Saddle tanks on a Task Force?

[Foot Stomper]

After much searching I haven't been able to figure out if anyone has ever tried and/or succeeded in mounting saddle tank(s) on a '58 or '59 Task Force Fleetside. I understand a rear mounted tank is popular, but I'd like to consider saddle tank(s) to avoid having a bed style filler.

I am also wondering anyone has fabricated a "behind the tail light" filler on a 58 or 59 Fleetside? The tail lights are certainly large enough to hide it for sure.

The main reason for removing it from the cab is to make enough room for an overnight bag or two. With the tank in the cab, there's no chance of that!

[_Ogre]

suburban/panel truck tank would work, but no one repops them and they are rare as hen's teeth

[OrrieG]

inlet pipe does not have much slope, but you can do a side mount.

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

inlet pipe does not have much slope, but you can do a side mount.

You've nailed the challenge Ogre!

The side spears thwart the height. (New word I'm trying out). I don't mind the side fill at all except I'm concerned about the height so was thinking hinged hidden tail light access.

Would the tank from this donor work?

[57chevyman]

behind license plate.

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by 57chevyman

behind license plate.

That could work too but what about the height of the filler neck...is it high enough? I'm assuming it is but have to ask. What kind of tank did you use?

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by Foot Stomper

That could work too but what about the height of the filler neck...is it high enough? I'm assuming it is but have to ask. What kind of tank did you use?

i used a '65 mustang tank from Tanks Inc.
the filler neck is high enough...not ideal..i have to be careful and not fill at full speed. i keep a shop towel handy just in case, and i fill up with no problem

[mr48chev]

I think If I was to run the rear fill under the back of the bed I'd want to run a non vented cap and then run a vent hose with a little filter on it up in one of the stake pockets to get it up several inches above the top of the tank. That way you should be able to get away from the gas slosh problem on acceleration that we often had with tanks that filled behind the license plate in the late 50s and early 60s.

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I think If I was to run the rear fill under the back of the bed I'd want to run a non vented cap and then run a vent hose with a little filter on it up in one of the stake pockets to get it up several inches above the top of the tank. That way you should be able to get away from the gas slosh problem on acceleration that we often had with tanks that filled behind the license plate in the late 50s and early 60s.

Good point!
My 1969 Oldsmobile 442 had a behind the plate tank filler! Talk about acceleration!

[Northern lights]

I had a rear tank on my '64 fleetside with the filler behind the tail light. It sucked. On mine, the light just had two thumb screws that you unscrewed and pulled the light assembly out. That was OK but, even though the filler is mounted high, the neck still had to level out under the box to get to the tank and was a pig to fill. It took FOREVER to dribble the fuel in. Took the whole thing out and put the tank back behind the seat like the general intended. Personally, I LIKE the way these trucks were designed asthetically from the general and, if I needed that space behind the seat, I would have a custom aluminum tank made that went ahead of the diff and stradled the drive shaft (kinda like joined saddle tanks) and fabricate a filler neck that used the factory cap location and went through the floor behind the seat to the tanks.

[57chevyman]

my tank came with a vent hose next to the feed hose

[tmoble]

what's that black cylinder thing on the rear of the frame rail?

clean setup there.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by tmoble

what's that black cylinder thing on the rear of the frame rail?

clean setup there.

oh thats just a piece of rubber hose that came with the kit laying there

[Foot Stomper]

Originally Posted by Northern lights

I had a rear tank on my '64 fleetside with the filler behind the tail light. It sucked. On mine, the light just had two thumb screws that you unscrewed and pulled the light assembly out. That was OK but, even though the filler is mounted high, the neck still had to level out under the box to get to the tank and was a pig to fill. It took FOREVER to dribble the fuel in. Took the whole thing out and put the tank back behind the seat like the general intended. Personally, I LIKE the way these trucks were designed asthetically from the general and, if I needed that space behind the seat, I would have a custom aluminum tank made that went ahead of the diff and stradled the drive shaft (kinda like joined saddle tanks) and fabricate a filler neck that used the factory cap location and went through the floor behind the seat to the tanks.

Thanks Northern Lights! You're input is much appreciated! Your preferred choice of original fill neck to tank over diffy is one that I would like to see if anyone has pictures of the set up.

I appreciate all the replies!

I started looking at different gas tanks and found some interesting options? including motorcycle tanks and 4wdr tanks for the RZR etc that may be able to be fabricated to make work by using two of them. The search continues!

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 57chevyman

my tank came with a vent hose next to the feed hose

Frank,
How did you/where did you terminate the vent hose? I guess I've never really thought of venting before but makes sense that I'll have to have one.

The suggestion to terminate it in one of the stake pockets seems good but I'd have to put something on the end to keep miscellaneous "stuff" from falling into it, I guess.

Also, is that a standard elbow provided by Tanks, Inc? No issue with the gas eating the rubber hose so far?

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Foot Stomper

You've nailed the challenge Ogre!

The side spears thwart the height. (New word I'm trying out). I don't mind the side fill at all except I'm concerned about the height so was thinking hinged hidden tail light access.

Would the tank from this donor work?

you'd have to measure to see if it would avoid the trim
you could also use the stock fill location and pipe to the tank
assuming you could mount the tank on the drivers side

if you look inside that panel it does have a hump around the filler neck inside the bed

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Foot Stomper

You've nailed the challenge Ogre!

The side spears thwart the height. (New word I'm trying out). I don't mind the side fill at all except I'm concerned about the height so was thinking hinged hidden tail light access.

Would the tank from this donor work?

Probably but look where the fill door is, right in the middle of where a FS bed spear is. I also considered putting the fill in the top of the bed rail or on the side above the spear, dropping down and across to the tank.

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Frank,
How did you/where did you terminate the vent hose? I guess I've never really thought of venting before but makes sense that I'll have to have one.

The suggestion to terminate it in one of the stake pockets seems good but I'd have to put something on the end to keep miscellaneous "stuff" from falling into it, I guess.

Also, is that a standard elbow provided by Tanks, Inc? No issue with the gas eating the rubber hose so far?

I added an elbow to my fill pipe for the vent and kept the stock vented cap. You could run the hose up the stake pocket and use a roll over vent on the end (roundy car and off road guys use them). If you use fuel rated hose (not cheap in 1.5-2" size) it will not deteriorate. I found that the some consumer auto part stores sell glorified radiator hose as fuel hose so you need to go back and check the container and markings on the hose. I got mine from a local industrial hose supplier, was $16 per foot. They also had some nice clamps that are much stronger than the geared kind.

[57chevyman]

Originally Posted by Dan in Pasadena

Frank,
How did you/where did you terminate the vent hose? I guess I've never really thought of venting before but makes sense that I'll have to have one.

The suggestion to terminate it in one of the stake pockets seems good but I'd have to put something on the end to keep miscellaneous "stuff" from falling into it, I guess.

Also, is that a standard elbow provided by Tanks, Inc? No issue with the gas eating the rubber hose so far?

that is the standard elbow that came with the kit. it also came with a straight up one, for a thru the bed floor setup. I did not use that rubber hose that came with it, I used fuel hose.
I will take a look at how the vent hose is terminated tomorrow ( my mechanic installed the tank for me )

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks, Frank!