If they are the same tanks as mine they wont come out unless you remove the gunnel supports just in front of them so you can slide them forward than...
If you get desperate I have a couple parts and pieces, I have a BBC crank flange that is good and a H bar but it uses outside clips where the flange...
The small claims process is not as simple as some may think but you first have to look into if and where he has his monies that you can recover after...