D*lly needs cranking for ages to start. Was starting fine, but engine not been run for 4 months or so (most of the rest of the car in bits) - I suspect the bit of petrol that is in the tank has been there for a couple of years at least. Want to take the tank off and clean out all the crud, replace fuel line and put an inline filter in (maybe new fuel pump ?). How to get tank out ?

Thanks

Stick your head under the rear wing, and undo the rubber coupler that holds the filler to the tank.

Then go under the car - there's four bolts. Two on the front edge, one down each side, towards the rear. All 11mm head. Undo 'em, then the tank just drops down.

How much fuel's actually in it? You can drain it out just by undoing the fuel pipe by the front wheel (you probably want to do that before dropping the tank anyway...

The only opportunities you gain by dropping the tank are giving it a thorough sluice out, replacing the last few inches of fuel pipe, and taking the sender out. Against that, if the fuel gauge is working at the moment, you risk disturbing it - and the bolts are a bit of a bugger. If your rear brake pipes are getting crunchy, do them whilst the tank's out.

An inline filter needs to go somewhere accessible, so you can change it - I prefer in front of the pump, down by the chassis leg, to help protect the pump.

If it was starting and running just fine 4 months ago, I'd just sort an inline filter (always a good plan), then fill the tank to dilute the old stuff, and drive the car some. <shrug>

Similar issue with my Van, she just won't start unless you stick fuel in the carb, but once she's running she's fine. Think she just needs a good running

Non-return in the pump?

After it's been left for a day or two, undo the pipe at the pump, and use the priming lever on the pump. You should get fuel through fairly quickly. If there's nothing, it's the non-return.

Thanks for the heads up re the fuel gauge. Now I'm thinking 'perhaps the brake lines should be changed'. It's just one of those things with an old car I guess - every job leads to another one...

If they're rotten anywhere, it'll be on the easily visible bit down the side of the rear arms.