Need Help Fixing Under The Bed Gas Tank....

[SierraMtns]

Well I think this will be my next project after my wife came in from the garage and said "why is there such a strong gas smell?". I had an idea that the gas tank under the bed needed to be redone.

I am not too sure where to start? The tank measurements are 25.5"x12"16". Not sure how many gals? The tank is 1/2 full right now. I am limited on space in a one car garage.

Notice how the body lines don't line up. The builder used spacer blocks to raise the bed up. I figure it was to run the gas filler hose over the frame.

Need some help from you guys on plan of action. Where should I start? With my limit on space I can't take the whole bed off. Is it possible to just remove some of the wood bed?















My goals.

1. Relocate gas filler cap into the bed. I am hoping I can put it in the middle of a wood plank.

2. Remove bed spacer blocks. Do these beds mount right to the frame or do they need rubber bushings?

3. Relocate gas tank higher up under the bed. I am hoping I can keep this tank to save money.

4. Fix the vent hoses. There is one next to the filler hose and one on the right side of the tank hanging down. Could I put something on the end of the vent hose to cut down on gas fumes?


Ok guys where do you think I should start?

Thanks

[SierraMtns]

Oh and yes the exhaust will be fixed. lol

I cant believe a professional exhaust shop would do this.

[Baldeagle SR]

You might check my thread and get some ideas. Mine is a 56 CMC Hope this helps '
Rich
my build.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=576185

[SierraMtns]

Originally Posted by Baldeagle SR

You might check my thread and get some ideas. Mine is a 56 CMC Hope this helps '
Rich
my build.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=576185

Thanks Rich and really nice truck.

[swamp rat]

First thing i notice is that the second smaller hose leading up to the filler (Burp tube)seems to not be attached to the filler body and the plastic fitting in it looks to be open, that could let fumes out.

This is why a lot of people have gone to an inside bed filler where the cap is built into the floor. I have also seen where they take a blazer fill tube cover and mount it to the inside of the bed side and have the cap up a bit higher.

The other option is to add a tunnel that you mount to the side of the bed and floor to allow the filler and burp tube to pass thru, there have been all kinds and shapes made here on the forum

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...0&postcount=92

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=351

Out the back?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=564509

Use the search function and look for key words like rear mount gas tank , filler tube, ect to find more ideas.

[SierraMtns]

Originally Posted by Baldeagle SR

You might check my thread and get some ideas. Mine is a 56 CMC Hope this helps '
Rich
my build.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=576185

Originally Posted by swamp rat

First thing i notice is that the second smaller hose leading up to the filler (Burp tube)seems to not be attached to the filler body and the plastic fitting in it looks to be open, that could let fumes out.

This is why a lot of people have gone to an inside bed filler where the cap is built into the floor. I have also seen where they take a blazer fill tube cover and mount it to the inside of the bed side and have the cap up a bit higher.

The other option is to add a tunnel that you mount to the side of the bed and floor to allow the filler and burp tube to pass thru, there have been all kinds and shapes made here on the forum

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...0&postcount=92

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=351

Out the back?
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=564509

Use the search function and look for key words like rear mount gas tank , filler tube, ect to find more ideas.

Thanks for the links. I am hoping I can mount the filler cap right in the bed. So I can get the tank up as high as possible and return the bed back where it belongs on the frame.

[jlaird]

Your tank is 21 gallons.

LxWxH divided by 231

So 25.5" x 12" x 16" = 4896 cubic inches divided by 231 = 21.19 US gallons

Good luck with your mod. Does anybody know if two vents are necessary? Depending on the answer, you might want to start with plugging one to see if that helps the smell issue.

[69 MOD]

May be tough with that tank as the filler comes off at an angle on the Wrangler tank and you want it to be straight up.
Now you're dealing with a distance problem to get the filler tube & cap in a very small area.

Solution would be to get a new tank, this would do 2 things for you, raise the actual clearance between the ground and your tank and change the filler location...

Something like this:

[Classic Heartbeat]

With the gas tank that you have now you will not be able to relocate the filler into the middle of the bed floor. You will need to get a different tank. One with a center fill.
The reason you are smelling gas is like swamp rat says, the gas fill vent hose is just venting into the open air. That should be venting into the filler tube itself, however since someone used a marine fill neck that is not possible. You may be able to vent it back to the tank. WES

[SierraMtns]

I got busy on it this morning. Yea 69 Mod and Classic you guys are right this tank must go. Looks like they used JBwield around the filler neck.

Tank is out. Can you guys recommend a tank for me? I am looking for something that will be a bolt in. Or close as possible.





Also about the bed. Should there be spacers like this? Or should the bed mount right to the frame?



Thanks everyone for the help.

[69 MOD]

I'm sure Classic sells tanks, the one I showed you was from here...20 gal

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-19...7fa042&vxp=mtr

You can use your filler in the floor & your filler hose, the vent comes off the other corner of the tank
Your sending unit/pick up may even work on it plus your lines are plumbed back so you're set there...

[Classic Heartbeat]

To think, All this could have been avoided if the previous owner had mounted that gas tank correctly. That tank is for 67-72 Suburban or 69-72 Blazer. WES

[67 chevelle]

lmc truck has a quality tank for the rear , it places the fill in the middle of one of the wood boards

[SierraMtns]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

To think, All this could have been avoided if the previous owner had mounted that gas tank correctly. That tank is for 67-72 Suburban or 69-72 Blazer. WES

Yeah its a pain. Did you see what he did to be able to make it fit? Raise the bed 1" with blocks.

I guess I shouldn't complain to much since the truck was free.

So you think this tank for a 67-72 Suburban or 69-72 Blazer? I am going to post it for sale on Craigslist.

[69 MOD]

Aren't those tough to fit into a step side?

The PO should have used the 73+ step side under bed tank & filler system and all would be right with the world

[swamp rat]

Boyds welding has a sweet aluminum fuel cell. Here's some educational material.

And no the square stock spacers gotta go.

http://www.fueltankparts.com/replace...evy-tanks.html

http://www.azproperformance.com/Boyd-Welding.html

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...4&postcount=26

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...late+fill+tank

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=509545

[69 MOD]

Post it on the for sale thread here it will sell fast...

[SierraMtns]

Update.

I was able to remove the spacer blocks and put the bed where it should be. I have cleaned up the area where the tank will go.

I ordered the tank from LMC on Saturday. I hope it will be here at the end of the week.

Have a couple questions.

1. Do I need to put in rubber bushings when I mount the tank to the fame?

2. Will I need to adjust the tank sending unit, or can I just drop it in the tank?

Pictures.



Body lines are good now that the blocks are gone.

[jjzepplin]

FREE TRUCK? WTF? Looks pretty nice so far!
Yep that's a poly Blazer/Sub tank and could have been installed correctly and avoided all this.

[Zeroman]

I am in the process of doing the conversion rear tank on my 1970 SWB Stepside.

Hopefully I can answer your questions from my experience, but everyone has a different solution.

1. Do I need to put in rubber bushings when I mount the tank to the fame?I used 1/2 rubber matting from Tractor Supply, cut 1 1/2" wide and 9" long to drop the tank 1/2" due to the height of the tank above the frame. I placed the rubber "spacers" between the flanges on the tank and the bottom of the frame. The spacers are pressed to the frame due to the straps upward force. The tank and sending unit should be grounded.

2. Will I need to adjust the tank sending unit, or can I just drop it in the tank? Most GM trucks of this era used 90 OHM sending units. The sending unit you receive in your kit will most likely be stamped 90 OHMs.

I bought my kit from Classic Industries, but they are all a little different from what I have learned. My kit did not come with any instructions. I contacted Classic Industries and was told the tank could be used in so many different vehicles that it was impossible to have a set of instructions that would cover all of the different possibilities. I searched this forum and used my sometimes backwards logic to put the tank in.

Example...people use the "j" hooks received in several different ways. Some mount the hooks with the threads up, through the frame with the nuts on the top. Some mount them on the vertical portion of the frame with the "j" portion hooked on the outside. I noticed the straps on your tank were mounted front to back, where most people mount them left to right. Not sure which is correct as the tank I received has relief channels both directions. Again, these tanks can be mounted different ways.

I noticed in one picture the support for the wood bed had to be notched for clearance. This is very common with these conversion tanks. Expect to notch that support a great deal more to mount your new tank. That is unless you want to lower your tank enough. That is probably why the previous owner used the spacers to lift the bed...he did not want the tank too low, or did not want to notch the wood bed supports. I am notching that support a great deal. I do not want the tank any lower than the 1/2" I have dropped it already. Of course that means when I go to install the wood bed, the bed itself will have to be lifted to gain access to the nuts on the underside of the support, lowered to the frame, and bolted down. But that is for another discussion.

The other question is the fuel filler. I am going the filler through the side marker route. Search this forum, there are several viable options.

Anyway, keep us posted as to your progress.

PM me if you'd like.

Good luck.

BTW - Nice looking truck.