Hide tank filler

[Matt_50]

Hey guys, what kind of things have y'all done to hide the filler for your under bed gas tanks? This truck will be mostly for puttering around town but I would like to not have the fill up coming up through the bed.

Mines a 1950 3100.

Possible to hide behind license plate?

[mongocanfly]

unless your license plate is mounted high it may be to low to fill the tank without issues...check out hagans fill door..its what im using...mounts in rear fender...
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Hagan-...or-,46399.html

[Matt_50]

Ok. That's an option. What if the filler cover was flush with the wood? Anyone got something like that?

[mongocanfly]

I thought you didn't want the fuel fill in the bed..anyways...there's quite a few builds on here with flush mounted fuel fills in the bed...hagan does make that same style filler in a flat design. ..

[Matt_50]

Yea I'd prefer if it wasn't lol. Just trying to see my options. I see a lot of back and forth stuff about in cab tanks... I think it would be fine. They were in for decades but I'd like the room if I found an option I liked.

[mongocanfly]

take it from a guy that had 5gal of gas blow up in his face...I DONT want a tank in my cab...I don't care how many they built that way

[Matt_50]

With cab space my biggest wish... has anyone made or done a shelf like thing above the tank?

[nvrdone]

why not look at using an under cab tank like the '48's had. maybe one out of an s10? that way its mounted low but still protected by the frame rails. I saw one mounted under the bed that had the filler neck inside the stake pocket. looked trick.

[vintovka]

The idea of a in cab tank was before gas was found to have known human carcinogens.

[Matt_50]

I can see moving it due to risk of cancer.. but that's only if your exposed right? If the system and tank are sealed like it is supposed to be there wouldn't be a risk

[Matt_50]

I've been googling a lot and I want to make sure I'm on the right page.

67ish mustang tank will mount directly to the frame rails and I will need to trim frame rails 3/4 inch each side. And that's all? It's installed, no straps? Sits lower than camaro tank.

67ish camaro tank will also got in frame rails but no trimming but I do need to make a cradle and straps? Right so far?

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

I can see moving it due to risk of cancer.. but that's only if your exposed right? If the system and tank are sealed like it is supposed to be there wouldn't be a risk

Many years ago "60 Minutes" (late 70's) did a story on the dangers of gas tanks in truck cabs. It showed videos of how the rubber between the metal filler neck and tank became hard and brittle over the years and in an impact that rubber would tear or even shatter spraying gas inside the cab. It had led to many fires and deaths. As you can imagine, these were horrible deaths.

For me it's a no brainer to remove a dozen gallons plus of flamable liquid behind my back.

[Black_Sheep]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Many years ago "60 Minutes" (late 70's) did a story on the dangers of gas tanks in truck cabs. It showed videos of how the rubber between the metal filler neck and tank became hard and brittle over the years and in an impact that rubber would tear or even shatter spraying gas inside the cab. It had led to many fires and deaths. As you can imagine, these were horrible deaths.

For me it's a no brainer to remove a dozen gallons plus of flamable liquid behind my back.

I recall seeing the video years ago, it was an issue in a side impact or sideswipe collisions. The filler neck would tear out and fuel "spray" would fill the cab. One errant spark and you're in a world of hurt, being burned to death would be a horrible way to go.

[vintovka]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

I can see moving it due to risk of cancer.. but that's only if your exposed right? If the system and tank are sealed like it is supposed to be there wouldn't be a risk

Warning Health issue rant ahead (from a retired toxicologist/AD owner).

Sorry, but there always be a substantial flammability and health risk with gasoline. Its just bad for the mega powerful petroleum and automobile business to talk about it.

First many are unaware that "GAS" is made from a mixture of mostly BENZENE, with amounts of Toluene, Xylene (and used to have Tetra ethyl Lead) plus some nasty additives like MTBE

Human detection of 'gas" (benzene) odor is reported at about 60 ppm in air. They put the "action" (or danger level) at 1 ppm over 50 years ago. This was based on now outdated chemical reaction devices like German Drager tubes left over from WW1 dated technology. The real danger level at low concentration is really unknown. Any exposure is bad.

I used hydrocarbon detectors on a daily basis for over 30 years and found hydrocarbons just "seep" straight thru many materials. . Even when you can't smell it GAS vapors build up in any space. A closed cab can be a perfect gas chamber. Even the best materials seem to just slow it down and may contain it in its liquid state. In toxicology they say "dose makes the poison" that includes level of contaminants, Number of and length of time of exposure. How long do you spend driving, how often do come in contact?

Add "gas" to all the other baddies we get exposed to on a daily basis and its not a good bet to ensure a long healthy life. As long as we depend on "gas" it make sense to move it as far from the cab as possible. An "in cab" tank makes NO sense to me.

My tank is now underneath the bed with a side filler thru Drivers side rear fender. Convenience and may minimize spill damage. Can be filled from either side with the new longer hoses and is out of your breathing path driving.


Heres a little article that you might find interesting. Your lifelong views of smelling and exposure to "GAS" may change

http://kenburridge.com/can-you-smell-gasoline-fumes/

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by Matt_50

Hey guys, what kind of things have y'all done to hide the filler for your under bed gas tanks? This truck will be mostly for puttering around town but I would like to not have the fill up coming up through the bed.

Mines a 1950 3100.

Possible to hide behind license plate?

i hid mine behind license plate. mines a 1957

[vintovka]

Very nice and neat, Minimal to no chance of spill or dropped nozzle damage. As convenient as you can get. Only question. How does it fill?

[mr48chev]

I'm no fan of the filler behind the license plate as I had a couple of cars with those back when and every time you fill the tank and park on a bit of an uphill angle gas runs out if you have a vented cap and those tanks all used vented caps.
I buy a lot of stainless pieces from this outfit for my sailboat because they have good prices and the parts are pretty nice.
If you scroll down the page to the fuel fillers they have flush mount stainless deck fill gas fillers for a reasonable price . Be careful because some read Petrol/gas some read diesel, some read water and some read waste. The hot rod shops that sell the want twice as much for the same thing. http://www.marinepartdepot.com/new316ststcl2.html

That outfit also has some nice stainless cabinet hardware if anyone is thinking about building a wood "tool box" to go at the front of the bed and needs hardware.

[Matt_50]

Not bad on prices for those flush mounts. I've never relocated a tank before so I'm still wondering what's my best bet. I see a lot of mustang and camaro tanks for these. Mustang search pulls up issues for the sender and gauges.

If I buy a camaro tank..

My engine is carburetor, mechanical pump, v8 350 stock.

I would need to make straps and move or add crossmembers..


What kind of tank? I'm seeing there are different kinds, edu or not I'm guessing.

What sender and neck are needed for flush kit?

Are there any good guides on installing one?

[Dave0]

I used a 01 camaro tank and pump. I ran the filler up to the top of the rear fender. No reason you couldn't weld a fuel filler pocket from something in the fender...

[Russell Ashley]

I know for sure that you can use your mechanical fuel pump with a rear tank as that's what I have now. I know of another TF with the same setup and no problems. I never liked the idea of the flush mounted filler in the bed as it seems like it would be almost impossible to never spill some gas in the bed

[Matt_50]

I think I could maybe live with the bed fill... not sure I want to add a door in a fender or bedside.

[Speedbumpauto]

Hagan makes lots of gas tank doors with different curves in the outside metal/door. Not too tough to install and they are small. Come with a cap that seals but doesn't have to be removed to fill. here are shots of mine before it was complete and a couple showing the plumbing for ideas even though it's a TF. I used a Tanks unit but don't see why some factory tank wouldn't work, especially if it's not EFI. Tanks just makes it simple.

[dwcsr]

If you use a mustang tank you do want the Tanks Inc EFI tank not the original type.

EFI tank has the top side sender and a choice of sender ohms, pump or pickup install and a fuel tray to prevent starvation on acceleration and no openings on the bottom.

Original tank has the bottom front opening where the pickup and sender go in and you must use a ford unit and your stuck with a 5/16 gas line outlet and then convert the gages to 73-10 ohm and none of the EFI tank benefits. if you're using aftermarket gages its not a big deal. if your using stock 30 ohm gages its a hassle.

Many have used the original style tank with success but its more work that its worth in my opinion.

[Matt_50]

I'm really surprised with the lack of people why say a cab tank is ok. I had thought to clean my tank and see, worst case spend money on a new and i might as well get a rear one.

I'm not using factory gauges. Took mine apart and used the faces on different ones. I could probably do that to a Ford gauge...but what about the wiring. Isn't Ford different?

[R&B51]

Kind of heading off subject but related when considering some of these prepackaged ideas (I like pop open door and modern push through seal door). Link on gas tank safety I found worth reading:

http://www.autosafetyexpert.com/defect_fueltank.php

Tanks inside frame and in front of rear axle with filler tube that stays with tank/pulls away, has valve that stays with tube, inertia switch on fuel line...keeping that high octane 100% gas in its place...
I'll try to make it happen on this truck I'm building for my son.