Not exactly. External tanks were added (as approved by flight testing and engineering and the LOA.
Aircraft are not cars—they require software adjustments and flight testing to ensure the jet cane fly safely AND safe seperation occurs when the “empties” are jettisoned.
IIRC, the concern was that the drop tanks were very, very close to the bomb racks. The fear was that when the empty tanks were released, they could strike the bombs...either causing detonation or affecting their ability to be released over the target..