Square body saddle tanks

[ericjon262]

I've been pondering converting my 70 model to fuel injection, part of which requires an electric fuel pump, preferably in tank. my first though was my 87 dually and it's saddle tanks, has anyone retrofitted the squarebody tanks into our trucks? seems like it would be a cost effective solution, and net a longer range too.

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Eric

[dyrt]

If i remember correctly, saddle tanks were what was used with a multitank configuration on these trucks. You could try a search for original saddle tanks and see if anyone can give you measurements from a set of originals and see how they are mounted. I had given this some thought myself because it seemed like a good way to do it since that is how all the square body trucks were. If you can get measurements you can compare them to the measurements rockauto lists for the tanks and you might be lucky enough to have square body mounting hardware work directly or with small mods.

[WIDESIDE72]

Keep in mind that there was a lot of controversy over these tanks back in the 90's since they are mounted outside the protective frame rail. My family and i have had several 73-87 trucks and fortunately never put this theory to the test but when retrofitting, i keep the tank inside the frame, like when i put the repro 72 blazer tank in my latest 72 project. I have one out of an 82 suburban for my next project 70 with a bb 400.
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[WIDESIDE72]

http://www.autosafety.org/history-gm...as-tank-defect
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[WIDESIDE72]

Lots of drama on this subject

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=529932&page=2
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[Katrina/10]

The 73 up saddle tanks will not fit under the cab. You can put a TBI pump in your stock tank.

[ericjon262]

yeah, I don't see enough squarebodys in flames on the side of the road or burnt up in the junkyard to worry about fire that much. I would feel perfectly safe with saddle tanks, so I'd prefer the fire debate ends here.

has anyone on here attempted this tank install? the main reason I'm looking into the square tanks is because I would like to run dual tanks, and they are common enough that it wouldn't be any real hassle to pick one up, and to scrounge up the mounting hardware.

[WIDESIDE72]

I dont think youll see the burnt out truck on the side of the road. I guess one benefit of dual tanks wiuld be the dual fuel pumps when one goes out!
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[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

The 73 up saddle tanks will not fit under the cab. You can put a TBI pump in your stock tank.

This guy is right. Notice the gigantic humps under the seat on a 73-87 truck. That's where the tanks nestle under the cab. The bottoms of the cabs are drastically different.
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[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by Katrina/10

The 73 up saddle tanks will not fit under the cab. You can put a TBI pump in your stock tank.

somehow I missed this earlier. that's a real bummer, I was thinking I was onto something I could make work. oh well. onto the next idea. maybe I'll use a Suburban tank

[special-K]

That saddle tank controversy was revealed to be totally staged BS. I've never seen a burnt truck on the side of the road,but I've never heard of any blowing up (outside this report) in the last 40 years either. Has anyone else? Not saying no GM truck side tanks have ruptured,or even caught fire. But there's no more incidence of this than any other damage on these trucks or any other vehicle enough to single it out. They singled out Pinto gas tanks for exploding in rear end collisions,yet nothing about Mustangs,Falcons,or any of the other vehicles constructed the same way. Many many 60-72 GM (as well as other makes) Trucks have been outfitted with auxiliary tanks mounted outside the frame and we've never heard of issues there. I have one sitting outside now. It's drama created by the media.

[BrianG]

I have not either, but the same goes for those inside the cab. Seems like any time someone outside of our 'circle' sees one of our trucks, or I'm talking to someone about them, they say.. OH, aren't the gas tanks behind the seat... Isn't that like sitting on a time bomb? I can't say that I've ever personally seen any issues with these either. I suppose that someone could dig up some pics if they looked hard enough, but probably could for any vehicle. My suggestion, maybe start off with putting a pump in the existing tank until you get things worked out, and then add an auxiliary tank later. You'll find plenty of advice on doing that on this board and even venders selling them.

[ericjon262]

I think I'll just go with the 40 Gal Suburban tank and call it a day. I'll have to re figure out a receiver hitch, but that's no big deal.

[tlcrz1972]

I recall the numbers of trucks that caught fire were under 500 trucks, now how many millions did uncle GM produce.

And yes there is no way to retofit those tanks under the cab unless you really like your sawsall and are willing to take a floor board out of one of them and scab them together. NOT a good idea.

Your options are:

the auxillary saddle tanks from GM or aftermarket that craddle with the bed sides.

a car or suburban tank in the spare tire location

a fuel tank in the front of the bed in a tool box or the like.

And an electric fuel pump on the frame, mine is there and works like a champ.

[ericjon262]

This is what I plan to do now. I'll do it a little different, but not much, and intank pumps/sending units are available for the suburban tanks as factory replacement parts as well.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...an+Saddle+Tank

I could get all the parts minus mounting hardware and hoses for under $350 new.

[cleanfreak]

1987 blazer tank will fit in the back and have the pump in it also, the 40g suburban might be to big.

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by cleanfreak

1987 blazer tank will fit in the back and have the pump in it also, the 40g suburban might be to big.

the 40 gallon has been done, see the above link.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by tlcrz1972

I recall the numbers of trucks that caught fire were under 500 trucks, now how many millions did uncle GM produce.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has documented what they believe to be 1800 fire related fatalities in '73 - '91 C/K and R/V trucks, from 1973 through calendar year 2000.

They also state that 10 million vehicles of this body style were produced. I believe that number to be low (should be more like 15 million).

K

[ericjon262]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has documented what they believe to be 1800 fire related fatalities in '73 - '91 C/K and R/V trucks, from 1973 through calendar year 2000.

They also state that 10 million vehicles of this body style were produced. I believe that number to be low (should be more like 15 million).

K

"fire related fatalities"

lol, and of those 1800, how many were because of fuel tank placement? I don't see a problem here.

FYI, that adds up to less than .02% of all 73-87 trucks, assuming 10 mil produced...