Retrofitting tanks

[gchemist]

I found this cool article from 2000 on tanks for our trucks.

PREFACE
The work described in this report was performed at the request of
Mr. Kennerly Digges, an agent for the Automotive Safety Research Institute. This
report constitutes a partial deliverable for the Alternative Gas Tank Systems for
the GMC C/K Pickup project, and outlines the general activities conducted
during the initial evaluation of alternative fuel systems.
The opinions expressed herein are those of Biokinetics

Complete link to study and guide: http://www.autosafety.org/GMAttR.pdf

[Malo83]

The fuel tank mounted in the spare tire area seems like the best bet

[kalbert]

I wonder why they didn't use a Blazer tank instead of the Bronco II? Seems like that would have made sense.

[Oldriginal86]

Seems funny to me they were looking to retrofit vehicles a few years after the body style and tank location were changed. GM did nothing to fix my 86 K25. They did send me a coupon for $$$ off if I purchased a new truck. I replaced both my tanks with plastic because the originals rusted through in a few years.

[bnoon]

I remember reading that several years ago. Makes me want the rear mounted tank from LMC.

[Dead Parrot]

Still have my "Consumer Certificate", good for $1000 off a new vehicle purchase, hung on the wall next to a 12 cent check for some lawsuit involving AT&T. I still think that the lawyers in class action suits should be payed in the same currency as the victims receive. So if the victims get Consumer Certificates, that's what the lawyers get paid in.

I remember reading one study while this was hot news. The result compared death rates between GM, Ford and Dodge in side impact collisions. There wasn't much difference. Oddly, IIRC, the GM trucks had a slightly lower overall rate but a somewhat higher rate due to fire. NBC got burned when they faked a fire by staging a crash that did result in a burst tank and fire, but when the video was viewed in slow motion, folks found that NBC had hidden a model rocket engine that was lit during the crash to insure a fiery result for the news broadcast.

I don't see how a rear mounted tank really improves safety, given the much higher rate of rear end impacts.

[79Betty]

I second the notion of lawyers getting paid equally. All in favor?

[Rascal_one2001]

I don't care about where my tank is located like in my 72 c10 with the tank behind the seat if I'm in a wreck that destroyed my fuel tank I'm probably already screwed

[kalbert]

Hmm... So LMC has a rear tank that shows it fits 75-81's? Was there a rear tank option for a while? Was it maybe a chassis cab thing not a pickup thing? It has the same part number as the Blazer unit.

[Skunksmash]

Are tanks out of newer trucks really any safer? Is the tank itself designed to resist impact or not leak if it does get a serious impact? I've thought of trying to adapt a new tank out of say a 2010 model.

[kalbert]

i guess a gas tank is a gas tank. Kind of a necessary evil. Most of the people I know who have fitted a rear tank, Blazer, cell or otherwise, have done so in the name of simplicity, weight balance, capacity, or functionality. I don't think safety was ever mentioned, though I'm sure some might do it. For every study that shows the saddle tanks are risky there is one that shows it doesn't matter. Just like eggs. Are they good or bad? Depends on who and when you ask.