Get the gas outta my cab!

[Digger51]

Anyone know of a good kit or junkyard plan to get the gas tank out of the cab? The whole tnak-in-the-cab concept just makes me nervous.

[Southpa]

The best and only one I've heard of so far was getting a Blazer tank for between the frame rails in back.

[Figment412]

Not that I know of. I think the majority of the people here make there own setup. I know that using a blazer tank is common. I am going to make my own tank though.

[CPNE]

The whole tnak-in-the-cab concept just makes me nervous.

Why? Do you smoke or race freight trains to crossings? I think it's more of a mental thing rather than a serious safety issue. If you think about it, the cab in tank is only vulnerable if your truck is hit hard on the cab part the tank is located in. In that case, the tank will be the least of your worries.

Course relocating it does allow for cab reconfiguration and stereo speak possibilities.

To answer the question, a junkyard solution is a Blazer/Burb tank from same years. Direct bolt in, though it does hang low. All the parts vendors can offer aftermarket solutions as well.

[Digger51]

Originally posted by CPNE


Why? Do you smoke or race freight trains to crossings? I think it's more of a mental thing rather than a serious safety issue. If you think about it, the cab in tank is only vulnerable if your truck is hit hard on the cab part the tank is located in.

No freight trains or smoking but running redlights seems to be apopular hobby for many people here aand I am not interested in adding 15 gallons of gas to my list of worries should I meet up with one of those a-holes.

[CPNE]

It's actually a little over 20 gallons full. If you relocate to the rear, you've got the "Pinto" factor to deal with too. I'm assuming the a-holes may also rear end ya too. These trucks were not engineered to 21st century safety standards. I agree the rear placement probably is better if its a real concern of yours, plus you get a lot more lef room too.

[Custom 68]

I am mainly doing mine for weight transfer and to get more room in the cab. It will make a cleaner looking interior IMO
I have the poly blazer tank to install...eventually.

[Southpa]

I agree with CPNE. If behind the seat tanks are a serious safety issue I think we all would have heard the horror stories by now. OK, so you got 20 or so gallons of gas sitting in the cab with you but IMO its a fairly safe place. There are only 2 contact "hit" points on either side and they are very narrow with a fair sized buffer zone between the tank and the cabsides. Think about the mid 80's Chev trucks with the side tanks. I think they recalled a bunch of those because there wasn't enough structure to protect the tank. You get T-boned and gas spillage is a sure thing. You'd have to get hit really, really hard to rupture a behind the seat tank. Just make sure your tank, filler neck and fuel lines are in good shape.

[CPNE]

Originally posted by Custom 68
I am mainly doing mine for weight transfer and to get more room in the cab. It will make a cleaner looking interior IMO

Custom 68, you're right and that's my point. Moving the tank has a lot of advantages, but to move it solely for safety's sake is just trading one potential trouble spot for another. Look at the big hoorah several years ago about the inside frame rail mounted tanks on 73-87 trucks. People were claiming they were a hazard during a side impact colision. Well duh! If you get hit in the wrong spot with enough impact, the tank is going to be compromised regardless of location.

[CPNE]

Damn Southpa, someone agrees with me and we were typing about the same 73-up tank issue at the same time too. You need to get some rest, and perhaps consult a shrink.

[Digger51]

Safety is not the only issue here. I am a big dude and want the space for me and my junk. The new weight distribution is an added bonus.

[CPNE]

Safety is not the only issue here. I am a big dude and want the space for me and my junk. The new weight distribution is an added bonus.

Sounds like a good plan. I think an aftermark solution would be best. The Blazer tanks hang low and would look odd on a customized truck IMO. Or...you could buy a Suburban, that's what I did!

[smokekiki]

In the philadelphia inquirer,yesterday,there was an article about the side tanks.GM settleda class action suit for 495million a while back.It was disclosed on tuesday.Now some lawyers are saying this is showing others how much you can sue the auto makers for!

[72longbed]

digger51,
For what its worth, If you are going to go through all the work necessary, (not Much really), to relocate to the rear, Do it right and get yourself a STEEL tank or at the very least aluminum. The Truck Shop has an awesome deal on every thing you would need in kit form. Just my .02 from experince with all three setups.
Good luck.
72longbed

[Blue_71]

Get the gas outta my cab!

dont eat beans before you go for a drive

[ChevLoRay]

Why move the tank? Just to get rid of (1) the hole behind the door? I still have my original chrome gas cap....something that Classic Truck magazine says is "rare". (2) to get rid of the smell of gas? That is usually due to leaking, deteriorated gas hose from the filler neck to the tank. Replace it. (3) Weight transfer? (4) Safety?

I drive a school bus. After the tragic deaths of those folks in Ohio one year, school busses were modified to house the steel fuel tanks in a steel cage, to protect them from rupture upon impact. I had a Pinto, and the FoMoCo plan to "protect" the occupants was to place a thick polyethelene shield between the tank and the rear axle. It satisfied me, for the time, until I decided to put a set of Firestone 500's on it and live dangerously.

I, too, thought about moving my tank. But, I've decided against it...unless, I decide to move it to put some honkin' speakers behind the seats. Now, that is a reason to move your gas tank!

[mocwon]

My opinion is that the gas tank belongs between the frame rail and the drive shaft just like the late model trucks. That way the tank is out of the cab (no gas fumes for whatever reason, more room, etc), more desirable weight transfer, rear end collisions have less chance of rupturing the tank as do side impact collisions. As a side benefit this allows you to carry the spare tire where it belongs on a fleetside. I have not found anyone doing this yet but I haven't given up the idea. The fuel tank in my ’94 Mazda B2300 is almost what I need but not quite. I am pursuing the option of having one custom made of aluminum plate. I believe that over the last 30+ years automotive safety engineers have improved the placement of the gas tank to minimize injury. Think about it this way, if it was such a good idea to keep the tank in the cab or on the outside of the frame rail wouldn’t it still be done that way?

[CPNE]

Think about it this way, if it was such a good idea to keep the tank in the cab or on the outside of the frame rail wouldn’t it still be done that way?

I'm not disputing anything you said but the REAL reason the tank was moved in 73 had nothing to do with safety. Can you say Crew Cab or Extended Cab?

[mocwon]

Crew Cab and Extended cab; how did I do?
If I am not mistaken, I believe even crew cabs and extended cabs have a back glass and an area under the back glass; like say, a regular cab.

[CPNE]

mocwon, I wasn't trying to insult your intelligence, just trying to be funny. If you took it the wrong way I appologise.

Yes, all cab configurations come with a fixed back window and structure below it (except the Avalanche ). My point was that I don't believe that the removal of the tank from the cab was primarilly motivated by GM's concern for safety. I think the real motivation was design changes. Not only to make the new cab and body lines flow as drawn up, but also to facilitate the same changes that are used for reasons to remove it from our cabs - Extra leg room/ stowage, generally more freedom to reconfigure the ergonomics (a word probably not used too much back then).

I agree, the resulting placement is a safer one and I'll also bet that the outside frame rail saddle tank was nixed because of some gov't safety regulation. Had GM been able to, they may have stuck with those saddle tanks rather than the inside frame rail design simply to cut costs.

Sooo, back to my initial point (and I have nothing against relocating the tank), removing the tank simply as a safety precaution is just trading one potential hazard for another. However, if one feels safer, then in theory they are. Remeber the "duck and cover" drills in the 50's and 60's. They look absurd now, but by God you felt safe under your desk.

[Kixx]

Could some of you that have pics post them so I can get an idea on where the filler neck could go & what it will look like.. I have a step side. Thanks

[mocwon]

Don't worry about it, no offense taken and no apology necessary.
Yes, I do recall the rather foolish duck and cover drills when I was in school. A few folks in the neighborhood even built fallout shelters, as if that would help. Oh well, so much for the good old cold war days.
I am quite a ways away from even needing a gas tank so I will keep checking out different trucks to see if I can find the Holy Grail. If not, I guess I will just cough up the money for a design like I described.