Need Help Installing Gas Tank on Charger

[Chargermoneypit]

Okay, I may not be the smartest guy in the world, but I'm not exactly dumb either. I am trying to install the gas tank in my 68 Charger and it is a bastard. Am I missing something completely obvious? It sould seem as simple as put the straps on the backside of the car, slide the tank onto the straps, hold the tank up to the car and bolt the straps to the J bolts. The problem is that the straps are like 6 inches from the j bolts and I cannot even get it close enough to even think about starting a bolt to hold it up. I have the right tank and straps. Does anyone have a close up picture of the j bolts or is it just that much of a !!!!! to do. I have been trying to get this completed on and off for too long that I surrender to asking for advise. :angry9::angryfire:

 

[dave5237]

hello. there is about 1/2 to 3/4 inch thread hanging out of the end of the j bolt ( you can see it in the picture ). make sure your straps are sitting in the t-slot near the filler neck. this is on my plymouth 68 gtx. hope you can see the pic. the j bolt is way up in.

 

[70redbee]

Are you using the old straps or new ones? If they are new, you will have to bend them to the shape of the tank. When I put my new tank on my bee, I had the same problem until I bent everything to the exact shape of the new tank. It was still not easy but I got her done. You may need someone to help also. I did not mount the straps first, but held the tank up and then put the straps on over the tank. Hope this makes sense and good luck, you will figure it out.

 

[Chargermoneypit]

Thanks. It seems like the j bolts are so far away from the straps. I sat underneath the car under the tank and pushed my body against the tank to hold it tight to the car. It was record humidity and plenty hot today that I finally gave up again. The straps seem to be the same shape as the original ones, but maybe I will tweak the straps a bit to get it. I could not see the j bolts clearly on the Road Runner picture and am not sure if they mount the in the same place. I will try again this weekend. Thanks again for any advice or pictures.

 

[Chargermoneypit]

Can someone send me a picture of the gas tank j bolt brackets that are welded to the car. After sitting under the car staring at the brackets I think I now know why I can't get the gas tank in. The idiot that originally did the trunk pan welded the brackets in upside down. I can't find a clear picture to confirm my findings. Any help is appreciated so I can solve the mystery.

 

[okiemopar]

Brackets

I know mine are set up where the bolts slide in the top of them and then slide down. So if yours are that way they are either up too high are you have the wrong j bolts. Good Luck Ronnie

 

[ramairthree]

put tank where it needs to be,
hold up with jack stands, whatever.

get strap as far to j bolt as you can,
use a floor jack to lift strap into place.

Can't say I have done it on a Charger,
but it worked on a 71 Javelin

 

[Chargermoneypit]

We found out the idiot welded them in backwards so now comes the engineering project to get them right side up. Thanks for the help. I will post when it is finally in.

 

[69ChargerVert]

Helpful thread everyone... could someone send me pics of the J Bolt brackets that get welded to the floorpan? Thanks!

 

[threewood]

This looking straight up. 1969 B body.

 

[threewood]

Helpful thread everyone... could someone send me pics of the J Bolt brackets that get welded to the floorpan? Thanks!

See above.

 

[Edwards]

Okay, I may not be the smartest guy in the world, but I'm not exactly dumb either. I am trying to install the gas tank in my 68 Charger and it is a bastard. Am I missing something completely obvious? It sould seem as simple as put the straps on the backside of the car, slide the tank onto the straps, hold the tank up to the car and bolt the straps to the J bolts. The problem is that the straps are like 6 inches from the j bolts and I cannot even get it close enough to even think about starting a bolt to hold it up. I have the right tank and straps. Does anyone have a close up picture of the j bolts or is it just that much of a !!!!! to do. I have been trying to get this completed on and off for too long that I surrender to asking for advise. :angry9::angryfire:

This is the exact problem more or less that I’m dealing with right now. Thanks for posting a question on this issue, now I know what to do. Sending you some virtual cupcakes

 

[themechanic]

Have you tried using a longer J bolt to install the tank then change out the J bolts to the proper length one at a time?

 

[Will-Fonkjam]

The longer bolt trick worked for me! I purchased 5"x3/8 'J' bolts from the local hardware store, cut about 1/2 off the loop so it would still hook in the bracket's slot and that worked. The extra length of thread engagement makes this much, much easier!