removing tank from a LIONEL 6463

Dan,

The body is held on by two bent metal clips that are bent into the holes on the bottom. Not easy to get to, you would need a hooked to tool of some sort and pry back tabs being careful not to damage the body. 

franktrain

The tank is held in place by two tabs that are bent up and over inside the tank.
Look underneath, and you will see the opening.
You have to get something up inside, and under the tabs to pry them up a bit.
Once they are up part way, the tank can be forced off with firm, but gentle pressure.
You will have to adjust the tabs to slip the tank back on.
I usually side off one side, then the other.

Be aware that they mounted tank car bodies with tabs at least two different ways over the years. The frames are not interchangeable.
Without looking at a couple, I think one has two smaller holes in the bottom of the tank for the tabs, and the other has one large hole. So the spacing and length of the tabs on the frames are different.

If your 6463 rocket fuel tank is a nice one, why do you want to swap frames? Rust?

AND bend the tabs gently you could snap them off. It happens without care.

Thanks guys I see it and have a hook   ready to use I figure I will have to have a bend need nose to reseat .. the frame had some issues with the pain I just might take off and repaint it  .. Thank-you for the info! DANiel

I think I used a pair of ignition pliers (like miniature water pump pliers) to reset the tabs the last time.

Hi guys... a follow up  on the frame repaint , Was able to re rivet the trucks OK...But...  I must of got a little too happy with the tab  it seemed it would not come off the frame so I bent it up a little at a time . got the frame repainted all was well .

Until I lightly tried to push back the tab one side went well The other just fell off with no tension on it.

So my choice was to find another frame or repair this one ,Since I plan on running on using it on the layout  with the new (175 capsule failed  countdown/  launcher station) with separate  operating helicopter next to it..

So i thought I would give a tip on how I made it work I got a spring form my hardware  store and kept  shorting it until I could have enough tension to keep the tank on  and if I wanted to take it off.

I think its not to noticeable and a pretty good fix for a tank car.

Here's some pictures Thanks again DANiel

MacGyver!

Thanks! did know what that meant I remember the show! so I looked it up:

to solve a problem in a creative, resourceful, typically "jury-rigged" fashion. Can be used as an adjective to describe such a solution. Also MacGyverism, the noun form.

DANiel