Fuel Tank Strap to Bodywork Spacing

[Rick Starkweather]

1949 TC, fuel tank strap to rear body gap was about 1/2 to 3/4 inch on each side -- i.e., straps were not tight up against bodywork. Should there be a spacer or similar, or is this the correct way to install? Bolts currently pass through bodywork from inside to outside, and there is a domed nut on each bolt, no washers other than under bolt head inside of car. Anyone with a TC within viewing distance -- Help Please!!

Rick Starkweather Scott, Madden & Associates, Inc. 919-781-4191 (office) 919-345-9871 (mobile)

[David & Joyce Edgar]

Rick, There should not be a space between the body and the strap ends. My guess is that someone put in too long of a bolt and the domed nut could only tighten up so far and thus left a gap when the tank straps were tighted from below. It is also possible that the rubber strips between the body and the petrol tank are of the wrong thickness and longer bolts were put in to compensate. An eyeball measurement of the distance between my tank end caps and the body appears to be roughly 1/4 inch. David Edgar, TC 5108 El Cajon, California

>1949 TC, fuel tank strap to rear body gap was about 1/2 to 3/4 inch >on each side -- i.e., straps were not tight up against bodywork. >Should there be a spacer or similar, or is this the correct way to >install? Bolts currently pass through bodywork from inside to >outside, and there is a domed nut on each bolt, no washers other >than under bolt head inside of car. Anyone with a TC within viewing >distance -- Help Please!! > >Rick Starkweather

[Robert Grunau]

Rick,

As others have said, there should be no gap between the body and tank straps. I would install a thin gasket of some sort to protect the body paint and strap clip paint. Loosen the lower 5/16 BSF nuts holding the straps to the chassis, then shorten top bolts as required and then the top boltswith the domed nut. Final tigthening of the straps is by tightening the lower nuts at the chassis, don t over do it! The bolt head is inside the car as you describe with a large flat washer.

Bob Grunau

1949 TC, fuel tank strap to rear body gap was about 1/2 to 3/4 inch on each side -- i.e., straps were not tight up against bodywork. Should there be a spacer or similar, or is this the correct way to install? Bolts currently pass through bodywork from inside to outside, and there is a domed nut on each bolt, no washers other than under bolt head inside of car. Anyone with a TC within viewing distance -- Help Please!!

Rick Starkweather Scott, Madden & Associates, Inc. 919-781-4191 (office) 919-345-9871 (mobile)

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[David & Joyce Edgar]

Rick,

>Should I use washers under the domed nuts?

Depends on what you want to accomplish. If you put washers between the domed nut and the strap, you don't accomplish anythng that you couldn't do by shortening the bolt. If you put the washers between the body and the strap it would work but wouldn't look all that nifty in MHO. And what would the originality police say? Does the tank wobble at all? If the straps are away from the body then I would think the tank would be loose or there are thicker rubber strips behind the tank. Check that first. How much space do you have between body and tank? If your straps are indeed bent wrong then you may want to invest in another set of straps or rebend yours and have them recromed although they were painted originally. Do you have another TC in your area to look at that you could compare straps to make sure yours are bent wrong? David Edgar, TC 5108 El Cajon, California

>I think what has happened with my straps is that the previous owner >did not bend them to fit properly (and then had them chrome >plated!). The dimension from the small "flange" or tab where the top >bolt hole is to the 100 degree (or so) bend where the strap bends >over the top of the tank is too short. Thus, the gap between the >strap and the bodywork. In addition, as you suggest, I think the >bolts are too long. I'll take a closer look when I get back home >this weekend. Thanks for your help. Rick

[John Patterson]

The reason for the space probably comes from someone having a luggage rack on the car which requires longer studs thru the back of the tub. Order the original studs and the problem is solved. I would not use spacers , etc because the tank will not be held firmly in place. A loose tank will lead to more leaks than we already have. John Patterson TC 7025