Mondial 3.2 Fuel Tank Leak

Hello and thanks ahead for all of you that take the time to help a first Ferrari owner like me with sorting out the issues...

So my mech discovered that someone in the past decided to "mend" a broken fuel return line going into the top of the Pass Side fuel tank with... epoxy and putty.. yup. Looks like the "bung" or "nipple" had cracked or broke and that's how they decided to repair it.

It's leaking under pressure now.

So the question is can us Mondial owners (mines a eurospec to boot) remove the fuel tanks without engine out? A new nipple needs to be welded onto the top of the tank. It's possible to do this with the tank in the car but precautions must be made. But better yet if the tank can be removed without engine out.. Worst case is having to remove the engine. Thanks ahead for your inputs.

Vince
1986 Mondial 3.2 eurospec

 

Mike I'm trying to imagine the engine being tilted.. This engine is very different from the 308GT4 I think.

 

Wade this seems like a pretty big job, but not as bad as dropping the engine out. We want to replace my coolant anyhow (can fix the tank and replace coolant the same job), but my mech might not be able to do this work until things slow down in the fall/winter. I wonder if I can do a quick fix for a few weeks then do the job the right way over winter break?

Keep in mind I have a eurospec, so I only have one "nipple" coming out the top of the fuel tank, theres less hoses, etc. less emissions equip.

Can't believe people use epoxy to fix this kind of stuff. Yikes!
Vince

 

Best way is to remove the nipple, reweld a new one on, and reattach hose. oh yeah it will be just FUN! I have a three week wait for the mechanic right now.. ugh!