gas tank bolt hole probs?

[BB72CHEVKT]

I got a new tank from LMC and can not get the bolt holes to line up. I am too low on the side w/filler neck and too high on the other end. Anyone else had prob with aftermarket in cab tanks. Any suggestions. The paint in the cab and under the carpet was like new and I am scratching it off. I think the tank may be the culprit. I am working on it now so any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

[cdowns]

if your worried about the paint put down something heavy like tarpaper to protect it

mock the tank up into what looks to be the proper placement and drill new mounting holes in the tank flanges

[BB72CHEVKT]

Originally Posted by cdowns

if your worried about the paint put down something heavy like tarpaper to protect it

mock the tank up into what looks to be the proper placement and drill new mounting holes in the tank flanges

I don't like the idea of making it fit. I think if you buy something even if it is repro it ought to fit. Here are some pics of the probs I am having. I can get three bolt holes in but the one sid eis still way too high. Do you think it is the tank? If so I will send it back. Alson notice I do not have in the filler neck gromet. I had the tank in with the gromet and it was even further off. I also compared it to the old tank and I think the neck may be at the wrong angle for everything to line up.

[BB72CHEVKT]

more pics

[cdowns]

well if you dont want to make it fit send it back and just eat the postage costs

[jamis]

I have yet to buy a piece of aftermarket sheet metal I haven’t had to make it fit. Sad but true. If you cant live with it then send it back.

Looks like you just have to tweak the fill neck down to get it to fit. Then you should have enough room to rotate the tank counter clockwise to line up the holes better. Some drift punches should get you close enough so you dont have to redrill.

[Bob B.]

Had the exact same problems with a repop tank made in Taiwan. I screwed around with it, and eventually got it to fit, but was not happy with it. Bought a tank from Goodmark that was made in Canada, and it fit very nice.

[bowtieride]

Those holes are way off. Thats not even close to lining up. I say drill new holes too.

[Sadsack]

Bought a repo tank from a vendor at the Bristol Super Chevy show last yr and still havent gotten it to fit right. Had the same trouble with the holes. Seemed mine had too much material along the floor...so I made a template from poster board of the contour and traced it onto the tank and went to work with the grinder...oh yes...there was no gas in it! It finally bolts up ok..but not perfect. My filler neck is off by about 15 degrees and I am going to have to have it cut and rewelded/brazed...not sure which as the tank seems to be an alloy. Wish I had spent more $ and gotten a nicer one but thought I was getting a deal. Oh well...live and learn. I guess sometimes you get what you pay for. I heard the ones from Classic Industries were a good fit too.

[eedgell]

This is why having a "parts truck" around is a good idea!

[Lated]

I had the same problem with the tank I bought from whatever name Chevy Duty is going buy these days. I ended up using a pair of tin snips to make the holes big enough to get the bolts in correctly. I also had to bend the bottom mounting flange on the tank becase it was perpendicular to the bottom of the tank instead at an angle like the stock one. The filler neck didn't quite line up right but I've gotten used to it. I will definetely be more careful about buying the cheapest sheet metal I can find from now on.

[68MoneyPit]

where is hideaway Tx. I live in DFW and have an original tank. Seems to be in good condition and I am going back between the frame with a new one. send me an email.

[LockDoc]

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I just looked it up and Google says it's 85.6 miles East of Dallas, just North of I-20...

LockDoc

[BB72CHEVKT]

Originally Posted by 68MoneyPit

where is hideaway Tx. I live in DFW and have an original tank. Seems to be in good condition and I am going back between the frame with a new one. send me an email.

Thanks very much MoneyPit I may end up taking you up on that free tank.
I am going to check into cleaning out the orignal tank. I do not know for sure what kind of shape it is in, but the 15 year old gas smelled like kerosene.
Has any one had their original refubished? I would not mind spending the same price as a new one to have the original refurbished. This truck is original and do not want a jacked up fitting tank. You know what I mean!

[cdowns]

i've always took my tanks to radiator shops to have them cleaned and have had good results ones that have had heavier rust issues i've sloshed with stuff form por15 if just a light surface rust i've used asis without the sloshing