Fuel tank

[FormerMember]

Howdy all,
I have a 71 K5. I just pulled down the aftermarket fuel tank. It's a weird job that has four tubes welded into the thank, that go from top to bottom. The mounting uses four LONG carriage bolts to bolt to the floor of the tub.

Any ideas on who made this?

Also, what do you all suggest for a tank replacement? I plan to add TPI...

[JayDubBlazer]

You might want to contact Fuelcellguy here on the board he has done a lot of good work for people on the board. Or you just might want to shop around at some of the vendors on the main page www.67-72chevytrucks.com to find the best deal. I would stay away from the poly tanks though, I haven't heard anything good about them.

[Mudder]

you can get all years of replacement tanks and all the hardware here

http://www.raybuck.com/

[BLAZERMAN]

It sounds like you have an AERO tank, I have the exact same tank as you describe.

[FormerMember]

Hmn. I called Aero today, they really wanted nothing to do with me. Apparently, they make them to fit the truck?

Can you take pics of your aero tank?

[mister.freeze]

[FormerMember]

To whom this may concern:
I am incredibly frustrated with the lack of support and general attitude I get on the phone with whomever it is that generally answers the phone!

I recently purchased a 71 Blazer that the previous owner spent over $650.00 to have an Aero tank installed. I had to remove the tank to install a suspension lift.

I called yesterday to inquire about the tank and the woman on the phone was positively unhelpful.

I did some investigation on the internet and looked at the receipts and was able to determine that I do in fact have an aero tank. I called for support on the tank and I was told that I don't have any options, that the carriage bolts and that style tank was discontinued. No mention of the manufacturer of the carriage bolts, etc.

The attitude that I received was certainly not helpful to this situation.

What this means to me: That although I considered driving the blazer down there to have another aero tank installed, I shall not do so. I will also post on every bulletin board I am on about the lousy customer service and support I received on the aero tank.

So, what does this mean? You've lost a sale, a potential customer and the word of mouth business that goes along with it. Statistics say that a happy customer will tell 10 people; an unhappy one will tell 250. In the age of the internet, I can reach more than fifty thousand.

I am glad I found this out up front, instead of a year down the road, when I needed support or another tank.

[FormerMember]

Thanks for the pics. Looks like the one I have...

Can't find the bolts required to put 'em back up.

[mister.freeze]

I stripped and broke mine taking it off. I used banding straps (for things like pallets and boxes) for about 3 years befor I had to take it off again. There's enough crossmembers under the floor to hold it up well. The tiedowns are temporary; I'm getting saddlebag tanks made. I may mount this under my trailer for extra capacity. The reason for the saddlebags is so I can put the spare on the bottom like newer trux.

[FormerMember]

Well, I wonder about rigging something. I think that would bother me a bit.

I'll think about making a cradle for it.

[mister.freeze]

I guess so. the bands I used were no different than the ones you'd see on a Wrangler or Cherokee. Maybe if you measure right, you can get a band kit from one of the fuel cell mfg's.

[FormerMember]

Got pics of those bands?

[mister.freeze]

I thought I did, but I don't. Sorry.

[J.Lance]

Just a thought if you can't find long enough bolts. Go down to the local harware store and buy some all-thread and then nut and lockwasher both ends leaving the top nut flush with the all thread. Would ease in removal the next time as well. My old '72 had that exact tank you described. I never attempted to take it down because the long bolt was rusted inside the sleave that goes through the tank. Big honkin tank though, 35 gal. from what I can remember!

[FormerMember]

That's a great idea for now.

When I go EFI, it get's a different tank. Sure as heck won't be Aero Tank.

[Cethern]

What about cutting some sheet metal to fit? When I replaced the straps on my 83 te ones I got from LMC were just sheet metal bent to fit about 2in wide and about 20gauge or something like that. Maybe a little thinker than the banding the other guy was talking about.


Cethern

[mister.freeze]

that's why I used banding straps. 36 gal. I've got TBI right now, and the tank works well.