Gas tank Questions 86-87?

[kelsfine69]

Does anyone know what the difference is between 86 gas tanks and 87?
87 was the first year they put electric pumps in the tanks but I thought the tanks were the same. My parts guy is telling me they are different numbers. Also is there a difference between left and right?

[79 silverado]

plastic baffles inside to keep fuel from sloshing around on grades/through curves because of the in-tank fuel pumps...

oh, also I believe that the tanks are different from one side to the other based on where the filler neck attaches. Its not right in the middle of the tank and its more towards one end than the other so you cant just flip one around for use on the other side...

[ont_guy_38]

Yes there is extra channeling in the bottom of the 87 tank for the fuel pump but other then everything else is the same.I put a 87 tank in my 85 because i needed one and my parts truck was a 87 .It will accept the older sending unit ok but your gas guage will never read below 1/4 tank because the float hits the metal inside the tank.I found that out the hard way as me and my then 2 year old daughter had to walk home cuz it ran out of gas and still said 1/4 tank.....lol...there is no difference between left and right i dont think



typed too slow...lol...silverdao beat me...but i dont belive there is a difference from side to side

[ont_guy_38]

Looked on LMC it says right there left and right are the same

[kelsfine69]

Darn... found a new tank but its for an 86

[thinair]

Originally Posted by ont_guy_38

Yes there is extra channeling in the bottom of the 87 tank for the fuel pump but other then everything else is the same.I put a 87 tank in my 85 because i needed one and my parts truck was a 87 .It will accept the older sending unit ok but your gas guage will never read below 1/4 tank because the float hits the metal inside the tank.I found that out the hard way as me and my then 2 year old daughter had to walk home cuz it ran out of gas and still said 1/4 tank.....lol...there is no difference between left and right i dont think



typed too slow...lol...silverdao beat me...but i dont belive there is a difference from side to side

I was pretty sure that the top of the sender and the actual hole in the tank on the 87s was smaller than 86 down....................
The senders have a tab that sticks up and out and it fits into a slot/cutout on the tank.That designates LH or RH.So for instance,if you have a single tank truck,drivers side LH,and you just happened to buy a RH tank from someone that had dual tanks,your sender would sit in the tank backwards and your hoses and lines would point towards the outside of the truck instead of inward like they should.