Fuel tank straps

[87scotty]

Quick question on the 87 saddle tank single cab long bed can I replace the entire strap saddle unit without dropping the tank? Just would like to know if I need to run it empty. rear strap is almost entirely gone. And I have the new.ome.handym

 

[ali_c20]

Only the straps should be doable one at the time with the tank in place, but a real pita.

 

[Ricko1966]

Quick question on the 87 saddle tank single cab long bed can I replace the entire strap saddle unit without dropping the tank? Just would like to know if I need to run it empty. rear strap is almost entirely gone. And I have the new.ome.handym

I would drop the tanks,so easy to work on them on the ground and seriously not hard or time consuming to drop them. I haven't tried doing them on the truck but do have a very clear recollection of doing them on the ground and thinking" this would be a fu#king nightmare under the truck. Cliff notes version on tank drop, zip out filler neck hardware with cordless drill, blast out 1 filler bolt,8 tank bracket bolts with cordless impact,reach up and cut hoses at tank sender with pruning shears. Use new hoses and clamps going in,have the hoses already on the tank clamped and other end clamps in place. You don't even have to jack up the truck. I'm learning though(kind of a slow learner) a lot of this is subjective. The trucks I've worked on have all been Kansas dirt roads working trucks,maybe other areas the trucks aren't as difficult.

 

[Old Guy Bill]

Those new tank straps can be a real pain, I had to use a ratchet strap to get mine to conform so the nuts could be started.
I would try to do one strap at a time without dropping the tank first.

 

[Grit dog]

Only the straps should be doable one at the time with the tank in place, but a real pita.

Huh? Straps don’t hold it up, they hold it down.

 

[Grit dog]

My experience is limited to replacing a tank with the bed off and 35 year old bolts that you could break loose with an open end wrench.
And dropping a tank once 30+ years ago to do a new sender.
But I agree, while GM made provisions for the straps with the tank in frame, it would seem easier with the tank on the ground or the bed in the air.
However 1 tank 1 strap and no other repairs, I’d fish it in there without further disassembly pretty sure.

But back to the OP, sounds like you’re talking about the bracket and the strap. Again just 1, I’d probably do it in-frame. More extensive work than that, likely not.
Bigger question is if one strap and saddle are “almost gone” I’d look at what really needs done unless it’s just an ad hoc sender down the road fix.

 

[ali_c20]

Huh? Straps don’t hold it up, they hold it down.

I know.