Gas tank shroud

[Daryl]

I noticed pretty severe “melt down” on the edge of the gas tank shroud. The plastic cover. I’ve found a replacement but no “how to” videos as of yet. Anyone replace this and what’s the difficulty factor?

I’m also wondering if a muffler shop can tweak the exhaust pipe(s) so this doesn’t reoccur?

Thanks everyone!

 

[ttocs]

your going to have to drop the tank a little to replace it but no big deal. drive it till its nearly empty and lighter to handle and its not a big deal. If the fuel pump is old this would be the time to swap it out.

An exhaust shop should be able to help with a little more space but its hard to tell on here.

 

[Daryl]

Did I say “melted down”? I meant “melted through”!

 

[ttocs]

I would not say that is too close imo and if its that far and melting it there might be a bigger problem. It could be as simple as the timing is off.

 

[lwarrior1016]

Is this recent melting or could it have been an old issue? That exhaust looks plenty far enough away. I guess the next question would be, how are the exhaust hangers? Can you grab the exhaust top and wiggle the whole exhaust side to side enough to make it touch that tank cover?

 

[Daryl]

Warrior,
No, not a recent problem. Been there since I got the car 1.5 years ago.

I’m replacing both of the rubber insulators (hangers). Driver side hanger looks pretty good, but there’s a factory welded in metal shield as a barrier between the exhaust pipe and the gas tank shroud. Passenger side hanger, however (same side damage to gas tank shroud), shows a fair amount of wear n tear.

Yes, I can wiggle the passenger side enough to touch the gas tank shield.

 

[lwarrior1016]

Gotcha. Sounds like you figured it out with the bad exhaust hanger.

 

[Daryl]

Shroud arrived last night. Will attempt install this afternoon!

 

[Daryl]

Weather didn’t comply yesterday, so on it this morning with total success! Working by myself, so I had to use all 5 of my jack stands: 2 holding up the axle; 2 on opposing corners holding the EDGE of the tank; the bottle jack centered on the pointy edge of the heat shield on drivers side! Backyard mechanic shit, for sure but sometimes ya gotta improvise!
Got it all set up, then reset (after rethinking jack placement!), and R&R’d in about 2 hrs. I’ve sourced a nearby muffler shop to have the passenger side exhaust pipe massaged over so it’s not contacting the shield and this whole episode repeats itself!

 

[lwarrior1016]

Good job! I’m glad you got that all sorted out and it wasn’t too much trouble.

 

[Daryl]

Thx, warrior!

 

[white95]

That looks really good. I’m going to follow suit.

 

[Daryl]

That looks really good. I’m going to follow suit.

Thanks, White!
Got it for $126+tax thru LMR. As always, super fast shipping from them. I hope you don’t have to revert to my “backyard mechanic” method, but it works, FWIW.
Good luck!

 

[white95]

Everything I do is “half way redneck” while listening to heavy metal. What could go wrong?

 

[RAU03MACH]

Everything if it is me

 

[Daryl]

Tomorrow after work when I get home (around 2pm PST), I’m going to hop in the Stang and drive to a muffler shop about 20 miles away.
Do you think the new shroud will survive unscathed or should I bust out some wire hangers and pull that baby away best I can for the ride over?

 

[white95]

Tomorrow after work when I get home (around 2pm PST), I’m going to hop in the Stang and drive to a muffler shop about 20 miles away.
Do you think the new shroud will survive unscathed or should I bust out some wire hangers and pull that baby away best I can for the ride over?

Secure it with wire hangers, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

[joemomma]

Secure it with wire hangers, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

This, 100%.

 

[ttocs]

my vote is that you just drive as fast as possible.... If you get pulled over the cop should understand but if he gives you any crap just tell I said it was ok.

 

[Daryl]

Got it there fine. Great muffler guy my buddy referred me to. Managed to squeak out 1/2” gap by shortening the exhaust tube at the back of the muffler. This also gained some room over the top of the axle where (he showed me) it had been hitting for so long it actually made a slight indentation (nothing to worry about) in the axle itself! And, by loosening and tweaking the angle of the muffler itself, gave it more clearance as well. My passenger side exhaust tip is about 1/2” shorter than the driver side, but aesthetically it’s not obvious at all and It’m fine with it!

He also confirmed my hearing a slight sputtering sound from the header at the block. The front passenger side was a tad loose, which he tightened. Then he went around with his stethoscope and checked the rest. Sound is all but gone but I may need a new gasket and probably replace the stock bolts with ARP 5/16” header bolts.