Dilemma/Decision

[HEAVCHEV3]

I have a stepside and i've been searching and cant seem to find anyone who has moved there gas tank to the rear without removing the factory spare tire. I want to keep spare tire in factory location. Can this be done and if so does anyone have any pics with spare and rear tank or should I just move on leave tank in cab.

[leddzepp]

I relocated a tank out of the cab once, and will not do it again. You do not gain any leg room and I see no benefit to doing it other than making a space for a speaker box.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

I relocated a tank out of the cab once, and will not do it again. You do not gain any leg room and I see no benefit to doing it other than making a space for a speaker box.

I have a 72 with tank in cab. The seat is up against the area under the rear window now, so I never saw any extra legroom as a potential. I guess you could put groceries in there is the seat flipped forward.

[68shortwide]

Uh. I just don't want however many gallons of gas 12 in behind me if I get tboned.....that and the cab filler neck looks hideous imho. Doin a rear taillight fill with a blazer tank on mine for said reasons.

[Sklptrljay]

Originally Posted by 68shortwide

Uh. I just don't want however many gallons of gas 12 in behind me if I get tboned.....that and the cab filler neck looks hideous imho. Doin a rear taillight fill with a blazer tank on mine for said reasons.

I guess I'm just old school then, I think the gas cap looks cool. I enjoy all the nostalgic stuff on our old trucks. Like the giant steering wheel, wing windows, and actual chrome bumpers. Every one can do their trucks the way they want to, obviously. For me though, one of the reasons I like old cars and trucks is because of the stuff that makes them look like old cars and trucks.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Sklptrljay

I guess I'm just old school then, I think the gas cap looks cool. I enjoy all the nostalgic stuff on our old trucks. Like the giant steering wheel, wing windows, and actual chrome bumpers. Every one can do their trucks the way they want to, obviously. For me though, one of the reasons I like old cars and trucks is because of the stuff that makes them look like old cars and trucks.

I'm restoring a 68, and I'm torn on that. I guess that's why I have 4 trucks and an el camino.

[leddzepp]

There is no safer place for the gas tank than in the cab. People have been driving these trucks for over 40 years with the tank in the cab...a lot of them while smoking If you get t-boned you'll likely be dead before having to worry about it catching fire.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

There is no safer place for the gas tank than in the cab. People have been driving these trucks for over 40 years with the tank in the cab...a lot of them while smoking If you get t-boned you'll likely be dead before having to worry about it catching fire.

I've read lots of discussion on this subject and I have to agree with you. The only thing I can think of that might make the in-cab tank safer, and better looking is some kind of flush or recessed filler device that might lessen the chance of the filler neck getting sheared off in an accident. Like you seem to imply, any other accident that penetrates the tank has likely already killed you anyway so free cremation LOL.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

I've read lots of discussion on this subject and I have to agree with you. The only thing I can think of that might make the in-cab tank safer, and better looking is some kind of flush or recessed filler device that might lessen the chance of the filler neck getting sheared off in an accident. Like you seem to imply, any other accident that penetrates the tank has likely already killed you anyway so free cremation LOL.

OMG, I'm about to agree with mechanicalman. I think I've mentioned before that my Dad smoked a pipe, had a leaky filler neck, and hence ran his tank under 3/4 full so that less gas splashed on him as he smoked and drove.

That goofiness aside, my theory is that if you are in an accident in one of these trucks that is severe enough to deform the cab to the point that the tank ruptures, you're already dead anyway. Free cremation.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by davepl

OMG, I'm about to agree with mechanicalman. I think I've mentioned before that my Dad smoked a pipe, had a leaky filler neck, and hence ran his tank under 3/4 full so that less gas splashed on him as he smoked and drove.

That goofiness aside, my theory is that if you are in an accident in one of these trucks that is severe enough to deform the cab to the point that the tank ruptures, you're already dead anyway. Free cremation.

C'mon now, I'm not the kiss of death LOL.

But, I have to admit I've never been popular, mom had to tie a pork chop around my neck just to get the dog to play with me.

[davepl]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

But, I have to admit I've never been popular, mom had to tie a pork chop around my neck just to get the dog to play with me.

I was nine before I found out my name wasn't "Fetch Wood"!

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by leddzepp

There is no safer place for the gas tank than in the cab. People have been driving these trucks for over 40 years with the tank in the cab...a lot of them while smoking If you get t-boned you'll likely be dead before having to worry about it catching fire.

For me it is the Gas smell in the cab that I can't stand so under the bed I go..

[davepl]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

For me it is the Gas smell in the cab that I can't stand so under the bed I go..

You have something wrong. I have zero odor. I do not mean "not enough to bother me", I mean zero. Unless you're in the process of filling it and left the window down, I suppose.

I'm not saying this to make a point. I'm saying it because I'd be worried that if you can smell fuel in the cab you have a problem with the filler neck, tank itself, float mount, or lines.

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by davepl

You have something wrong. I have zero odor. I do not mean "not enough to bother me", I mean zero. Unless you're in the process of filling it and left the window down, I suppose.

I'm not saying this to make a point. I'm saying it because I'd be worried that if you can smell fuel in the cab you have a problem with the filler neck, tank itself, float mount, or lines.

From day one the truck had the smell of gas in the cab when the tank was full... My truck had the original tank with all of the lines changed out and we still had the smell in the cab...

I can't wait to get it on the road with the Boyd's tank under the bed...

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

From day one the truck had the smell of gas in the cab when the tank was full... My truck had the original tank with all of the lines changed out and we still had the smell in the cab...

I can't wait to get it on the road with the Boyd's tank under the bed...

Are you sure you changed out ALL the lines? I have a 72 and it never had gas odor then one day (after it was about 25 years old) it DID have gas odor. There was a rubber hose in the filler tank area, as I recall it was about a 3/8 hose or thereabouts. It had a split in it. After I replaced it, ZERO odor. So that was about 15 years ago but as I recall I think it was behind the filler tube. Probably there to vent air back while filling the tank. I have a factory evap system and a fuel return line I think (factory air).

So I'll probably have to replace it again in a couple of years LOL

[Keith Seymore]

Can you put the spare up in the front of the box? I moved mine (not only because I prefer it there) because of a hidden trailer hitch.

K

[HEAVCHEV3]

Thanks for the quick responses. I must agree I like the look of the old just mixed in with some new updates thats is the reason I'm torn as far as moving the spare. I'm going to leave it as is for now. I have a 63 driver where the tank is still inside but the spare is on my hip/fender. Don't want or have the spare on the fender for the 70.

[Mike C]

My step has the spare on the fender in the factory spot... That would make doing a rear tank easy!

But unless you are having troubles with a tank leaking or want to update to an aftermarket fuel system for EFI, the in-cab tank is fine.

It's the 73-87 trucks that have issues with getting the tanks hit in their "outside the frame rails" position that are the dangerous ones. Oh, and possibly getting rear ended if you had a tank in the back...

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Mike C

My step has the spare on the fender in the factory spot... That would make doing a rear tank easy!

But unless you are having troubles with a tank leaking or want to update to an aftermarket fuel system for EFI, the in-cab tank is fine.

It's the 73-87 trucks that have issues with getting the tanks hit in their "outside the frame rails" position that are the dangerous ones. Oh, and possibly getting rear ended if you had a tank in the back...

Of course, for EFI the in-tank pump stays cooler and safer always the best bet for EFI. I was wondering, never tested it, if the in-cab tank has any gravity feed effect that might aid an in-line EFI pump? Any experience with having the fuel line off with fuel in the tank?

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by HEAVCHEV3

I have a stepside and i've been searching and cant seem to find anyone who has moved there gas tank to the rear without removing the factory spare tire. I want to keep spare tire in factory location. Can this be done and if so does anyone have any pics with spare and rear tank or should I just move on leave tank in cab.

I have researched this and have come to the conclusion that there is not enough space in between the frame rails and the bed to put a tank that will hold much more than 10-12 gallons or so without hanging down into the spare tire area.

Unless you have leaf springs, and move the rear cross-members apart and get a custom tank to squeeze every inch out of it. I just happen to be in love with my coil spring suspension, so I never did the measurements for the leafs, not sure you could get enough space to get a large enough capacity tank even so. The panhard bar on the coils sticks out and limits area.

Little off topic here, but have you considered getting a donut spare and putting it behind the front seat? Really only an option if 1/2 ton and 5 lug.

Probably safer leaving it in the cab, but opinions vary.

[Dcm]

The Dateline (I think?) special on TV years ago about the 73-87 trucks having the gas tank mounted in suck a way that made it likely to catch fire was proven to be a bogus report. The producers finally fessed up to over filling the tanks, splashing small punts of fuel on outside of vehicle, etc while doing their crash test.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Dcm

The Dateline (I think?) special on TV years ago about the 73-87 trucks having the gas tank mounted in suck a way that made it likely to catch fire was proven to be a bogus report. The producers finally fessed up to over filling the tanks, splashing small punts of fuel on outside of vehicle, etc while doing their crash test.

I think they even used an impact-sensitive incendiary device if I remember correctly, I recall seeing a film clip where the moment the impact occurred, there was a flash like special effects stuff before the fire. Anything on a slow news day.

[jocko]

the smell is a common malady in these trucks because, over the years, folks may have swapped vented or non-vented tanks into trucks that need a non-vented or vented take, respectively. Lines decay (vent) etc. And some mistake the evap/canister gas smell for a fuel tank issue. My tanks stunk a bit, then I discovered I had the wrong gas cap (vented vs non-vented on a non-vented system). Varies from 1/2 to 3/4 ton also, they changed the system at different years, etc.

Dave's right - it shouldn't smell like gas in the cab. I don't really like the "idea" of the tank in there with me, but I don't think it's any less safe with it there. If you are on the fence about moving the spare (I wanted to keep mine under the bed also), then I'd just keep it the way mother general motors made her in the first place. And gas caps are COOL.

[leftybass209]

I guess I can quadruple agree with tank in cab being just fine. I've said it before that everyone has a story of a guy who knows someone else who claims the fuel tank exploded, but if you've ever confused about if it matters ask soldiers in Iraq. A bomb (fuel tank) exploding under the back end of a vehicle will flip a vehicle several times. I don't consider that safe. A new sender seal, proper cap and vent lines= no smell. Too easy. However, there's also nothing wrong with a tank swap, just a lot more work.

[old Chevy guy]

I've had a few 67-72 trucks I've run for years preceded by 3, 60-66 body styles all with tanks in cab and never had a gas smell in the cab unless it was on my clothes. If you are ever smelling gas inside the cab it defiantly bears looking into.