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Toys by Troy LJ Gas Tank Skid

Toys by Troy Gas Tank Skid

Part #:

Well I finally decided it was time to put some armor on the gas tank.  I had yet to really do anything but scratch the paint on the current skid, so I'm very pleased with how strong the new factory skid is.  The Toys by Troy skid is a brute.  Shipped at 69lbs.  Weighs in at 61lbs.  Real nice.  This is the same weight as the Kilby's skid.  We used the FSM to take this thing apart and install the new skid.  Some people have managed to do this mod without dropping the tank, just unbolting the straps and skid.  We choose to do it the other way.  Drop the tank.  You will need to make certain that you get as much gas out as possible from the tank otherwise it will be really heavy and hard to move around.  Since this install was almost exactly like the Kilby's install I was lazy and reused some pics from that install, so you'll notice a white Rubi in a couple pics.

Additional Parts: (Possibly)
Zip Tie
Tools Needed:
13mm Socket
Scribe
Small Screwdriver
Diagonal Cutters
T-25 Torque
Phillips Screwdriver
Pliers
Floor Jack

 

Installation:

Here are a few pics of the Toys by Troy skid. 

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1. Release some of the pressure from the fuel system.  I took the below from the FSM, but didn't follow the whole procedure to the end.  Just took the high pressure off the lines coming from the Fuel Pump.

2. Remove fuel fill cap.  You will need to take the tether out of the plastic bezel also.  It just pulls out.  If it doesn't, wait till you remove the bezel later then take it out.

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3. Remove fuel pump relay from Power Distribution Center (PDC). For location of relay, refer to label on underside of PDC cover.

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4.Start and run engine until it stalls. Attempt restarting engine until it will no longer run.  Turn ignition key to OFF position.  Reinstall fuel pump relay.  Some Jeeps may have a schrader valve on the fuel rail underneath the hood that will allow you to depressurize the line also.

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5. Disconnect negative battery cable.

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6. Using an approved portable gasoline siphon/ storage tank, drain fuel from tank through filler cap opening.  If required.  Note: Be careful of the spring loaded cover inside the filler hose.  It will pinch the siphon line, so you will need a long screwdriver to hold it open when you pull out the hose.

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7. Remove 8 screws retaining plastic fuel filler bezel to body.  Remove plastic fuel filler bezel.  This may either be a T-25 Trox or a Phillips screwdriver.

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8. To prevent contaminants from entering tank, temporarily install fuel cap to fill hoses.

 

9. Now Jack up the rear axle just high enough to get the tires off the ground.  Remove both rear tires.  The FSM says only the Right, but trust me.  If you have really big tires, on, I would suggest lowering the vehicle down after you get those tires off, so that you can actually reach the gas tank with a floor or transmission jack.  If you got a couple buddies then they can lift the tank for you.

10. Remove wheelhouse liner at right/rear wheel.  This requires you to pull about 7 small plastic trees out of the wheel well liner.  Then work it out from the bottom edge near the frame.  It's a little bit of a pain, but it will come.  The top outer edge needs to move in about an inch to disengage 2 prongs up there. 
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11. Remove the wheel well liner and put it off to the side.
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As you can see there is plenty of room under the LJ.
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12. Now look towards the back of the opening you will see the Evap canister and a bunch of hoses. 

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Fuel Line Clips
Before we start taking fuel lines apart I figured it would be best to talk about these.  They will break if you are not gentle with them.  The ones we discovered on this TJ were fairly easy to get out.  The clip is shaped like a U with 2 hooks on the ends.  This goes through the fitting and clamps around the line.  We used a small screwdriver and or our fingers to get these clips to spread as we slowly worked the clip out.
Another way to get these lines apart is to push in on the end of the clip so that it will spread open inside and just pull the line out.  From experience this works for the majority of the time, but I did find that I still needed to sometimes spread the clip and pull it out.
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This is a fairly good picture of the clips.  We found that once they are loose, if you pull one side out of the holder carefully, the hose comes out real easy.  You do not want to break one of these since you can't buy it as an individual part.

13. There is only 1 vapor line on the LJ that connect the fuel tank to the EVAP canister and Leak Detection Pump (LDP). This connection is made near the right/rear corner of the fuel tank. Carefully disconnect this vapor line near top of flow management valve. Be very careful not to bend or kink the vapor lines. If lines leak, a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) will be set.

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14. Cut plastic tie wrap securing rear axle vent and locker suction hose to fuel fill hose.

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15. Disconnect fuel tank electrical connector at left/front of fuel tank.  It has a small plastic red tab that needs to be pulled out on it.  It is really hard to get to because of where it's located.

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16. Disconnect the 2 fuel lines at left/front of fuel tank. The hard pipe is the fuel supply from the pump so be careful it may have some pressure in it. Push in on th clips and pull the hose out of the connector. You may need to push in a little before you can pull it out.

 
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17. The fuel tank and skid plate are removed as an assembly. Centrally position a transmission jack (or equivalent lifting device) under skid plate/fuel tank assembly. Secure tank assembly to jack. Note: There is still a electrical connector attached to the top of this tank that you can't get to until you partially drop the tank.

18. Remove three skid plate-to-body nuts at front of tank. Remove one of the nuts through access hole on skid plate.  Of course 13mm socket and extensions
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19. Remove four skid plate-to-body nuts at rear of tank. Do not loosen tank strap nuts those are the long ones  between the bolts.  They should have covers on them. Of course 13mm socket and extensions

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20. Lower the tank assembly very carefully.  You will need to snake the filler hose down and through the body.  Or you can Disconnect fuel filler hose at tank. Before disconnecting, mark and note the hose rotational position in relation to tank fitting.  Pull back the flap on the driver side to get your hands up in there.  Here we are snaking that fill hose through, having the tire off would have been easier.

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You will need to give this a little twist to get it out as you can see by that bent vent line.
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21. As you lower the tank you will be able to get access to the top of the tank. Here you can see the connector. It has a small red tab on it that needs to be pulled out before you can press the button and pull it apart.
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Older Tank
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New Tank (big difference)

22. To separate tank from skid plate, remove two protective caps at tank strap studs and remove tank strap nuts.  Of course 13mm socket.    Measure how much of the thread is sticking out beyond the nut.   You will not be tightening the nut as far with the new skid.  Just a good reference measurement.

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22. Remove both straps and remove tank from skid plate.  You may need to loosen the hose assembly from the top of the tank.  This is a simple clip that you just need to push in with a screwdriver and it pulls up like shown. DSC03669 
Here is what the tank looks like.  You can see the dimple on the bottom where the fuel float sits.   With just the weight of the plastic tank you can see that the dimple can be compressed. DSC03673 
You can also see how much junk has accumulated in this skid already.  Now is a good time to take a good luck up where the skid was to clean out any accumulations of trail stuff.  This isn't mine, but it was almost as full of stuff from the trails here in Florida.   Dsc02115.jpg (191301 bytes)

 

Now I had heard a lot of talk about fuel pumps failing after installing raised gas tank skids without the dimple in them.  So I figured I would do a little investigations to see if I could come up with some ideas about why they could fail.  I decided to go ahead and remove the fuel pump and do some measurements.  I already had a good theory running in my head since I had pulled the fuel pump on my ZJ a while back.  The TJ pump turns out be almost identical (bottom filter is different).  I managed to lose my notes on this one so I don't have actual measurements, but I do remember the important ones.   I checked the measurements a few different ways to see how much the dimple would actually compress inside of the tank.  I first just put my body weight on it but felt that the numbers might be a little skewed due to weight on top of the tank, so next I filled the tank with 19gallons of water (yes, I measured).  Now this weight was a little bit more than what the fuel would actually weight, but specific gravity is a lesson for another day.  The final math worked out to the below.

Dimple Depth
3/8"
Fuel Pump Assembly Compression
1/4"
Obvious Math
-1/8"

 

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3.

As you can see the measurements show that if you crush the dimple you are putting about 1/8" of compression force on the top of the tank.  In 1. and 2. you can see the gap between the plastic top housing and the metal cylinder.  The top is spring loaded to ensure that the filter sits at the very bottom of the tank.  When it was installed in my tank there was only 1/4" of gap remaining.  Now if I had compressed the dimple all the way that cylinder would have wanted to push the plastic housing up.  That filter that is on the bottom also has a plastic foot on it that is just a small ring.  You can break and crush it easily (I experimented with the old filter from the ZJ, it squashed easily).  Oh if your wondering what that silverish cylinder is on the top of the assembly, that's your fuel filter/ pressure regulator for the Jeep. 

In reality could we probably get away with this like it is.  I won't say yes.  So it all falls back to your preference.  Kilby states that you need a BL for his, but Troy says you don't.  Funny that the skids measured out exactly the same as far as lift.  When I did the Kilby's on Rubicon with a 1.25" BL we didn't have much room left after the install.  When I installed the TBT on mine with the 1.25" BL I was even closer.  Mine did have a mod installed just to handle the dimple which you'll see. 

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As you can see by the pic's there is very little clearance between the bottom of the tub and the top of the straps.  It was about 3/8".  So if I didn't have a BL in my case I would have been crushing the top of the tank down.  Where was the force going to go.  FUEL PUMP.  So my current stand on this will be for the Short Wheelbase 2003 and 2004 you need at least a 1" BL to install either of the skids.  Now I do know that the 2005 Rubicon Unlimited has a different tank and layout underneath, but you'll have to go look at the write up when it's out.  I will also recommend the following cheap mod to protect the dimple in the tank for all skids.

Gas Tank Mod:
Pic up two 6" rubber pipe coupler from the local hardware store (Lowe's, Home Depot).  The rubber on this 3/8" deep, so it's perfect for spacing the dimple out.  You may find these in the aisle with sewer or drainage pipe. 
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1. Cut the coupler down along the side so that you have a long strip.   You will be making 2 long strips and 2 short strips out of this.
2. Measure and cut the long strip first.  These will be the 2 supports along either side of the dimple.  My measurements were 13".  This will leave 2 small strips that we will use in the corners of the skid to support the tank.
3. Lay the strips into the tank, long ones on either side of where the dimple will be, and the short ones in the corners.
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4. Test fit the tank to make certain everything lines up.

 

Reinstallation:

1. Place fuel tank into skid plate. Wrap straps around tank with strap studs inserted through holes in skid plate. Tighten strap nuts to attain 30 mm (±2 mm) between bottom of nut to end of strap stud using a 13mm deep well socket. Do not over tighten nuts. This wasn't anywhere close to what it was from the factory so I choose to ignore this measurement. I tightened down the straps until I couldn't move them anymore, then went 1 turn more.

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2. Install two protective caps to tank strap studs.

 

3. Connect fuel fill hose at tank if you removed it earlier. Tighten hose clamp.

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4. Raise skid plate/fuel tank assembly into position on body while carefully guiding plastic vapor lines and fill hose.  A floor jack works well for this. Make certain you don't get any lines pinched between the skid and the frame as you lift it.

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5. Connect electrical connector at the top of the fuel tank. Don't forget to push in the red clip to hold it.

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6. Install 7 skid plate mounting nuts. Tighten to 16 N·m (141 in. lbs.) torque.  You will need a 13mm socket and a couple extensions to reach the ones in the front.

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7. Remove tank jacking device.

8.Carefully connect the vapor line near top of flow management valve. Be very careful not to bend or kink the vapor lines. If lines leak, a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) will be set.  The hose should just press in and the clip should give a slight click. Give a light pull on the line to make certain it's in.

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9. Install wheelhouse liner at right/rear wheel.  Don't forget to put all the trees back in.

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10. Connect 2 fuel lines at left/front of fuel tank.

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11. Use a new plastic tie wrap to secure rear axle vent hose to fuel fill hose.

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12. Remove gas cap and position fuel fill bezel to body. Install 8 screws and tighten.  You may need a T-25 Torx or a Phillips screwdriver, be careful you don’t send anything down the tube.

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13. Install filler cap.

 

14. Install Rear wheels.

 

15. Put required amount of fuel in tank, a couple gallons should be good if you emptied it.

 

16. Connect negative battery cable to battery.

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17. Reinstall fuel pump relay. Dsc02083.jpg (202512 bytes)
18. Start vehicle and inspect for leaks.  

 

  N-m Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.

Skid plate mounting nuts

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This page last updated: 16-Apr-2008

Content and Design © 2002-present WanderingTrail,  Ronald Seegert
Common Sense and Safety should always be observed when working on your vehicle or doing modifications. Jackstands, wheel blocks, disconnecting the battery are a few of the basic safety precautions that should be used and may not be mentioned in the write ups on this site. You are responsible for your own installation, these write ups are a helpful guideline and should not be taken as an official installation instruction. My write up may be different from the kits currently out there, so alwasy double check the manufacturers installation instructions when installing anything. I try to keep the site up to date with changes that have occured as I discover them, but may not have the latest unless someone lets me know. If you feel that an install is above your capabilities after reading my write ups, I recommend getting together with a club and getting some help. Only a few times have I needed to employe some actual help from a shop to get something done. Usually welding or A/C work. While I have spent many years working on mechanical systems, I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one. I hope these write ups have been useful to you.
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