nortonian

I have a minor leak in my '95 when I fill the gas tank completely. I figured it was from the gaskets going bad over time and thought I'd drop the gas tank, replace the pump and gaskets, and replace the fuel line so that I could put a new filter in, the old filter housing is rusted solid.

I was told by my mechanic that he was afraid the screws holding the pump in would be rusted and break when they came out and that it wouldn't be possible to re-use the tank.

The problem is now that Toyota no longer makes the tank and there doesn't seem to be any available. I bought one from Dorman P/N 576-960 but when it got here it didn't look anything like the oem and the inlet and sender unit holes were in the wrong locations. We found a couple used ones but the screw holes had broken screws in them.

I don't want to start this unless I know I can finish it. If the tanks gets buggered up and I can't get a replacement I can't use the 4runner. The part number I have for the original is 77001-35999.

Does anyone have a suggestion or a tank in good condition?

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Did your mechanic actually look at the tank? On a runner, you can access the tank from under the passenger rear seat. I have never had any problems with the bolts on the runner as they are more protected then the pickups fuel tanks. Not knowing your location as if you live in the rust belt, it could be a big difference then what I experience. I deal with rust issue but not like the rust belt.

Lift the seat and remove the access plate to the tank and start soaking them in PB Blaster and gently start working the bolts loose. If they don't come out fairly easy, just soak them again and check in a few days. From past experience, I have never had problems with runner tanks.

If the tank looks nasty inside, what looks like rust is just chemical build up from my experience and can be cleaned. On my build threads below, usually on the first one or two pages, I have information on tank restoration as I have seen many tanks that are nasty inside.

nortonian

I don't want to take a chance at this time of year, come snow it's my daily driver. I'll look into that in the spring. Since I can drive it for now and I seem to have a history of breaking fasteners I'd like to know one is available before I start.

I'd like to replace the fuel line at the same time. Can I do that without dropping the tank?

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

If you are meaning the entire fuel line along the frame, I have never done one on your generation of truck. On the previous generation of trucks I have but you have to loosen the body bolts and lift the body some to get the line in and out. Even still it is a real pain in the rear replacing the line on an 84-88 body style but it can be done. It would be easier to drop the tank but I think you could do it without dropping the tank. I had the tank out when I did mine.

Be careful on the metal line on top of the tank. It is connected to the main line and is a 14mm female to a 17mm male connection (or vise versa). They can be frozen and can twist the metal line and possibly break. The Fuel Pump Bracket assembly is hard to find and not cheap.

If you are going to work on the lines say later in the spring time, I would once a month or so spray a little PB Blaster on the connections of the 14/17mm threads.

Janos01

Have you tried Rock Auto? They have a great selection of Fuel tanks for pickups and 4runners. They all should fit, I have a 90 4runner and all the parts Ive bought go right on.

nortonian

The spectra on Rock Auto looks like the right one, except the description says its only 15 gallons. I'll give it a try in spring.

Thanks for all the help.