sla07

MN6 here

gas fumes/smell like you…only happens when half a tank or more...

PatientZero

One way or another if this tool works I'll get it in the hands of those who need it. Have u taken anything apart yet? Year, miles?

sla07

havent yet…have had a difficult time getting a good angle to even get myself close enough…these are the times it does not pay to be short

its an 09, about 58-59k miles

Kenny94945

What a great thread.
Sorry the OP seems to be really struggling with this.

Looking at a Factory Service Manual it says to remove mufflers, wheels and liner and drive train support assembly.

There are other tips in the manual too.

On the driveway with jackstands is stoic.

This project really seems to be a pain for a DIYer.

Anyway here's a good luck wish so the rest of the project goes smoothly for the OP.

PatientZero

What I'm doing is trying to make it so this process is struggle - free actually. The key is the crossover tube. If you can compress and expand it easily, the rest is cake. Even on a lift, getting that tube installed is going to be rough. The rest of this procedure is trivial. I've seen the manual, a GM tech showed me. Nothing in there changes the big problem. The jackstands aren't so bad. It's just that x over tube.

PatientZero

why does it matter if you are short? are you doing it on a lift?

sla07

I wish lol...on my back under my car on jack stands...going to give it another shot to see if I can get a better position...I was barely able to angle myself and grab the crossover tube very well...practically doing a sit-up the entire time lol

djfury05

I would be interested in using it on a manual possibly.

PatientZero

cool, what year/miles? and what were your symptoms?

1. sla07 (09, 59k, manual)
2. djfury05 (possibly, manual)

djfury05

07' Z06 23k miles.

No symptoms. I was in the middle of installing the intermediate Racetronix harness (IPH-008) because I installed a Kenne Bell BAP and had to drop the drivers tank to install it. That's when things went south and started to break. I think this tool might help the install go smoother vice manhandling it.

PatientZero

First reality-check of the tool on the vehicle.

So the "tool", at this time, is composed of a 3 foot long piece of 12mm dia threaded rod, and two aluminum clamps about 3" square each and 1/2 thick.

The 3 feet of threaded rod is way longer than needed, I just haven't cut it to size yet because the design is still in progress. But I figured it would be okay to leave it that length for this test, because if it fits, then anything shorter certainly will.

The vehicle was setup as follows:

On jackstands, maybe 18" at most clearance to the rear subframe.

Drivers fuel tank fully installed
Passenger fuel tank sitting on ground under its cavity ready to be pushed up.
Tranny, exhaust, subframe, etc.. fully installed
Only other parts out are wheels, well liners, an evap line..etc..

First I slid the crossover tube into place through the passenger tank cavity/xover tube hole.

Then I pushed each clamp into place on the ends of the crossover tube.

So far so good..plenty of room to do that no problem.

Then I tried to get that 3 feet of rod up above the tranny and into place below the crossover tube, along the crossover tube length.

Took a couple minutes but eventually got it up there..kinda surprised. Anything shorter would be way easier.

Then I tried to get my 19mm combo wrench up on the drivers side like I was going to tighten the clamp. No prob...TONS of room for that. Could probably fit a 1/2" ratchet with an extension up there actually.

So far this looks good. The tool is "real" as I put it up there with the exception that I'd like to modify it so that the threaded rod stays stationary axially and just pulls/pushes the far clamp. Right now the rod will move lengthwise as you tighten/loosen its drive nut..which is not a good thing up there since it has nowhere to go.

russ472

subscribed.

Both of my fuel senders need replacing and while I have the tanks out, I mine as well upgrade the fuel pump.

been keeping it on the back burner and helping techron keep its stock up because I keep hearing what a pain in the a$$ it is and I dont feel like paying someone 2 grand to do it for me.

This tool looks promising.

PatientZero

Im feelin pretty good about it too. Just need to make it so the tool itself doesnt become a new problem. Its got to be easy to get in there, compress/decompress, and get out of there.

Do you have a manual or auto? year and model?

russ472

08 manual z51

PatientZero

1. sla07 (09, 59k, manual)
2. djfury05 (07, z06, 23k, manual)
3. russ472 (08, z51, manual)

sla07

Not sure if it matters much but forgot to mention mine is a z51 as well

PatientZero

Modified what I call the "far" clamp to have threads so it moves along the rod as the rod is turned. The other side of the rod, in the "near" clamp, will be captured in that clamp axially by two spacers/nuts that will be fixed to the rod. So this arrangement will not require the rod to move axially, only the "far" clamp.

djfury05

Looks really good, nice work.

I got my passenger tank out tonight. Those lines broke on me as well albeit not nearly as bad as the drivers side.

This tool looks like it'd do a great job of compressing the crossover tube which is half the battle. As far as disconnecting the internal plastic lines, that's another story and something I don't believe I could have avoided breaking no matter how patient I was. Once I got them apart there was a white crusty residue all built up around the o rings and that's why they were stuck together.

djfury05

Btw, you may know, since I have the passenger tank out is there anything I should think about replacing? I looked at the fuel level float arm and the prongs and circuit board looked to be in really good condition. Pretty sure that's what typically fails in the passenger side. Not sure if anything else needs attention.

PatientZero

Hmm not sure, I would definitely be suspicious of everything though. You took the passenger pump out? Was that hard? I didnt take mine out because it appears to be problem free.

Are you taking the drivers pump out? Get ready for fun...the basket will not come out without a fight or a solid 30m to an hour trying to compress/pry it out while gas fumes slowly poison you..

BTW best deals on the internal lines are on ebay, that I have found.