Gas Tank Relocation Problem

[72 Long]

I bought a blazer tank from Classic. However, what they sent me had a short filler neck, contrary to the one pictured on their website. If I try to install the tank so the flanges mate to the bottom of the frame, short filler nozzle doesn't clear the top of the frame.
I've looked at just about every post here regarding tank relocations and everyone else seem to get the tank with the longer filler nozzle. If anyone else has run into this problem, I'd appreciate some pointers!

[71meangreenc10]

I would cut it down just a little more towards the tank, I used the heavy duty fuel hose and it connected to my custom filler neck. I can get a better pick if you like, but it will be a few days. I used heavy duty clamps.

Smitty

[72 Long]

My filler nozzle does not clear the frame. It looks like yours is up high enough that you can get a hose on it. The very first pic I posted shows the tank flange under the frame while the nozzle just barely touches the top of the frame. If I cut the nozzle back, it will be opening directly into the frame channel. It just looks like that the top half of the tank is shorter than the ones people are buying...

[71meangreenc10]

How about puttin a notch in the frame around the neck so the hose doesnt rub?

Smitty

[72 Long]

I certainly could do that. I measured the height of the frame and the channel is about 4.5 inches. In the pic I posted with the ruler, the distance between the filler neck base and the flange is about 3 inches. You can see that it's not possible to get the tank closer to the frame channel because of the filler neck. I'm wondering what the neck-to-flange dimensions are on the other tanks I see people installing....

[71meangreenc10]

Id have to check mine, could be different with the poly tank, I think it was 1 1/4, not sure, but i would cut about 1/2 inch off that neck and notch it just to be safe.....


Smitty

[oldblue1968chevy]

what're you folks doing for fillers? staying the orig. 1 3/8 (I did measure right right)

[71meangreenc10]

I put mine in the wheel well.

Smitty

[72 Long]

I was thinking about using the existing tank neck and put it behind a tail light like was done here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=178962

[Racinaround]

I bought one of there tanks last week and have the same problem???
I guess a little more research would of been good.

[QUOTE=71meangreenc10;3846411]How about puttin a notch in the frame around the neck so the hose doesnt rub?

I might of done that before powder coating the frame??

I was going to look at it again next week, but i'm a little pissed about right now.

[67shortie]

I had the same problem, I did not want to cut the frame at all so I just bent it up a half an inch or less just so I can get a filler hose over it. Hurt nothing and it's been going good for a few years now with no issues.

[Huck]

Common problem with repop tanks. The original blazer tanks seem to fit better. Some have bent the filler, welded an extension on the filler, adjusted the tank position, etc. Fillers have been put behind the rear quarter side marker lights, tail lights, behind the plate and just inside the bed. Blazer tank filler covers make a nice finishing touch for the inner bed. Just make sure you use proper fuel hose and NOT radiator hose as that is dangerous. The tank requires good grounding to the frame too.

[72 Long]

I'm PO'd too, Racinaround. What cheap repo crap from CounterParts. Even worse, Classic had the pic of the good version of the tank with the longer fillerneck. If anyone knows the dimension measured from the tank flange to the base of the fillerneck (like in my pic with the ruler) on one of the good tanks that actually line up, I'd be interested in knowing if it measures more than the 3 inches I'm seeing...

[Red68]

I had one of the poly tanks originally with a side marker light filler, had to fill it really slow. Switched it out for a custom aluminum tank and used a bed filler above the tank. Works much better and I can fill it faster.

[srea76]

Did you bend the tabs on the top of the tank sides where it flushes to the frame? I got the same tank as you and once I did that it gave it just enough room to clear frame.

[72 Long]

I tried a little. There are L brackets under the flange for reinforcement. They are fairly hard. Bending the flange down in order to move the tank up causes the L bracket to rotate into the body of the tank - I was a little uneasy about denting/creasing the side of the tank. I was going to see if I could collapse the L channel bracket some (make it look like more of a V) or try bending the filler neck some as was suggested above. Maybe cut a little off of it and weld on an angled extension. I posted a question to Larry S's thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=385432 because it looks like he installed the exact same tank. However, his filler neck seems to clear nicely. Maybe I'm just not strong-arming this tank enough....

[Racinaround]

After Bending Up and Back it looks better!
I have to put the hose on before the bed?

[Racinaround]

Did a little trimming to plumb the filler
Gas cap should be here today?

[oldblue1968chevy]

so you jsut bent it no probs lol

[Racinaround]

I wouldn't go mile, but i had no problem going a 1/4" up and back

[oldblue1968chevy]

enough to clear the frame?

[Racinaround]

yep!

[72 Long]

Alright then. Saturday, I'll try a little persuasion - 1/4" or so. I'm hoping that the seal between the filler neck and the tank is stronger than the walls of the tank!

[72 Long]

Thanks to Racinaround for giving me the courage to strong-arm the tank. His socketwrench technique worked great. I actually picked up 1/4" clearance in the process. Here are the pics. I ditched the stupid hangar bolts that came with the tank and instead bought some 3" 3/8" bolts. Had to use washers anywhere the nuts were in danger of pushing through either the holes in the tank flange or the every-so-friendly hanger straps. I double-nutted the tank flange as it served well for adjusting proper hangar strap tension. Next, onto the taillight/fillerneck install. Maybe I need to start a build thread....
Thank you to everyone who commented and helped me think this through!

[72 Long]

Here's the hanger detail...