I just dropped the fuel tank on my '69 Camaro. I have 2 questions.
1.) There is a ground wire that goes from the sending unit to an exhust hanger. It is sodered/tack welded at both ends. This is not the rubber 'boot' connector, I have that popped off. It's a solid bare wire. It's id'ed as a ground wire in the assembly guide. Can this wire just be "cut" or is there a way I should be removing it?
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2.) The car is believed to be a COPO (all the signs are there, working on documentation). With that in mind, do I need to be saving this tank? It is 35 years old and showing some age on it, i.e. dented, painted black and now chipping, etc. Can I just replace the tank or would that be a no - no.

Thanks.

IF you have a potential copo I would not throw away that tank it cound only devalue your car. If it were my car I would drop that tank, very carefully remove that wire in a way that it would be easy to replace. THen I would have that tank professionaly cleaned and sealed to meake it look like new again. I have had to drop my tank on my 69 several times and I have never run into that extra wire problem so I can't really help u too much there.

The wire should be attached with a screw on the frame rail next to the exhaust hanger. I believe the screw head size is 9/32. Also look for the build sheet above the tank. If its there it will help document this car.

I've removed the tank from a few cars and have never seen a bare ground wire. The ground wire should be black insulated and soldered to the sending unit. It has a loop spade on the other end that is attached to the area next to the passenger side tank mounting strap. Just my observations from the cars I have worked on (all three never had the tank removed before).

Agree with drdave69. If COPO, look at the pass side axle tube front side for the letters "BE".

You might even compare the VIN with the copo Registry. Somebody here has the address.

Got it! The screw was pretty much right were Mr.C, said. I keep forgetting how much crud gets built up on these things after 35 years graemlins/clonk.gif
It was on the hinge bracket that that right tank support hangs on. A little wire brushning and a 1/4 inch nut driver and out it came. graemlins/hurray.gif

No build sheet, that was disapointing but sort of expected. The center of the trunk floor was replaced with a peice of sheet metal by a previous owner. They muxt have pulled the build sheet.
The rear is a BE ... there was a 7-8 page thread on this site a couple of months ago about my car. Here's the link if anyone is interested:

http://www.camaros.net/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/6/4910.html?

Thanks guys.

I don't think replacing the fuel tank will impact COPO value at all. A replacement undented, unrusted tank is better than a banged up original, IMO.

Everyone says the NOS GM ones are a mess, due to them not being protected by a shipping box from the factory. Repops are generally very nice.