Replacing a steel fuel tank with a plastic tank in a Defender 110

[LandieMan]

The original steel fuel tank (rear) in our 1986 Defender 110 has developed a leak so I'm going to replace it with a plastic tank from a later model.

However, the mountings are of course all different with the plastic tank so I thought I'd put the question out to see if anyone has experience doing this exchange before and whether they have any tips/lessons learnt.

The truck is in daily use so once I drop the tank out it'll be going nowhere so I thought I'd do as much research before hand as I can so I'm not having to walk to work

Also, if anyone has access to any exploded line drawings of the plastic tank and it's mounting parts that would be a big help. Also, if anyone has access to photos of the plastic tank as originally fitted that would be a big help too. I'm especially interested in the steel strap that goes over the top of the tank as I have no idea how this was originally mounted to the chassis.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Cheers, Landieman

[130man]

Hi Landieman, since you got 24 years out of your last steel tank, perhaps it is not worth the trouble to change to the plastic,assuming the steel tanks are still available. Cheers, 130man.

[LandieMan]

Hi Landieman, since you got 24 years out of your last steel tank, perhaps it is not worth the trouble to change to the plastic,assuming the steel tanks are still available. Cheers, 130man.

A fair point... and given the origins of some of the fuel it's had and the places it's been, 24 years has been a very good innings.

A new replacement steel tank turned out to be more expensive than the second hand plastic I was able to purchase and once the plastic is fitted it really will be a better outcome long term.

Plus... if we wanted an easy life we wouldn't own Land Rovers would we?

Cheers, Landieman

[Drover]

Hey Landieman,

PUMA tanks are held in with two straps. They have a steel bash plate that cover the under side of the tank. The two straps attach to this plate and then the underside of the vehicle.

If you need, I can take a couple of photo's tomorrow of the tank, bash palte and straps

Cheers

[LandieMan]

Hey Landieman,

PUMA tanks are held in with two straps. They have a steel bash plate that cover the under side of the tank. The two straps attach to this plate and then the underside of the vehicle.

If you need, I can take a couple of photo's tomorrow of the tank, bash palte and straps

Cheers

Thanks Drover, those photos would be great if you can. Even though the tank I have I think is from a TD5, it'll be helpful to see the Puma set-up as I'm guessing it's likely to be a very similar tank and if they felt need to mount it differently in the later versions that would be good to know.

Cheers, Landieman.

[Drover]

Hey Landieman,

Sorry camerah battery was flat...

Got it a bit wrong, bash plate holds tank in front to rear, a strap is used left to right.

TANK SITTING IN BASH PLATE WITH STRAP IN POSITION




BASH PLATE AND STRAP.




The angled end of the bash plate is the rear, the strap end is at the front.

Hope it helps.

[LandieMan]

Hey Landieman,

Sorry camerah battery was flat...

Got it a bit wrong, bash plate holds tank in front to rear, a strap is used left to right.

The angled end of the bash plate is the rear, the strap end is at the front.

Hope it helps.

Thanks Drover, great photos.

I was at the airport yesterday and saw a TD5 in the car park. So I had a good old nosey around crawling under it (P.S. I'm sure the boys looking at the security cameras in the car park were preparing to have the bomb squad called in ... )

It had a after-market bash plate fitted so I couldn't see all the main plate mountings. It looked to me like the thin strap in your photos goes over the top of the tank, east/west to the rear of the filler and mounts on a triangular bracket welded onto the outside of the chassis rails.

I think I'll have to fabricate the top strap mountings and weld them on the chassis. I'm hoping I'll be able to mod the main plate to fit the existing holes as I don't really want to have to do too much chassis welding.

Cheers & thanks again for your assistance, Landieman.