Lurking beneath the trunk floor mat is the wiring for the fuel sending unit. One wire to the fuel quantity gauge and one for the low fuel warning light. A 3rd wire, upper right, is for grounding. The 5 securing nuts with washers removed without grief as there was no corrosion on the threads but the unit itself will not separate from the fuel tank. Its cork gasket has bonded itself to the tank top.

Disconnecting these wires is only one step in the fuel tank removal. The fuel filler neck hose coupling, expansion line, fuel feed and fuel return lines all have to be detached. Finally there are 3 mounting bolts securing the tank to the chassis frame to be loosened.

The objective is to drain the stale gasoline that has deteriorated during long term storage. Residual varnish and gum must be flushed before fresh gas can be added, necessitating its removal.  And, after the tank has been dropped down I can better access that “glued on” sending unit and restore a fresh gasket.