Petrol tank mounting

[Warb]

The petrol tank on our '59 Series II 88" was attached to the chassis with 6 x 5/16 bolts. The parts book and various workshop manuals also list rubber washers, shouldered bolts and various square washers or strengthening plates, but are less than clear on which fittings apply to which vehicles.

Would I be right to assume that 6 bolts with steel washers is correct for the '59 88", and that the rubber washers + shouldered bolts came later and/or for the 109"?

Whether or not the rubbers mounts are original, is there any realistic advantage to retrofiting them to this vehicle?

[JDNSW]

I don't think I have ever seen rubber washers used in mounting any Series tanks, although I have to admit I have not looked at any rear mounted ones. I would not use them, although it will not make much difference.

John

[isuzutoo-eh]

If you use rubber mounts, they are in a place where you'll never check their condition and they will wear out/perish leaving the fuel tank loosely fitted. I'd go for a hard mounting.

[Warb]

I believe that the theory was to allow some movement to prevent the fuel tank twisting as the chassis flexed. The rubber mounts are shown on page 55 of the Haynes Land Rover Restoration Manual, in regards to what appears to be an 88" although that book does seem to jump from model to model!

In any case, I have 5/16 bolts to hand so it will be mounted "hard" in the same way as it used to be!!

[RobHay]

I believe that the earlier series fuel tanks were hard mounted. My 68 Series IIA has three bolts to the front and one at the rear. The rear one is a stepped bolt that inserts through a rubber grommet that fits into the hole on the support rail. This allows the tank to flex rather than split if the chassis flexs too much.