new fuel tank options?

[MrCos]

Hey folks!
I had a weird idea. Does anyone know of our trucks having a spare fuel tank on the driver's side in front of the wheel fender? Mine I think was a camper at some time ago. There is a lot of extra wires and plug at the rear bumper. I also have a fuel tank selector switch on the floor of the cab on the driver's side. The tank is a large cube looking tank maybe under 2' x 2' ?

Any who, I ran into a site which carries auxiliary fuel tanks and wondered for those like me who would like to remove the tank from the inside of the cab, would a combo in bed fuel tank/truck box be an option?? Has anyone ever thought about it, or hear someone using it as their primary fuel tank?

Thoughts on how it would look as opposed to the new tank that goes in between the frame towards the back end of the truck (with the bottom of the tank showing under the bumper in some instances)


I like the design, but worry it wouldn't be legal as a "replacement" option. The price is a little steep, but I might be interested in something like this.


www.transferflow.com/fuel-tanks/in-bed

[TJ's GMC]

None from the factory that I am aware of, can't say for certain. My 64 Chevy had two under bed mounted tanks that mounted on the side of the frame in between the cab and wheel. Kinda like the 70's chevys, but I think those were aftermarket. Anyhow, I don't see a legal issue at all. However I would recommend covering it somehow as a full fuel tank in direct sunlight can creat enough heat to cause some issues. There are many rear frame mount tanks on the web. I would look into those and find one that doesn't hang as low. :ok:

[jturk]

Here's a few pictures of my 65 short bed that has a rear tank from Boyd's installed. It doesn't show from the rear at all, but I do have a rear roll pan. It holds like 23 gallons if I remember correctly. It is tapered from front to rear of the tank to fit and look better. Hope this helps.

[TJ's GMC]

That's a nice tank, I went with the kit from Orange County Truck and Car shop. It's a 17 gallon top filler. Doesn't seem to hang to low so I am hoping for the best. Truck will be at stock height.

[MrCos]

those both look fantastic fellas!

I would definately like those choices, I just thought about it because I planned on putting a box back there for storage anyways and figured to kill 2 birds with one stone? lol

I think some of those combo tank/boxes capacities are 30+ gallons which would be cool too.

[Sponge]

On my 62, I've got 3 fuel tanks: behind the bench and one on each side....
I've got a selector switch on the floor.

[James]

On my 62, I've got 3 fuel tanks: behind the bench and one on each side....
I've got a selector switch on the floor.

My truck use to have three tanks too, but I had to remove the two saddle tanks (about 17 gallons each). They were falling off of the truck cause they were attached to the wooden bed (the bed is on my to do list). The tanks look non professional but was functional when they were installed.

[Jmclendon]

On my 62, I've got 3 fuel tanks: behind the bench and one on each side....
I've got a selector switch on the floor.

That sounds really cool.

I've got to ask, how many gallons does the 3 tanks give you?

Also, when you say you've got a selector switch, does that mean that you also have your fuel gauge wired so that it reads whichever tank you've currently got selected?

[Ed Snyder]

On my 62, I've got 3 fuel tanks: behind the bench and one on each side....
I've got a selector switch on the floor.

Installations like yours with the add-on saddle tanks and three-way selector switch were common installations on pickups back then, mostly thanks to the OPEC oil embargo of October 1973 that led to gas rationing. I installed a set-up like that on my pickup in early 1974 as a result of that.

Since the saddle tanks didn't have float switches in them, the usual way to use the 3 tanks was to run the first saddle tank dry, reach down as soon as the engine started to sputter and switch to the other saddle tank. When it ran dry, you could then use the main tank with the gas gauge.

[Dazzoman]

Mr Cos , I have been on this one for a month now and can't figure it out either .

Once I had an 1967 Dodge camper that had what you are saying , it was perfect . One tank in the cab and one on the drivers side IN FRONT of the rear wheels with the spout sticking out next to the left tire . There was no door on the left rear fender or nothing .
On my 66 GMC 3/4 with a 292- Im ready to put in an 88' 350 ( some are not happy about that because its not a V6 ) with an Holley EFI Sniper , I can't find a tank(s) made like that any more . My buddy says I need to have one made of aluminum ( 2 would be better and get rid of the cab tank so I can have room) .
You could never let one run dry or the pump can burn out . Im thinking 2 tanks both with returns for the EFI .
Anyone out there know of anything els ?
I don't want to use the spare tire space because I need an spare tire .

[Dazzoman]

My truck use to have three tanks too, but I had to remove the two saddle tanks (about 17 gallons each). They were falling off of the truck cause they were attached to the wooden bed (the bed is on my to do list). The tanks look non professional but was functional when they were installed.
Do you still have them?
Can I buy them from you ?
Thx

[James]

Do you still have them?
Can I buy them from you ?
Thx

Next weekend I'll drag them out of storage, take some pictures, and post it here to see if you still want them. In the mean time I'll check on what it take to ship them.

[Dazzoman]

Next weekend I'll drag them out of storage, take some pictures, and post it here to see if you still want them. In the mean time I'll check on what it take to ship them.
Youre on ! :-)
What did you not like about them , I mean why didn't you keep the faith ?

[James]

They calculated out to be about 17 gallons. The hung below the body too much, too tall. I think (when I get around to it) I can do better and more capacity. I not for certain but I think they was put on by the original owner, around 1964 or later.

[Dazzoman]

Yes that could be an problem but my truck runs high off the ground meaning it an 3/4 ton with ten leafsprings .
I guess you dont have any pictures of them or what they looked like in yr truck , do you?

[James]

My truck use to have three tanks too, but I had to remove the two saddle tanks (about 17 gallons each). They were falling off of the truck cause they were attached to the wooden bed (the bed is on my to do list). The tanks look non professional but was functional when they were installed.

In my previous post (on page 1) in this thread. The one picture show how low the ride.

[Dazzoman]

James ,
if your truck was an 63 Chevy I could call you "Bond, James Bond " .....
JK ...
I dont see in your picture(s) the bottoms dragging off to the ground or anything but I read you had the (yellow pine wood ?) failing to hold the tanks or something ?
Is there an way ( I'm sure there is ) to fasten them to a frame with a little fab ?
Are yours plastic , alum , ?
How much do you want for them :-)
Dazzman

[James]

They are steel tanks. The picture show both tanks bottom being held in place with two straps across the bottom (see attached picture). The straps has rods that run up to the wood floor in the bed. You can see the tank are hand made, referencing the welds. This weekend I'll get them out of storage and take some pictures and post it here.

If you still want them after I post the pictures, you only need to pay the freight.

The attached picture is about 4 years old (when I first look at the truck) and the truck bottom now look a 1000% better.

The tanks that I want to have will be attached to the frame, but I do not know when I will get that far along. :happyGMC:

[Dazzoman]

OK that so far looks good - like they are not so far toward the ground but I will see your pics to determine that .
Mine were steel on my 67 Dodge camper truck , had no problems .
One thing is where do you gas up ?
My 67 had them popping up at the tire tread , facing the tread toward the front of the tire . make sense ?
That was a great spot because you didn't have to make / cut doors in the fender .
I wonder if yours can be fabbed that way .....

[James]

They are steel tanks. The picture show both tanks bottom being held in place with two straps across the bottom (see attached picture). The straps has rods that run up to the wood floor in the bed. You can see the tank are hand made, referencing the welds. This weekend I'll get them out of storage and take some pictures and post it here.

If you still want them after I post the pictures, you only need to pay the freight.

The attached picture is about 4 years old (when I first look at the truck) and the truck bottom now look a 1000% better.

The tanks that I want to have will be attached to the frame, but I do not know when I will get that far along. :happyGMC:

I'm a little slow posting the pictures of the tanks. Here is all of the views:

[Dazzoman]

Can i have the input filler moved so that it is facing the tire instead of the fender well ?
Or is it something that requires fire and cutting and explosive ?
Or do they just fill it with water and do it ?

[James]

Can i have the input filler moved so that it is facing the tire instead of the fender well ?
Or is it something that requires fire and cutting and explosive ?
Or do they just fill it with water and do it ?

I do not know. Maybe someone else might know.

[WDShaffer]

Not water, nitrogen. Dry ice is the easiest form of nitrogen for us laymen to acquire. You want to drain the tank completely, of course. Then fill with dry ice to suppress any remaining vapors, and displace oxygen. No oxygen, no boom.

[James]

Not water, nitrogen. Dry ice is the easiest form of nitrogen for us laymen to acquire. You want to drain the tank completely, of course. Then fill with dry ice to suppress any remaining vapors, and displace oxygen. No oxygen, no boom.

Dry Ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should work.

[Dazzoman]

Dry Ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should work.
Do you mean fill the entire 17 gallon tank with dry ice ?
Is that very hard to get and how expensive is that ?
In my conjectural case , could be 34 gallons possibly ?

[James]

Do you mean fill the entire 17 gallon tank with dry ice ?
Is that very hard to get and how expensive is that ?
In my conjectural case , could be 34 gallons possibly ?

I can buy it at my local groceries store. They sell by the pound. The last time I bought it (a couple of years ago) I believe I spent about $25.00 for 20 lbs. (2-10 lbs. pieces). I'm only guessing but I think 10 lbs. should do both tanks if you don't take too long to move the filler neck.

Note: Always wear heavy glove. Dry Ice is -271° C.

Another possibility is using Nitrogen. You can get a bottle and a regulator at your local welding shop, more expensive initially. Later you can use it to fill your tires.

In both cases be sure you use it in a well ventilated area, the gases will displace the oxygen in the air.

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Do you mean fill the entire 17 gallon tank with dry ice ?
Is that very hard to get and how expensive is that ?
In my conjectural case , could be 34 gallons possibly ?

If you're talking about welding it with gas in it that's something that sounds kinda like a fun exercise, but it can be done. Welding it you'd fill it with Argon or Nitrogen via a welding tank full of that stuff. Then you'd do your welding after making sure all your buddies are far, far away.

The easiest thing to do is wait till the tank is low, pull it and drain it. Don't put the last 1/4 gallon of gas in the tank in the grass or the flowerbed. That'll just be against EPA regulations and you know how bad it is to be against the EPA. They get all twisted up. The only way you'd be able to get away with that is to do it and not tell anyone. Oh wait.... :teehee:

Anyway, with the tank empty just rinse it out with water a couple of times and let it air dry. Tank is no longer explosive, weld however you want. Then put it back in, fill tank, drive away. :ok:

[Dazzoman]

Just water ? What about all that stuff about dry ice ?:ahhhh:

[FetchMeAPepsi]

Just water ? What about all that stuff about dry ice ?:ahhhh:

You don't need dry ice or nitrogen/argon if there's no gas around to blow up. It's just a steel box without the gas. But again just make sure to let it air dry in the sun to prevent rust.
Oh, and you'll probably want to put some tank liner in while you have them out for longevity. Por15 makes some that's not too expensive. Heck, I'd go ahead and por-15 the outside, line the inside, and make em all purty before I put 'em in! That'd be sweet!

[Dazzoman]

Hey - you are right !
Especially if its full of water - the cutting and welding could all be done with the greatest of ease :-) :ok:

Further -
Now that I bought an newly rebuilt 350 thats gonna go in - I was thinking of putting in an whole Holley "Sniper" EFI .
BUT NOW I realized my financial situation ( tax season )!
So I will probably just use my original cab gas tank for now until the summer arrives ( when my biz always picks up ) and then I can do all this work with the side tanks .
That means I will use an mech fuel pump ( for now just to get it running ) and an rebuilt Edelbrock 350 carb I'll get from an friend for $100
Is the tank guy still out there ?

[WDShaffer]

Yeah, mixed my thoughts there...dry ice or nitrogen is what I was thinking there. Even an empty gas tank should be treated with a little caution. For peace of mind. Following on Pepsi's train, why not drop a few pounds of dry ice in for safety's sake? I'll have a build post on that in the future, as Lazarus will receive a rear-mounted tank--I already know I will need to shorten my filler neck.