replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Which and why?

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Steek, I have seen too many folks have problems with warpage from our southern heat

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Didn't know you could get a poly tank! Where do you get one? Since I didn't know that you could get a poly tank, I can't really comment on the warpage thing that Palf70Step mentioned but I'm curious about what the warpage would do. Does it damage the fuel sender when it warps? I woulda said poly cuz then you don't have the rust problem that I'm having now.:uhmk:

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I'm going with steel. I figure is its behind the rear wheels and i hit something in the road or blow a tire on the rear, hopefully my motor will wear some rear tires when i'm done, the steel might take a better beating.

The salvage yard out past the air port next door to the 71 Salvage on 71 has 4 or 5 steel blazer/suburban tanks. $100 for tank and sending unit. I'm picking one up this weekend my self. You might look into it. I'm going to look around somemore today and tomorow to see if i can get one cheaper, but thats not bad from what i've seen.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

www.gmcpauls.com

21 gallon steel for 241
21 gallon poly for 220

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I say steel. Depending on the mfg process of the poly there is a chance that all of the additives in the new gas can eat away at the inner lining and cause you fuel pump issues. I had a poly tank a few years back and I went through 5 fuel pumps before finally just replacing the poly tank and no more fuel pump issues. The lining was coming up and clogging the fuel pump until it stopped working. Serious PITA.

It goes without saying that I'm sure there are many people out there that have been running them for years without issue, but I'll never go back.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Steel (blazer diesel tank).

Mine's not installed yet - in my shed on the shelf right now. No time, no money, & just a lazy, fat, gray-haired old f*rt.

I bought one of the NOS army surplus diesel tanks that the thread discussed on here roughly a year ago, before they sold out at the surplus store.

Bet they wondered what the heck happened. Had dozens of them laying around & surface-rusting for years, and then WOOPS --- completely sold out in a couple weeks.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Steel!!! I coated mine with some wally world truck bed coating crap. No rust at all 2 years later.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I say steel--only because I just bought the kit from LMC!

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I was gonna avoid them this time around - any fitment issues on it?

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I vote steel.

I had put a poly tank in my 72 crew cab and I wasn't very pleased with the fit nor did I like how easily it was distorted.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Steel for me too, I even have a nice spare one from an old parts truck I bought.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I just recieved it today and I probably won't put it on for a couple of months.

john

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I chose and voted poly. I didn't want the rust issues.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I went with the Steel. I just like the idea of steel. Brothers had a pretty good installation climp.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Polly or steel, it is up to you. However the poly tank is a lot tougher than the steel tank. Polyethylene tanks are produced from extreemly tough cross linked polyethylene. Polyethylene by itself is impervious to everything but fire. Even battery acid doesn't penetrate it and Cross linked Polyethylene is extreemly impact resistant!! MTS (The poly tank manufacturer) makes the tanks to twice as thick as DOT requires them to be, so believe me when I say it can take a big impact without rupturing. The hottest heat of the Desert South can not warp it. (Unless it hit more than 400 degrees or hotter!!) Anyone who has warped a tank, either didn't have it vented correctly and it only warped temperately while under suction pressure, or parked it over a fire. Most of your new cars all have poly tanks now and they are holding up just fine. Actually they hold up better than steel, because they do not rust!! They do not have a protective liner inside because they do not need one. Unlike steel to keep it from rusting.. Do what you want, but my vote gets poly!! (And I do sell both) WES

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

[QUOTE=Classic Heartbeat;2615176] Most of your new cars all have poly tanks now and they are holding up just fine.

Gotta throw in here that I agree with Classic Heartbeat that the poly tanks that I have seen (later model cars) have been tuff stuff. Never seen one for our trucks tho so I can't really comment on those in particular.:uhmk:

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I have an MTS poly tank. No problems.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Poly...I have had mine in my truck for about 8 years and no problems. I live in Arkansas so yea it get plenty hot. I agree with Wes, I feel the problems with warpage was more of a vent problem than a heat problem. I just wish the fuel neck was a bit larger than 1 1/4".

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Haven't got it installed yet but I went Poly. Its all about the rust. I was a bit worried about a puncture issue but after reading Wes's post its all good.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Fitment issues...

You'll find a few install threads with different solutions to LMC tank installs. The biggest fitment issue for me was that the cross brace on a pickup bed needs to be trimmed about 1". The bolts aren't long enough for the straps or the straps aren't long enough for the bolts so get ready to be creative there.

This was my solution with 1 1/2" spacers and remove tabs and drill out holes on the driver's side. Some will recommend skipping the spacers because it may cause the metal flange to fatigue from flexing. If it's tight against the frame, I don't think it can move enough for that though.
Attachment 342514
Pic doesn't show but also added nuts to lock the 7/16" bolts on the driver's side.
Attachment 342515
You may also have to drill another hole for one hanger.
Attachment 342516

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I had the same problem!!! So I turned mine the other way :lol:

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Spacers are not necessary. GM didn't install them on the Blazers or Suburbans. The problem with spacers is they trap water and will eventualy rust the bolt out. WES

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Thanks, I may have to drill weep holes :whine: but I really don't want to wrestle that thing again for a while.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I don't blame you.... I wouldn't either. WES

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

i've heard the poly tanks collect alot of moisture internally compared to steel or aluminum, is this a myth....

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Myth.... Polyethylene does not transfer heat verry well. So they do not condensate on the inside. WES

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Dumb question - possible to install without removing the bed completely?

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Good question.

How will the poly hold up to ethanol?

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I kinda cheated on the issue of poly versus steel. I installed an aluminum marine tank. The size was perfect and installed in a flash. It even came with a sende unit but was the wrong ohms for my gauge.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

poncho cheated. Made me laugh.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

The Polyethyne tanks are imperviouse to ethanol. WES

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

ttt for chrislehr question

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Thanks - I need to know if I have to undo all those bolts and get a hoist of some sort :)

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

I don't recall seeing an install thread with the bed on but anything's possible with enough determination. Removing the crossbrace shouldn't be too hard but you'll probably take a shower in sparks if you use a cut-off wheel to trim the cross support on the bed. I don't think there's enough room for a sawsall to get in there but a jigsaw might work if the base is narrow enough. Got plasma?

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

The only plasma I have is the stuff I will lose trying to use a cutting wheel or sawzall in there. Guess I will leave this to a shop to do until I have a better outfitted garage.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Totally possible, total pain in the ass. But so is removing the bed completely. I installed my tank with the bed on.

Here was my "rope mock-up." Bed and rear bumper were never removed.

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

Cool, well that is really good to know. Thanks for posting the pic. So you did have to cut off a crossbeam with the bed on to do that?

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

My bed wood is deck boards my dad and I installed about 10 years ago! The bolts came out fairly easy. I don't even have the steel strips in my bed. I unbolted the cross brace from the bed, unbolted the bed, had a couple friends pick the bed up a little bit while I pulled the brace out. The bed wood is "weaK" when I step on it over the tank. I someday plan to cut the brace so it will fit over the tank and reinstall it, but until I get a garage, the truck is 100% done... until something else breaks :banghead:

Re: replacement fuel tank - steel or poly
 

this is why I love this site.
I just purchsed the LMC tank set up also. I too wont be able to install it for a couple of months but now I know what to loog forward too. Mine is going in a longbed and I noticed that I have a crossmember in the way where the tank goes but I never heard you guys mention the complete removeal of a cross member. only cutting to trim. have any of you guys put one of these tank in a longbed?


JRDV. where is Des Moines New Mexico?