# Pulling the gas tank from a 1981 AMC DJ5 **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** amc\ **Created:** [November 3, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908 "2020-11-03T14:21:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shafi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Shafi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shafi)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/1 "2020-11-03T14:21:36Z")
Any tips on how to pull the gas tank from a 1981 AMC postal vehicle The model of my vehicle is not listed, it’s most similar to a CJ but it is a DJ5 ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/2 "2020-11-03T15:48:47Z")
Start spraying the gas tank strap bolts with penetrating oil now. And if you’re lucky, they’ll come off without snapping off. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/3 "2020-11-03T19:49:59Z")
+1 to @Tester’s suggestion. Spray early, spray often, spray for days and days. Help a little old lady across the street… anything to improve your karma so the bolts don’t break on this nearly 40 year old vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/4 "2020-11-03T19:55:49Z")
Is there something in particular that’s causing a problem, or are you wanting general pointers? I would think the parts involved, while rusty, would be pretty simple. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/5 "2020-11-03T19:59:53Z")
You may want to read David Tracy’s post on his postal Jeep repairs: > **[I Sold My $500 Postal Jeep But I'm Still Driving It And That's Just Unhealthy](https://jalopnik.com/i-sold-my-500-postal-jeep-but-im-still-driving-it-and-1840035059)** > > The best thing to do when you sell a vehicle is to never see it again. I know, because I just sold my $500 Postal Jeep and yet I’m still seeing it daily and even cruising in it. And it’s driving me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/6 "2020-11-03T20:05:51Z")
That article is old news David Tracy’s postal jeep is literally a piece of garbage in a scrap heap now he’s had at least one follow up since that article you posted ---
**Author:** ![Shafi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Shafi](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shafi)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/7 "2020-11-03T20:06:41Z")
Just looking for tips if there is anything I should watch out for pulling the gas tank, I have never pulled a gas tank on a vehicle this old and that has been sitting for so long ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/8 "2020-11-03T20:12:45Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > That article is old news > > David Tracy’s postal jeep is literally a piece of garbage in a scrap heap now > > he’s had at least one follow up since that article you posted Yep, old news, but there are LOTS of links in that article to his previous articles about what he did. He sure was a glutton for punishment (and rusted out old Jeeps). ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/9 "2020-11-03T20:13:19Z")
If you are talking about dropping the tank to remove fuel pump there is no need as all the one’s I have seen have an access plate to get to thank without having to drop the tank. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/10 "2020-11-03T20:30:16Z")
> [@Renegade](#): > > dropping the tank to remove fuel pump there is no need as all the one’s I have seen have an access plate to get to thank without having to drop the tank. That access plate must have been for something else, the fuel pump is on the engine. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/11 "2020-11-03T20:44:37Z")
I like David Tracy’s articles And the guy obviously has picked up some real wrenching skills over the years However . . . I’m a landlord, and I’d NEVER tolerate a tenant such as him, with all those vehicles . . . many of them being really junky and with no apparent redeeming value whatsoever . . . on my property ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/12 "2020-11-03T20:59:26Z")
What I was going by is I get a package delivery through USPS 2 or 3 time’s a month by the time they get to my house they are close to the end of their route and when they open the cargo area I can see the access plate. I don’t know where the fuel pump is. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/13 "2020-11-04T15:03:30Z")
> [@Shafi](#): > > Just looking for tips if there is anything I should watch out for pulling the gas tank, I have never pulled a gas tank on a vehicle this old and that has been sitting for so long Lots of penetrating oil, and make sure you wear goggles and a mask when you get under there to take it down ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/14 "2020-11-04T15:15:40Z")
Is the tank empty? Make sure you are careful around gasoline. ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/pulling-the-gas-tank-from-a-1981-amc-dj5/171908/15 "2020-11-05T00:08:34Z")
Look under the hood. You likely have a carburated engine with the fuel pump mounted to the engine and easily removed leaning over the fender.