Dilemma/Decision

[davepl]

Well if you do find the cause of the odor when you get to the point of yank-a-tank, let us know! Hopefully it'll be something obvious and turn out to be something we can safety-check on our own trucks.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

From day one the truck had the smell of gas in the cab when the tank was full... My truck had the original tank with all of the lines changed out and we still had the smell in the cab...

I can't wait to get it on the road with the Boyd's tank under the bed...

Are you sure you changed out ALL the lines? I have a 72 and it never had gas odor then one day (after it was about 25 years old) it DID have gas odor. There was a rubber hose in the filler tank area, as I recall it was about a 3/8 hose or thereabouts. It had a split in it. After I replaced it, ZERO odor. So that was about 15 years ago but as I recall I think it was behind the filler tube. Probably there to vent air back while filling the tank. I have a factory evap system and a fuel return line I think (factory air).

So I'll probably have to replace it again in a couple of years LOL

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

Are you sure you changed out ALL the lines? I have a 72 and it never had gas odor then one day (after it was about 25 years old) it DID have gas odor. There was a rubber hose in the filler tank area, as I recall it was about a 3/8 hose or thereabouts. It had a split in it. After I replaced it, ZERO odor. So that was about 15 years ago but as I recall I think it was behind the filler tube. Probably there to vent air back while filling the tank. I have a factory evap system and a fuel return line I think (factory air).

So I'll probably have to replace it again in a couple of years LOL

Yep... pulled the tank and replaced all hoses... but for me it is no big deal... I hate the look of the fill neck there anyway so it is gone and will be behind the tail light..

[ERASER5]

Tank in the cab, tank under the bed, tank in the bed, bla. bla bla. My question is "You carry a spare tire? Really?" : lol:

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

Tank in the cab, tank under the bed, tank in the bed, bla. bla bla. My question is "You carry a spare tire? Really?" : lol:

If he wants a spare tire it is not a bad decision it just won't happen under the bed with the fuel tank there...

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by Elliot949

Yep... pulled the tank and replaced all hoses... but for me it is no big deal... I hate the look of the fill neck there anyway so it is gone and will be behind the tail light..

Well, you must have needed a new tank anyway. When you bolt on your bumper, or trailer hitch, (if you have either) make sure you run the bolts from the inside of the frame out to decrease the chances of those bolts ripping a hole in your tank in the event of a rear end collision. Skid plates off of blazers or suburbans are also another measure of safety, when rear-ended if you get undercut (car noses under you) the skid plate will hopefully keep the tank from ripping. There is room for more steel behind the rear-most cross-member, and might be helpful if it hung down to tank depth.

Once the fuel spills and sparks ensue, the entire vehicle goes up in flames (case in point Police Cruisers, Crown Victorias, Ford Pintos, Jeep Cherokees).

"By the 1960s, Ford knew there was cause for concern. In a study partly financed by the carmaker, UCLA researchers concluded placement of gas tanks behind the wheels "exposes them to rupture." An area above the axle provided a safer option, they wrote. In 1969, a Ford engineering safety memo pointed out that one advantage of locating the gas tank above the axle was that it would be "almost impossible to crush the tank from the rear."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/ne...o-explo/nLszC/


"The numbers from CAS research are harsh: 478 people have died in 349 fatal car crashes due to the location of the fuel tank behind the rear axle".

http://www.jeepproblems.com/problems...act-fire.shtml


" While most modern vehicles locate fuel tanks in front of the rear axle — out of the car’s “crumple zone” — some vehicles place their gas tanks behind the car’s rear axle. This hazardous placement makes the gas tank prone to rupturing, and can cause a fire or explosion in the event of a crash".

http://www.reiffandbily.com/fuel-fed-fires/

Not trying to argue, irritate or belabor the point, and I will speak no more about this today.

Good luck, enjoy your truck and stay safe.

[Elliot949]

Originally Posted by mechanicalman

Well, you must have needed a new tank anyway. When you bolt on your bumper, or trailer hitch, (if you have either) make sure you run the bolts from the inside of the frame out to decrease the chances of those bolts ripping a hole in your tank in the event of a rear end collision. Skid plates off of blazers or suburbans are also another measure of safety, when rear-ended if you get undercut (car noses under you) the skid plate will hopefully keep the tank from ripping. There is room for more steel behind the rear-most cross-member, and might be helpful if it hung down to tank depth.

Once the fuel spills and sparks ensue, the entire vehicle goes up in flames (case in point Police Cruisers, Crown Victorias, Ford Pintos, Jeep Cherokees).

"By the 1960s, Ford knew there was cause for concern. In a study partly financed by the carmaker, UCLA researchers concluded placement of gas tanks behind the wheels "exposes them to rupture." An area above the axle provided a safer option, they wrote. In 1969, a Ford engineering safety memo pointed out that one advantage of locating the gas tank above the axle was that it would be "almost impossible to crush the tank from the rear."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/ne...o-explo/nLszC/


"The numbers from CAS research are harsh: 478 people have died in 349 fatal car crashes due to the location of the fuel tank behind the rear axle".

http://www.jeepproblems.com/problems...act-fire.shtml


" While most modern vehicles locate fuel tanks in front of the rear axle — out of the car’s “crumple zone” — some vehicles place their gas tanks behind the car’s rear axle. This hazardous placement makes the gas tank prone to rupturing, and can cause a fire or explosion in the event of a crash".

http://www.reiffandbily.com/fuel-fed-fires/

Not trying to argue, irritate or belabor the point, and I will speak no more about this today.

Good luck, enjoy your truck and stay safe.

A car will have to be pretty low to get under my pickup... LOL

[mechanicalman]

I got rear-ended by a Volvo 850 in my 2006 Colorado, and he went under me. Next thing I knew (didn't see it coming) instead of looking at the car in front of me, I was looking at the pavement. I figure the rear of my little truck was about 3' off the ground. The Volvo got it's hood peeled back in an accordion all the way to it's windshield and left a huge debris field. Bent my frame, despite going under me it still drove the bed into the cab. Hard hit, maimed me for life (2 ruptured cervical disks). But I didn't burn.

Just be mindful is all I'm asking. Again, good luck and have fun.

[motorcritter]

Since the '71 Cheyenne and the '69 GMC are getting fuel injected engines, the rear tank conversion is a foregone conclusion. Spare tires will get mounted in the left forward part of the bed, and a decorative cover placed over them. I've got side-saddle aftermarket tanks, right and left, with wheel well fillers. I am contemplating plumbing them for EFI pumps and using them on the '70 C10 project, just trying to figure what engine to put in it. I might say 'why not a diesel?'- that would change everything. Again.

[mechanicalman]

Originally Posted by motorcritter

Since the '71 Cheyenne and the '69 GMC are getting fuel injected engines, the rear tank conversion is a foregone conclusion. Spare tires will get mounted in the left forward part of the bed, and a decorative cover placed over them. I've got side-saddle aftermarket tanks, right and left, with wheel well fillers. I am contemplating plumbing them for EFI pumps and using them on the '70 C10 project, just trying to figure what engine to put in it. I might say 'why not a diesel?'- that would change everything. Again.

Actually, Diesel is safer IMO.

I've seen people take fleet side fender wells, turn them upside down and plant them in the bed for a recessed spare tire holder. Or, one could get the spare tire holder out of an old suburban and install that, both behind the rear tire area on a long bed not sure if it works on a short bed. You would just have to fabricate a back for it extending from the inner bed sheet metal.
That is, if you want the spare to sit lower in the bed, I think you might even be able to get it below the top of the bed.

Just a thought.

[tonkatrux2]

My main reason for moving tank is keep paint on side of truck. You know how kids are over fill next thing you know come out paint is gone. With after market seats it does make more room with tank gone.