't hit the gas tank and everything went well. Sorry about your gas tank man...some people are just dumb. I'd say get a new (junkyard) tank, depending on how rusty everything is you might want to get new gas tank straps as well. If you had extra time and money I'd say stick a new fuel filter in it too while the tank is down.

Harper

I just had the tank out of mine and as far as I can tell, there is zero clearance between the tank and the body--only a thin membrane of cardboard to keep it from having metal-to-metal contact.

I'd just pop the tank out, clean the area real good and press a gob of JB Weld putty over the hole.

schadelh

Can't afford a fuel cell or new tank unless its absolutely necessary (been saving up to fix the AC this week).

Screws are about 1 to 1.5 inch wood screws (the PO also put 1.5" screws into 3/8" wood on the sub box, really annoying when you blow the sub's driver fuse). I might drill out the hole, put a bolt in from the bottom, and tack weld the head onto the body.

I am lucky enough to have the external fuel filter

Should I replace the fuel pump while I have it out? I have about 170K on it, and I don't think the (POS) PO ever replaced it. How about cleaning out the tank (toss in a fat chain and some cleaner and shake, right?)?

I read that some of the XJ/YJ tanks can be upgraded to 20 gal tanks just by shortening the vent tube, is this true on a '95?

If I do get a new-to-me tank from the JY, are there any simple upgrades (I would like a bigger tank, 17 gal is kinda small for a guzzler like the jeep)? I have access to a welder and I can do some light fabrication.

Mycherokee96

If I was you, when the tank is out, and since you have access to a welder, personally I would tack weld carriage bolts to through the floorpan upwards so you don't have to worry about clearance. Just a thought bro...

schadelh

Followup:

Got some gas-tank epoxy putty from oreilys, dropped the tank, and patched two holes (probably about 3/32 inch, maybe 1/8). I never thought I would be so happy to have an empty tank. The needle is right on the bottom of e, and it still felt like I had 2 gallons in there, but it wasnt too bad.

Filled up at the gas station and I couldnt catch the faintest whiff of gas

The jeep is no longer a class 1 div 2 area

I really like working on the jeep, I dont need extra elbows or 8" fingers... sure beats the hell out of working on the VW I used to have.