Anybody sell new plastic cover for fuel tank?

[2badgn]

I have a 1984 GMC 3500 single rear wheel 2wd Pickup.

I restored the truck about 3 years ago but still doing odds n ends---it never ends! But i luv this truck- My dad bought it brand new back in 84.

It's a real truck with 9 leaf springs plus 1 helper spring.

Anyway, anybody know if a vendor is making the black plastic cover that goes over the fuel tank?

Thanks

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I have two original tank destroyers for 16 gall tanks in my side yard you want them?
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[2badgn]

THanks for your quick response. Can u send me a pick or post one?

I originally had a 16 gallon tank but changed it to a 20 gallon--never changed the cover but it still fits.
if u can take some pics with ur cell i will send u my cell # in pm.
Thanks
Frank

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

I have two original tank destroyers for 16 gall tanks in my side yard you want them?
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Why are they tank destroyers?

[RandyP]

Some say those shields cause more damage than they protect. It is not the end of the world to leave them off but I feel better having them in place.

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

I have two original tank destroyers for 16 gall tanks in my side yard you want them?
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You couldn't pay me to run those nightmares. Tank destroyers indeed.

[Skunksmash]

Originally Posted by Redcap

You couldn't pay me to run those nightmares. Tank destroyers indeed.

Hmm. Never heard of this. I'd like to hear more about it. What exactly do they end up doing to the tanks? We're talking about that black plastic shield that clings to the bottom of the tanks, right?

[Redcap]

Originally Posted by Skunksmash

Hmm. Never heard of this. I'd like to hear more about it. What exactly do they end up doing to the tanks? We're talking about that black plastic shield that clings to the bottom of the tanks, right?

Yup. They hold all the mud, grass, moisture and other funk up against the tank and rot it out.

[Skunksmash]

Are they fairly easy to get off so you can clean under there? Never really looked myself.

Also, what is the disadvantage of not running them? Gas tank bottoms out on something and the truck goes up in smoke?

[bigd65]

Tank destroyer ?
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[special-K]

Long beds should be 18 gal. and short beds 16.

Originally Posted by bigd65

Tank destroyer ?
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Yes,they hold dirt,mud,and debris which holds moisture that rusts the tanks out. I threw so many of those away I lost count. I can't tell you how many friends GM sold new tanks to. I had them go to the dealer I have an account with to get a discount and each time the price went up. GM made a lot of parts sale money off of those shields,once they figured that one out. They don't really serve any purpose anyway. But,I can see why someone restoring a truck would want them. GM should have plenty of these,since they probably sold all the surplus tanks and no one would want the shield.

[RandyP]

Originally Posted by special-K

Long beds should be 18 gal. and short beds 16.

Short bed will always be 16 gallon tanks. Long beds can have either 16 gallon or 20 gallon tanks so you have to measure to see what you got. My 87 LWB actually has a pair of 16's under it, factory.

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by special-K

Yes,they hold dirt,mud,and debris which holds moisture that rusts the tanks out. I threw so many of those away I lost count. I can't tell you how many friends GM sold new tanks to. I had them go to the dealer I have an account with to get a discount and each time the price went up. GM made a lot of parts sale money off of those shields,once they figured that one out. They don't really serve any purpose anyway. But,I can see why someone restoring a truck would want them. GM should have plenty of these,since they probably sold all the surplus tanks and no one would want the shield.

I probably had 10 pounds of gunk under mine. I can see why they are called that.

[bigd65]

I haven't though about it that way. I have two tanks one is on and one is not. I need to pull the passenger tank and replace the pump. The driverside is still on.
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[2badgn]

I checked with my local Chevy parts guy- who is reliable- and he could not find one-- and they have a vendor for discontinued parts.

[bigd65]

Mines a LWB and has two 16
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[special-K]

Originally Posted by RandyP

Short bed will always be 16 gallon tanks. Long beds can have either 16 gallon or 20 gallon tanks so you have to measure to see what you got. My 87 LWB actually has a pair of 16's under it, factory.

Originally Posted by bigd65

Mines a LWB and has two 16
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Oh,ok,I never knew that. When I ordered all those tanks I was never asked to specify capacity. I thought they were 20 gal. but was told they were 18 by someone I thought knew what they were talking about. Never seen a lwb truck with 16 gal. tanks I guess.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

They can be a pain in the butt. My passenger tank rusted out cause it held a dirt clump to the bottom of the tank. Small rust hole formed and bam $50 of gas evacuated my tank on the highway.
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[Skunksmash]

Oh man. I'm gonna check mine sometime soon. Maybe you can take the water hose and let that run through there somehow?

OR

When you're putting them back together, what about a protective coating on the bottom of the tank to go in between the plastic? I'm thinking rino liner.

[bigd65]

Well I am going to mine back on. It's not a daily driver
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[Ville K]

I had to change both tanks and two of the tank brackets this summer, because of the rust. The plastic "shields" had wet sand and mud and the extra part welded to brackets to attach the shields were gone both sides. I was able to save two of the brackets by cutting the extra part off, but two of them were so bad that had to replace them. It was a nightmare to find decent brackets here in Finland. So I totally agree that they are tank destroyers instead of tank protectors, and they are very difficult to get off because they reach so high and there are not much room between the shield and sill.

[84chevyguyid]

How about spraying bedliner on the tanks instead using the plastic shields? Thats what I was thinking I would do with mine after I replace the tanks.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by 84chevyguyid

How about spraying bedliner on the tanks instead using the plastic shields? Thats what I was thinking I would do with mine after I replace the tanks.

You could but you got to remember that. Bed liners need to stick to fresh metal. That means grinding and preping the tank. And I don't think sparks and gas fumes go together to well
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[84chevyguyid]

O I thought the original poster said he had new a tank, I meant when I replace mine with new ones too.

[2badgn]

Originally Posted by 84chevyguyid

O I thought the original poster said he had new a tank, I meant when I replace mine with new ones too.

My fuel tank is new. The truck has been restored- it was repainted in original candy apple red - it looks great but the body shop painted the exposed part of the tank cover red-- nevertheless- the fuel tank cover is old and I just wanted to freshen things up with a new cover