<VV> 1969 gas tank remove help needed

[Taruffi57 at aol.com]

I am trying to move the filler neck downward so I can get the fender  gas 
tank door/flap off of my '69.  There is a little rust in there  that I want 
to weld up.  I was hoping to just take the filler neck  loose at the two hose 
connections lower down, but they are quite awkward to get  too.  Got the 
top two hose clamps loose though.  Is there any trick to  this?  I don't 
really need to pull the gas tank.
 
I don't see anything in the 1st Series Tech Tips I have and my manuals  
wouldn't cover the '69 with the fuel return metal pipe - which is jammed up  
against the backside of the steel fuel cavity area.  Seems strange that  
Chevrolet designed this to be so difficult to  remove.        Lots of cussing so  
far....
 
Joe Dunlap
Cen. Florida