Gas Tank Straps

[massacre]

My skid plate rotted off of my 94 4wd. I was able to remove the 3 pieces, and will leave them off for now.
The rear strap is fine, i'll leave that alone.
Is the skid plate what the front strap bolts to?
Would an additional rear strap be able to be mounted in the front position to hold the tank up?
Looks like i can order a new strap, just wondering if it will fit before i order it.
Thanks for any help

 

[massacre]

It looks like if i got a new strap, i could try and fit that in the slot in the frame, and then cut the other end of the strap to the proper length and drill a hole to connect the 2 straps? Like 1 upper strap and 1 lower strap, bolted together? Has anyone done this?
I need an inspection sticker and would like to have 2 straps for the inspection.

 

[Rick]

It looks like if i got a new strap, i could try and fit that in the slot in the frame, and then cut the other end of the strap to the proper length and drill a hole to connect the 2 straps? Like 1 upper strap and 1 lower strap, bolted together? Has anyone done this?
I need an inspection sticker and would like to have 2 straps for the inspection.

I haven't seen anyone do it, but it sounds like a good plan if you can't find a replacement skidplate.

 

[massacre]

I haven't seen anyone do it, but it sounds like a good plan if you can't find a replacement skidplate.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[massacre]

I haven't seen anyone do it, but it sounds like a good plan if you can't find a replacement skidplate.

All of the 1st gen explorers are long gone from Massachusetts, so unless i can find a pristine one one ebay or something i'm probably going to just leave the skidplate off. Maybe i'll try and make one someday.

 

[Kesp4.0]

Looks like that front strap is mounted to the frame rail, then runs above the tank and keeps the tank strapped down to the skid plate, which itself is bolted to the underbody. I guess you could figure out a way to run it in reverse so it’s under the tank and then bolts somewhere onto the underbody.
I crawled under mine and just noticed I need to tighten mine down! So thanks for prompting me to do that.
Hope these help.

 

[massacre]

Thanks for the response!
In your top picture, you can see there is a slot below the upper slot.
I'm going to try and use that lower slot to add another strap under the tank and bolt to the upper strap.
BTW your truck is in fantastic shape, good for you! Very nice.

 

[BKennedy]

I'm not sure but I think the skid plate is a necessary part to hold the tank in place. The straps appear to me to be there to hold the tank up so you can remove the skid plate, then the tank for servicing. The skid plate seems to cradle the tank. I've only pulled the skid plate once to straighten it.

I do have to hand it to Ford. The OEM skid plate is very sturdy. I had to get the ends off the floor and jump up and down on it to get it sort of straight. When I got a donor Explorer it was an Ohio car and everything under the body was rusted or I would have kept the tank and skid plate. I ended up junking everything below the body.

 

[BKennedy]

Do you need this part, or the sides as well?

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[massacre]

Do you need this part, or the sides as well?

Pardon Our Interruption...

That part doesn't look like mine.
My sides are still in good shape, just the bottom part is fubar'd.
Thanks for the link.

 

[BKennedy]

If the Sport has a different skid pan, I imagine it's unobtamium.

 

[Kesp4.0]

Thanks for the response!
In your top picture, you can see there is a slot below the upper slot.
I'm going to try and use that lower slot to add another strap under the tank and bolt to the upper strap.
BTW your truck is in fantastic shape, good for you! Very nice.

No problem. Sounds like a good plan to have two front straps running above and below the tank. As mentioned above, it *does* appear as though the skid plate cradles the tank and possibly prevents movement fore and aft. Not sure how much movement, since that rear strap fits into contours in the tank. Hopefully your plan will prevent the same.
Appreciate the compliment on my truck. It’s so nice because it currently doesn’t do anything other than gather dust in my garage, sadly. I put maybe four miles a month on it, lol.

 

[wollimann]

Fuel Tank: Service and Repair — 1994 Ford Explorer 4WD V6-245 4.0L Service Manual | Operation CHARM

Detailed repair manual for the 1994 Ford Explorer 4WD V6-245 4.0L.

charm.li

This very old skid plate protects the tank very well, and it should if it's a plastic tank.

Shield - Ford (F1TZ-9A032-A)​

Maybe it's worth to sandblast and repaint?

This guy had no problems with rust...

 

[massacre]

I think that ship has sailed

 

[BKennedy]

Yep, that's a gonner

 

[massacre]

Now i'm wondering if i should just replace both straps and get a fuel pump and hanger?
While i'm there.
There's a bracket at the front of the tank that should be ok fore/aft
Rather not just depend on only 1 strap cause i bet that will prob break

 

[410Fortune]

Fuel pump and strainer yes
No need to change the sender / hanger assembly if the fuel gauge is working imo

 

[massacre]

Fuel pump and strainer yes
No need to change the sender / hanger assembly if the fuel gauge is working imo

Thanks
I'm betting that the fuel hat & inlet & outlet lines are rusted, new one might be a good idea.
Does Airtex sell one for these? I have used them in other vehicles.
The fuel tank straps are here, need to look into the fitment of those

 

[410Fortune]

Airtex is like a bad word around here
My old superduty lost a fuel pump on its way to pickup a wrecked Mountaineer…. With trailer… in the heart of downtown Denver on a Friday evening during rush hour… that sucked. I got a tow (very expensive tow) after blocking traffic at a busy stop sign for about an hour… people get so angry over things you cannot control. We got the truck and trailer towed to a local wal mart.. that was $600. Then the dude I was buying the wrecked mounty from was so understanding he sent his kid over to help. My stepson came down from the mountains (hour drive) with tools and the son/ kid drove me 30
Minutes to the oreilly warehouse that was open for another 20 minutes… I got a brand new airtex in tank pump and sender
That thing literally lasted two weeks
Then I put in a replacement airtex under warranty that one lasted a few months.
I swore off airtex right then and there

I did get the mounty, thank goodness
What a fiasco that was

It was shortly after that I decided if I’m going to drop a fuel tank I’m only installing oem pumps

 

[massacre]

Airtex is like a bad word around here
My old superduty lost a fuel pump on its way to pickup a wrecked Mountaineer…. With trailer… in the heart of downtown Denver on a Friday evening during rush hour… that sucked. I got a tow (very expensive tow) after blocking traffic at a busy stop sign for about an hour… people get so angry over things you cannot control. We got the truck and trailer towed to a local wal mart.. that was $600. Then the dude I was buying the wrecked mounty from was so understanding he sent his kid over to help. My stepson came down from the mountains (hour drive) with tools and the son/ kid drove me 30
Minutes to the oreilly warehouse that was open for another 20 minutes… I got a brand new airtex in tank pump and sender
That thing literally lasted two weeks
Then I put in a replacement airtex under warranty that one lasted a few months.
I swore off airtex right then and there

I did get the mounty, thank goodness
What a fiasco that was

It was shortly after that I decided if I’m going to drop a fuel tank I’m only installing oem pumps

Thanks for the reply, very helpful.
Rockauto has a Bosch unit, is that something that you guys can recommend?

More Information for BOSCH 67346

I'm doing this on my back, i know it's gonna suck. Maybe i'll wait until i can borrow a lift to swap the pump/assembly.
I don't want to cut a hole in the floor lol