Oil tank removal. 68 Sporto

[MrJTP2001]

Car has been sitting for most of the last 20 years, on the gulf coast, so its time to check/clean the oil tank along with everything else.

I've removed the rear bumpers.
I've removed the three mounting nuts, 2 inside engine room, one in fender well.
I've removed the oil filler neck and the rubber hose adapter.
I've removed the oil filter and filter adapter.
I've removed all hoses.
I've removed the cover over the sending unit and disconnected the wiring.
I've drained the oil.
I've tried to move the fender brace (the PET calls it a strut) and stopped, I believe, just short of ripping it loose. I was pretty sure it was welded in place but had to make sure.
I've even read the factory shop manual and it doesn't mention removal/replacing the tank.

The tank moves around but won't come out.

What am I missing?

TIA

[304065]

Well, the fender brace, a J-shaped tube, has screw threads on one end of it. It goes through the rear longitudinal and attaches with a big nut. That's what the forward edge of the tank is attached to. It's attached by a clamp that consists of a folded piece of sheet metal with a clamp screw around the tube. These are uber-rare as they faded into oxide just after the car exited the factory before the test track.

[MrJTP2001]

Of course, you just joggled my mind enough to realize how to move that J-tube.

A thousand thanks!!

[304065]

A man never stands so tall as when bending to help a short wheelbase 911.