Gas tank strap repair question?
 

On a 87 the gas tank straps are broken. I need a new tank anyway so I picked up new straps with the new tank. The old ones are riveted on and from searching it seems that everyone just drills them out and uses 1/4" bolts and lock nuts to reassemble. Now the brackets have the mounting for the plastic tank shield which I don't plan on putting back on. Do you drill right thru the rivits and the bracket. The rivits are only on the first bracket and dont go thru the second layer which is factory welded overtop..

Re: Gas tank strap repair question?
 

I cant remember but must have drilled or Ground off the rivets and drilled through. What I do remember is the straps were slightly different lengths. Be sure to put them in the correct spots.

My truck has dual tanks.

Re: Gas tank strap repair question?
 

Can't help on the rivet; the garage did that. But I used sidewalk bolts to put the straps back on. Very low and wide heads, with one layer of anti-squeak with holes in it for the bolt heads, then another layer over the top. This so that the heads wouldn't rub on the tank. The rivets are very low profile, but most bolt heads are taller, and I though that was asking for trouble. And stainless, of course, so they wouldn't rust.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#90015a414/=rsg0c8

Re: Gas tank strap repair question?
 

I was in the bush when I did mine and I ended up making rivets out of 3" nails. Cut em down to 1/4" or so and then pounded them in place on a vice

Re: Gas tank strap repair question?
 

I'm in this exact predicament.. Did you end up drilling through the rivet and bracket or just the rivet? And what bolts did you use...

Re: Gas tank strap repair question?
 

When I replaced mine, I just drilled the rivet off and used a carrage bolt and then insulated the strap with a rubber strip .