Fuel tank behind the seat?

[The Swed]

Keep it or loose and why?

Thanks!

BTW it's on the road now and running strong.

[1972BlueC20]

I'm debating this very thing myself right now. I don't really have a problem with the gas tank behind the seat but I do smell gas sometimes. I have a new seal that goes around the filler neck to install but haven't gotten around to it yet. I'm hoping that will solve the gas smell I get occasionally, but it only happens after filling up and taking hard right turns.

My reasons for wanting to possibly move the tank to under the bed are as follows :

1) Safety (worried if I get smacked hard enough or flip the truck it could be a big problem)

2) gas smell

3) would free up room behind the seat for speakers


I would need to figure out how to rig something to make it look like I still have the cab mounted tank. By that I mean if I remove the tank behind the seat, it would leave a hole in the cab where the tank filler sticks out.

Your options there are to either fill the hole in and repaint, or I've seen people cut the filler neck off and rig it so its still there but there isn't a tank there. So from the outside it looks normal.

Also as for putting the tank under the bed, you either have the filler coming up through the wood or metal bed near the tailgate, or through the side of the bed.....i've also heard of people rigging something where the filler is behind the side marker in the rear and it flips open and is spring loaded.

I saw recently too someone used a late 1960's camaro tank and the filler was behind a flip down license plate.

Many options and potential hurdles to overcome when doing this change.

Hope this gives you some ideas and helps you begin to make a decision!

Good luck!

[EARNHARDT#3]

I wouldn't waste my time.

Reasons:
It's a waste of time and money.
I'm not worried about safety. (Not that there's a real concern anyway)
There's nothing I'd like to put behind the seat in its place.
I think it's neat back there.

[boraxman]

Im ditching the in cab for an under the bed aluminium with built in fuel pump to feed the 5.3

[bigmac73]

well since you already have a Aux fuel door from the factory, I would relocate to that spot,
but I am a tall guy who likes a little more leg room and speakers behind the seat

[leftybass209]

Welcome!!!!! As for your fuel tank debate.... we go over that every couple months here on the board, i'll try to break it down into legitimate arguments and not hearsay

Exploding gas tank: When is the last time you heard of one of these exploding? Further, when's the last time gas in the cab of a truck regardless of being in a tank, cup, or fuel can has caught on fire from an accident? Then, when's the last time someone has walked away from a wreck in this style truck where the impact was strong enough to cause a leak in the tank? The answer is never been documented, never been documented, and never been documented.

Fuel smell in the cab: Proper fuel sender gasket, fuel vapor hose, and fuel cap solve these issues. Not only should it be done for the gas smell, but for a good functioning fuel system as well. I'd love my rubber to last 45 years but unfortunately they deteriorate and need replacing. Fortunately it'd cost under 30 bucks for all of them.

Extra room in the cab: Now this is legitimate, as long as you aren't talking about seat room, because they hit the back of the cab before you need the space the fuel tank is taking up. That is a significant amount of room to be used and moving the tank for that reason is justifiable over the other myths.

Lets not even get into the Pinto debate which has already been debunked and overdramatized.

If you have an OCD issue about riding with fuel, that could also be justifiable.
You are much more likely to get into an accident with a fuel tanker or run into a propane tank and have that explode than you are the fuel tank in the cab. Also, little compact cars like to get wedged up underneath the back of trucks, which would put your proposed fuel tank directly over a hot, mangled mess. Food for thought

[1972BlueC20]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

Welcome!!!!! As for your fuel tank debate.... we go over that every couple months here on the board, i'll try to break it down into legitimate arguments and not hearsay

Exploding gas tank: When is the last time you heard of one of these exploding? Further, when's the last time gas in the cab of a truck regardless of being in a tank, cup, or fuel can has caught on fire from an accident? Then, when's the last time someone has walked away from a wreck in this style truck where the impact was strong enough to cause a leak in the tank? The answer is never been documented, never been documented, and never been documented.

Fuel smell in the cab: Proper fuel sender gasket, fuel vapor hose, and fuel cap solve these issues. Not only should it be done for the gas smell, but for a good functioning fuel system as well. I'd love my rubber to last 45 years but unfortunately they deteriorate and need replacing. Fortunately it'd cost under 30 bucks for all of them.

Extra room in the cab: Now this is legitimate, as long as you aren't talking about seat room, because they hit the back of the cab before you need the space the fuel tank is taking up. That is a significant amount of room to be used and moving the tank for that reason is justifiable over the other myths.

Lets not even get into the Pinto debate which has already been debunked and overdramatized.

If you have an OCD issue about riding with fuel, that could also be justifiable.
You are much more likely to get into an accident with a fuel tanker or run into a propane tank and have that explode than you are the fuel tank in the cab. Also, little compact cars like to get wedged up underneath the back of trucks, which would put your proposed fuel tank directly over a hot, mangled mess. Food for thought

Good points man!

I'm most likely leaving my tank where it sits...

Not on my short list of things to do thats for sure!

[Bagd72Chevy]

I'm keeping mine on my 67. Its part of the Nostalgia.

In my 72 I moved to the rear for weight distribution and to shave the filler.

In my 67 I tig'd a -6 fitting into the side of it for the return hose from the LS swap. My spare is under the bed.

People will come up with all kind of reasons why they had/wanted/needed to move it or not. Its likely not a safety hazard but there are many reasons to move it or not. It comes down to personal preference.

[70cst]

I am keeping mine as is ... as it was manufactured.


Hey ... you asked

[The Swed]

Thanks for all the input I'm keeping the tank in place. What's the best way to clean it out? The fill tube looks nasty may because the locking gas cap is loose and sat for 14 years in field. LMC for parts?

[Bagd72Chevy]

I have a tank but you're kind of far. I got a used original 68 tank from a friend that still says US Steel on it. They are easy to find to with everyone going to rear mount.

[GASoline71]

I'm moving mine. But not because it's unsafe and all that malarkey... I want more weight over the rear axle and not amidships.

Gary

[68shortwide]

Movin mine. Efi pump, weight over the wheels, free cab space, no gas smell and I'm shaving the filler neck.

[Hubscrub]

Leaving mine would rather have the spare back there. I love the look of the filler neck in the cab. If I did move it I would leave the filler don't like the shaved look anymore.

[Chevy_Life]

I'm looking for a stock tank to put behind the seat of my 68. So if yall know anyone who has done the conversion and is getting rid of the stock tank let me know! Thanks.

[Orange67]

Welcome! Good to see another Utahn. I will hopefully move mine under the bed somewhere, but I'm leaning toward a Duramax swap, and diesel smells like hell...

[2001convertable]

Im thinking of moving it back into the cab for originality.

[custom10nut]

I went back and forth for a long time over this conundrum. I was going to move it because after getting my truck out of a five year storage (while I was stationed in Germany), I had a lot of rust and sediment in the bottom of my factory tank. I even went so far as fabbing the filler door/tube and collecting most of the hardware to move it. I even had the tank kit in my "shopping cart" ready to place my order. But in the end, I figured out how to fit the soud system In/under the seats, I couldn't bring myself to cut into my pristine bed side to put the filler door in.
Of course this is my choice, and should I find another truck to build later, I'll do the under bed tank. (I'm already collecting parts for a truck I don't have)

[jocko]

I don't really like filler doors either, or cutting holes in the bed wood for a filler. Slightly more appealing and subtle, but less original looking than the flimsy metal dealer saddle tank doors, is a grafted in more current filler door - but if your paint is already done, that's not a good option. There are wheelwell fill necks that are almost invisible inside the wheelwell/bedside if you can find them.

Me, I'm keeping my cab tank (along with the two saddle tanks) so I can pass up one more gas station.

Below is a pic of a nicely done later model fuel filler door grafting - saw this truck at Brothers Truck Show a few years back parked next to the orange and black Overhaullin truck.

[2001convertable]

Iam thinking of moving it back. I have a tank that mounts in the rear with the spout that comes out between the rear tailgate and the bumper.

[4carbcorvair]

Leaving mine.

[2001convertable]

took my tank out of the bed and getting ready to install back in the cab. I have the tank for sale with a hitch as well.

[Z10]

For all you youngsters, do you remember the Ford Pinto? Where was the gas tank located? Under the car in front of the rear bumper.

Mine's staying in the cab.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgOxWPGsJNY

[brown7373]

If you smell gasoline, you have a bad fuel sender o-ring or hose somewhere, that needs to be fixed. A fuel leak is not a good idea regardless of where the tank is located.

[ZEKE68]

Leaving mine in the cab. Planning on carrying a spare in the back.