Chevelle Gas Tank Swap

[rogergodding]

I am curious as to what straps you have holding the tank on? I got 2 straps with mine and they aren't going to work....

[Rudy-g]

I bought some flat stock steel at the hardware store; they are 2"x36" I paid $7 a piece, and I also bought two 1" angle iron $5 a piece

And I used the ones that came with the tank

[Rudy-g]

finished the tank install, I painted the gas tank with POR15 silver color paint

[Rudy-g]

filler neck

[Bueno 68C-10]

So about how far is the tank from the bumper?

[utee05]

I assume that those who go this route that you will not be using a hitch? I love this idea of filling behind the license place but on the off chance I end up getting a hitch I may be hindered.

[clemsonteg]

Does anyone know how he connected the flat stock to the frame? I see 2 bolts holding each piece of flat stock to the frame, but I can't tell if he welded them to the flat stock, or used a bolt through the flat stock. I feel like a bolt through the flat stock would cause an indention or possibly puncture the top of the tank.

[gipper]

Originally Posted by clemsonteg

Does anyone know how he connected the flat stock to the frame? I see 2 bolts holding each piece of flat stock to the frame, but I can't tell if he welded them to the flat stock, or used a bolt through the flat stock. I feel like a bolt through the flat stock would cause an indention or possibly puncture the top of the tank.

Look at post #32 picture #2

[clemsonteg]

Originally Posted by gipper

Look at post #32 picture #2

Thanks. As I mentioned in my post, I can see that he used flat stock and that he used bolts to connect the flat stock to the truck frame. What is unclear from the pictures is if the bolt head is under the flat stock or if it is welded to to the top of the flat stock.

[SierraMtns]

Any pictures of how low the tank hangs down? Can't really tell from the pictures.

Do the Chevelle come with baffles?

[Rudy-g]

Sorry I took some time off,
I used flat stock and drilled it, to keep the bolt from rubbing on the tank I used foam weather strip.
I've got 7 3/4 inches of clearance under the tank, it does come baffled and I've put 3k miles on my truck without any problems.

[Rudy-g]

I'll take a better picture later

[Rudy-g]

This is not a very good one

[clemsonteg]

Originally Posted by Rudy-g

Sorry I took some time off,
I used flat stock and drilled it, to keep the bolt from rubbing on the tank I used foam weather strip.
I've got 7 3/4 inches of clearance under the tank, it does come baffled and I've put 3k miles on my truck without any problems.

Thanks. I thought I saw a bit of a bulge in the flat stock which would indicate that you had a bolt head underneath it (between the flat stock and the tank). I have seen some fairly thing weather stripping so I imagine that would protect the tank from the bolt head. Do you know how thick the flat stock was by chance?

I am thinking of swapping my Camaro tank for the Chevelle tank to eliminate the 3" spacers and gain 3" of ground clearance for my bags. Will your tank actually hold the ~19 gallon capacity? My Camaro tank only seems to take around 14 gallons from empty possibly because of the built in rake of the Camaro floor pan that isn't there on the truck.

[Rudy-g]

Can't remember the thickness of the flat stock, I'll check. And it's a 20 gallon tank, and it does hold 20 gallons.

[clemsonteg]

Originally Posted by Rudy-g

Can't remember the thickness of the flat stock, I'll check. And it's a 20 gallon tank, and it does hold 20 gallons.

Thanks. This may be the upgrade I move to. I only see 1 piece of 1" angle, did you only use 1 of the 2 pieces you purchased. Sorry for all the questions, I am an engineer by trade which is annoying to most people

[Rudy-g]

I used both pieces of angle iron, the other is a few inches behind back crossmember.

I thick it's a good setup for the money. I've had no problems with it. The only thing I would have done differently is to have painted the tank flat black.

[clemsonteg]

Originally Posted by Rudy-g

I used both pieces of angle iron, the other is a few inches behind back crossmember.

I thick it's a good setup for the money. I've had no problems with it. The only thing I would have done differently is to have painted the tank flat black.

I painted my Camaro tank black. The black hides it pretty well, the only reason I am considering the swap to a Chevelle tank is because I only have 3" of ground clearance when fully aired out on bags, without a notch. Once I add a small C-notch to the frame, the tank will sit on the ground. Moving to the Chevelle tank should net around 3" of ground clearance.

[clemsonteg]

Any word on the thickness? I checked some big box hardware stores and about the thinnest flat stock I could find was 1/8". Seemed a little heavy and difficult to bend.

[Rudy-g]

Thats what i Used 1/8 it bends pretty easy using a vise or just pliers

[clemsonteg]

How difficult is it to get to the 4 rear most bed bolts for installation and removal of the bed? Can it be done with the tank installed or do you have to drop the tank for bed removal/installation?

[clemsonteg]

Originally Posted by clemsonteg

How difficult is it to get to the 4 rear most bed bolts for installation and removal of the bed? Can it be done with the tank installed or do you have to drop the tank for bed removal/installation?

Anyone?

[scott-wisc]

I can easily access all the bed bolts. Disconnecting the wire harness is a bit challenging.

[mdeal]

I have been reading about this conversion and this has been a very helpful post! Thanks!

My question is...Do you have to remove the bed to do this install? Would it be possible to do it with the bed on? I had no intentions on removing my bed, but I can if needed.

Thanks for any help!

[scott-wisc]

IMO, the little amount of effort it takes to remove the bed, makes this project much easier.