Too little tank?

[Rust Buster]

Ok here's my dilemma...
For my K20 build...
I bought a great aluminum fuel cell from FuelCellGuy. It's 18 gallon with a Walbro Fuel pump, and sending unit. It cost $700 and I have installed it but that's it, never been filled.

I'm getting worried that 18 gallons is too small a tank for my build (fuel injected 383). What do you guys think? I'd love to have at least a 25 gallon tank, but what are my options? Other than a blazer/suburban tank, are there any non-custom tanks that are somewhat plug and play?

Any advice/info is appreciated!
Thanks,
-Tim

[Longhorn Man]

that's still 180 mile range figuring 10 MPG which I hope you do better than. Many of the 67/68 trucks came with a 17 gallon unit stock.

[mrein3]

Where is the K20 build going? You making a boat puller? Weekend cruiser? Rock crawler? Stump puller? If a Th350 is in your plans, give yourself 30% more highway range and go with a 700r4. That would be the same as a 23.4 gallon tank (30% larger) if you do most of your driving down the slab not pulling anything.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by mrein3

Where is the K20 build going? You making a boat puller? Weekend cruiser? Rock crawler? Stump puller? If a Th350 is in your plans, give yourself 30% more highway range and go with a 700r4. That would be the same as a 23.4 gallon tank (30% larger) if you do most of your driving down the slab not pulling anything.

30% RPM drop will not always get you 30% more MPG. 10 - 20% is more likely in all reality.
Besides, with fairly large mud tires and the 3.42... the 700 would probably drop the RPMs into bogging down rpms, causing worse MPG.

[Rust Buster]

I already put an NV4500 in it and it has 3.42 gears. It is going to be a daily driver and it will get worked, but much of it will be long highway trips. Not 100% sure I want to swap it out, but I'm thinking I'm not going to be able to pass many gas stations...

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by Rust Buster

I already put an NV4500 in it and it has 3.42 gears. It is going to be a daily driver and it will get worked, but much of it will be long highway trips. Not 100% sure I want to swap it out, but I'm thinking I'm not going to be able to pass many gas stations...

My un-fuel injected 383 in my K10 gets around 9.5 in mixed duty pulling my boat and just driving around. The few times I do ONLY a trip on a 55mph highway I get upwards of 11. I'll guess youll see 12-14 if you're in OD on the highway a lot. Say its 13mpg. 13*18 = 234 mile range. That ain't too bad.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by mrein3

My un-fuel injected 383 in my K10 gets around 9.5 in mixed duty pulling my boat and just driving around. The few times I do ONLY a trip on a 55mph highway I get upwards of 11. I'll guess youll see 12-14 if you're in OD on the highway a lot. Say its 13mpg. 13*18 = 234 mile range. That ain't too bad.

Just about right for a "pee" stop.

[ed2552]

A bigger tank won't give you enough more range to go through the hassle of sending it back and all of that

[muscletrucks]

I am with you Captain, thats why I am staying with dual tanks.

[Rust Buster]

Too many decisions to make...

[ed2552]

He already has a 5 spd. manual w/ OD, so he is good on that

[special-K]

What size tire do you plan?You are lifted 2"?IIRC
I get 12 mpg in my`72 K/20 with a 400,4spd,4.10,and 35s.I also get 12 mpg in my`72 K2500,350,TH350,3.54(?),and 33s.Both about empty and running Edelpuke carbs.That`s 8.5 gallons in 100 miles.Is my math corret?
How about sneaking another tank in there somewhere?A saddle tank with a wheelwell filler.

[Brad]

I'm really wanting to buy a tank like that and would offer to buy it off you, but at that price, I'd need to buy exactly what I wanted- a 20-24 gal tank. Perhaps you can live with it and just carry a 5 gal fuel can for those long trips- for just in case.

[mrein3]

Originally Posted by Brad

I'm really wanting to buy a tank like that and would offer to buy it off you, but at that price, I'd need to buy exactly what I wanted- a 20-24 gal tank. Perhaps you can live with it and just carry a 5 gal fuel can for those long trips- for just in case.

On a trip to go elk hunting in Wyoming in the early 90s we did just that only we carried two 6-gallon cans of gas. Driving over night through nowhere South Dakota you found very few open gas stations in the middle of the night. This is before you had pay-at-the-pump stations for you gen-y's out there.

20 gallon tank in a Ford van with a 460 cu. in. engine. Dumped 12 gallons in in No Where, South Dakota. Limped in to Wall, SD and waited for the stations to open. Good time for a nap.

Then we get to Dubois, WY where my friend had a 66 Chevy with 4.56 rear end gears. We drop my dad and another older gentleman off in town (6000 or so feet) so they could get aclimated to the high altitude for a day. We then proceeded up to the trail head to have a look around. My friend grabbed a jerry can and stops at some po-dunk gas station on some reservation. He fills his seat tank up until it spilled out then filled the jerry can. That truck didn't have enough range to make it in then back out to that station without using that extra 6 gallons.

That being said, I HATE using jerry cans like this. You spill and smell like gas and you are usually doing something like going elk hunting or fishing - two places you don't want to smell like a filling station.

Look for a saddle tank. Instead of using that ugly pop-rivited door weld in a nice door off a newer truck. It won't distract from the lines of the bedside. If you don't like it hanging down an inch or two like the vintage saddle tanks do, modify it. Or get one and use it as a template and make another aluminum one that matches your back one only doesn't hang down like the vintage ones.

[special-K]

Good point about cruise range.I`ve traveled cross-country several times in these trucks (even once in one with 14.50/37s and 4.57s) and stopping every few hours for gas always seemed about right for one need or another.Helps keep from getting zombified,as well.It`s alot cheaper to fill a smaller tank (dumb logic ).

[killer71]

I had that same exact tank from fcg on killer. Killer was fuel injected and i still found myself stopping for fuel way to often. I'm having a 23 gal built for my next truck! Not blaming fcg as the product was exceptional i would just like a little bigger tank for my personal needs!

[haysonj]

I left the tank behind the seat but will not fill it unless I go on a long trip. I have a total of 40 gal capacity and if I can get this truck to 10 mpg that will give me 400 mile range.

[Arad68]

Originally Posted by Rust Buster

Ok here's my dilemma...
For my K20 build...
I bought a great aluminum fuel cell from FuelCellGuy. It's 18 gallon with a Walbro Fuel pump, and sending unit. It cost $700 and I have installed it but that's it, never been filled.

I'm getting worried that 18 gallons is too small a tank for my build (fuel injected 383). What do you guys think? I'd love to have at least a 25 gallon tank, but what are my options? Other than a blazer/suburban tank, are there any non-custom tanks that are somewhat plug and play?


Any advice/info is appreciated!
Thanks,
-Tim

Rust Buster,

I am going to use a 31 gallon tank from from an 87 Blazer with fuel injection in my 68 longbed. I got lucky at the local pick and pull and got the entire setup with the sender, pump, skid plate and everything. The distance between the frame rails is the same as our trucks.
I drilled the rivits out and got the frame mounts and straps for the tank as well. I should have gotten the fuel filler too but I ran out of time.
If you can't find a tank from a junk yard, a new one can be had from CSK auto parts. Here is a link.

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductL...hfor=Fuel+Tank

You can also get the sender and pump from them too.
Here is another link.

http://www.partsamerica.com/productd...ype=52&PTSet=A

I am pretty sure Rockcrln used this setup in lowbuk.

Check his build thread.
PM me if you have any questions.

[wibilly]

40 gallon sub tank in my swb and the filler is now where it belongs. on the left side

[Arad68]

Originally Posted by wibilly

40 gallon sub tank in my swb and the filler is now where it belongs. on the left side

Wow! thats 244 lbs when its full. Must really help for traction in the snow and ice.

[Yukon Jack]

Fuelcellguy took care of me with this monster





It is very painful money-wise to fill up and I doubt you want something that big in the bed of your truck, but as you know, he can build anything so your options are pretty wide. I would sure give some consideration to a saddle tank like mentioned above since you already have that great custom tank installed. I think my tank holds about 35 gallons.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I go about 180 miles on 14 gallons of fuel under normal driving conditions. I've gotten 230 miles out of a tank on the highway. I have a blazer tank and I've run it dry twice. Barely 17 gallons to fill it up so I usually fill up when it needs 13 to 14 gallons. I have a short drive to work, so a tank lasts 2 to 3 weeks, usually. It is a pain, but I've gotten use to it. I wish it had a 26 gallon tank like my silverado.