Gas Tank Mounting panel replacement

Hi, 

Would anyone know if the '84 Tbird and '84 Cougar have the same attachment type for the gas tank straps.  My mounting "panels", that seem to be a stamping of some sort, are completely rusted.  

Pictures attached.  If they are the same, does anyone know what it is called and or a part number?

Thank you!
Joe

Following this thread, I also need these.

On a side note: I went on another group and one person tried another approach to fixing this issue.  He drilled holes through the floor boards and ran a carriage bolt through the floor board through the strap hole and put a nut on the end and tightened it up. He said it worked great.  No sure if the carriage bolt would hold the weight or not.  I'm not an engineer.

On a side note: I went on another group and one person tried another approach to fixing this issue.  He drilled holes through the floor boards and ran a carriage bolt through the floor board through the strap hole and put a nut on the end and tightened it up. He said it worked great.  No sure if the carriage bolt would hold the weight or not.  I'm not an engineer.

I know money is not unlimited, but doing this right will likely require repairing some rust on your trunk floor with new metal.  Your floor seems to be pretty deep rust red.  Have you considered buying an entry level MIG welder?  You could get a 130-140 amp welder and it would be sufficient.  Repairing floors is a great way to learn.  No one is going to see your mistakes after you coat it in seam sealer and paint.  

You could also cut out the rust and use panel glue to glue patches on your trunk floor.  I'm not sure that would work to mount the brackets to your floor.  

Warning about cheap welders, though.  My dad bought a flux core from Harbor Freight, and the wire always jams on me when I try to use it.  

Not sure if the other years' mounts would be exact fits, but they would likely be good enough to work for you.  I'm worried your floor won't be up to the task, though.  

I had to do similar repairs on my mounts a year or so ago.  I had to patch to floors to make it all work.  

Good luck.

Thank you for the feedback. I'm on the hunt for the "panels" at least, and may have found a donor car. Your idea has merit because I'm retired and have time, this might be an option. A shop quoted at least 20 hours for each stamping (cardboard mock up, fixing the rusty area, fabricating a new panel for each side), which would have been 2k each side. Carriage bolts seem pretty good to me at this point. LOL.

Keep in mind a full 22 gal tank weighs around 200lbs. Shock loads (over bumps, etc) greatly increase the gravitational load of that suspended tank. I wouldn't be inclined to trust compromised or unreinforced (floor pan) sheet metal... otherwise the OEM would surely have done just that for simplicity's sake. If you can get good mounts from the donor car, or else beef up what's left of yours, that's your best bet.

Keep in mind a full 22 gal tank weighs around 200lbs.  Shock loads (over bumps, etc) greatly increase the gravitational load of that suspended tank.  I wouldn't be inclined to trust compromised or unreinforced (floor pan) sheet metal... otherwise the OEM would surely have done just that for simplicity's sake.  If you can get good mounts from the donor car, or else beef up what's left of yours, that's your best bet.

Thank you for the note.  If I used the carriage bolts, I'd reinforce the floor pan and put a thick washer of some type in there.  I too would rather have the sheet metal.....

I have a line on a '86 turbo coupe roller and the mounting points might be the same. He's sending me pictures today. I might even get the whole car. It has only seats and the body parts, no interior, engine or trans.

Following this thread, I also need these.

 I found an 85 turbo coupe with the same stampings, but the guy wants to sell the whole car for $750 (roller only).  It's in NE NC.  If you want the info, I can send it.

Keep in mind a full 22 gal tank weighs around 200lbs.  Shock loads (over bumps, etc) greatly increase the gravitational load of that suspended tank.  I wouldn't be inclined to trust compromised or unreinforced (floor pan) sheet metal... otherwise the OEM would surely have done just that for simplicity's sake.  If you can get good mounts from the donor car, or else beef up what's left of yours, that's your best bet.

Based on what I've been able to find (almost nothing) as far as stampings go, I'll have to use a carriage bolt (stainless) and reinforce the point where it goes through the floor board.   I found a car but she wanted $500 for the car with almost no useable parts on it except the stampings.

Hey man, let me look at my car and see what I think it would take to make a set. How rusty is the floor? If it's still solid you might be able to just make the hanger.