Question About Fuel Cell and Blazer Tank Conversions

[JHickson6]

I have been thinking a lot about the work ahead of me for the spring and summer and one of the many upgrades to my truck was going to be a rear tank. I've looked at the blazer tank conversions but there prices are over $240 and have a fuel capacity of 21 gallons, which I like because my engine is going to chug down the gas. Now looking at the fuel cells at places like Summit they are about a $100 cheaper but hold about 5 gallons less fuel. Then I noticed this one http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=6937 its length and width are good for fitting in the rear of the frame but it's 14" deep. So after all of that I was wondering if any of you guys have an opinion about if that will hang too low to the ground, especially because my truck is going to bagged and riding on 18's. Actually its stance will be a lot like Slammed67's, sorry Slammed67 I just love the stance it's got!

Here's the pic of the fuel cell that i'm talking about!

Thanks in advance guys!

[1971Stepside]

My personal thought is that it will hang to low, but then again I think the Blazer tanks hang too low on lowered trucks. I like the aluminum set ups that are way too expensive, but look trick. I would think the 21 gallon one would do you just fine, but I don't know what your daily driving habits are.

[dream68]

iT WILL DEFINITLY hang to low if you are going to slam it like Slammed67.. My choice would be the summit choice, even with the smaller tank.. If you want to hang on a bit, im going to go boneyard measuring because im doing mine in the spring.. i will get back to you in a month or so...

[JHickson6]

1971Stepside - HAHA My driving habits; leadfoot, sideways through most corners!!

dream68 - I can't wait to hear back from you!

Thanks to both of you!

[polevault1977]

I'm looking for a tank also. Have you looked at summint's http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=23625
tank?
Aluminum alloy, 24 in. x 20 in. x 10 in., 20 gallon, foam filled, fuel cell

Just a thought, Danny

[JHickson6]

Hey thats not a bad one at all, but the dimensions in the frame are 17X28 maximum, so you'd have to move the crossmember.

[RACING29]

the one polevolt showed is the one I'm getting.

[JHickson6]

Hey Racing29, where are you putting it? If between the frame rails, how?

[polevault1977]

JHickson6

No biggie to change rear crossbrace, but my problem is having enough room to run exhaust through next to the rear crossbrace and turn down and out behind the wheels and still have room for a tank. I may not be able to do this without buying one of those high dollar tanks. May run exhaust different. Here's a pic of what I had in mind. Ece did this on one of their projects.

Danny

[polevault1977]

one mo'

[Jesse 67 c-10]

anyone here ever tried making their own tank? Essentialy just a box, a couple baffles on the bottom, if you get the peices cut right, tack it together then mig it up inside and out, grind the outside and paint it up. You'd just need to weld in your fittings before. besides materials all you need is a ruler, a square, grinder, some cutting wheels and a welder. Its a project but hey, you get the exact right size for cheaper too.
Just an idea
Jesse

[chevy2racr]

need a sending unit though

[Jesse 67 c-10]

but of course, can you get ones that are adjustable for different depths of tanks? maybe I'll try it some day, when I have time, and a nice welder!
Jesse

[1971Stepside]

polevault, I spoke with Dave at ECE about the tank they put in that truck and it was a custom job that cost him nearly $900. It was necessary for the exhaust to run through there.

Because of this I just cut the holes in my carrrier bearing cross member and will turn the exhaust down in front of the axle. Slammed67 did this and it is not too loud in the cab and sounds very good.

Racing29, that tank won't fit in the rails without some pretty serious mods.

PICKMUP sells a sweet aluminum tank that is pricey, but what I hope to go with. You might drop him a PM.

[Slammed67]

Here is the one I have. It's a 16-gallon (25"x17"x6"). My truck isn't a daily driver, so the reduced capacity really wasn't an issue with me. Using this tank will require you to grind off part of the "crooked" cross member on the passenger side (which you can kind of see in the second picture.



I raised my bed floor 1-1/2" for differential clearance, but also so I could raise the tank up as high as possible (I want it out of sight). Also, since it isn't a daily driver, I just cut a hole in the bed floor to access the filler. As you can see in the following picture, the top of the tank sits about 3" above the top of the frame. Right now that vent fitting (blue) is touching the bottom of the bed floor, so I might need to find a shorter one or modify that one.

[JHickson6]

Thanks everyone for all of the input!

[polevault1977]

I'll probably wind up going slammed67's route on the exhaust. Seems like the best alternative. I sure like to see a little chrome on those exhaust tips. Still thinking!!! Danny

[polevault1977]

Hey slammed67, which electric fuel pump did you use? And how is your tank mounted, straps, brackets, etc? Thanks in advance and btw your truck is one of the most *****in rides on this board! Keep up the good work. Danny

[Terry S]

I had one build at the local speed shop. It fits nicely in the space available and holds 24.5 gallons. The dimensions were something like 25x18x10.5, with a 45 degree angle on the lower rear edge just to make sure that I have lot's of room under there if I decide to go with a roll pan in the back. I put in my own baffles and a sending unit from autozone. The total cost (including a new autometer guage) was about 275 bucks. I think that there are still some pictures here in an old thread somewhere.

[swdobbs]

I chose a tank from a '94 blazer (full size) 30ga, its about 13" or 14" tall but my hitch plates hang about that low. I got the tank/straps/pump/sender for $75.00 and had to trim about 1 1/4" width from the lower frame rails and relocate the rear cross member. All this is prep for a 5.7 FI., someone tell me it ends

lol, swdobbs.........

[chiphayes]

i put the exact summit tank,the aluminum one shown above,on my 72 shorty,mounted inthe rear,just even with the bottom of my bed,i had to cut a cross brace off,and if you specify your ohm reading,i think it is 0-90 ohm,which is what mine is,they will send you one,with the correct sending unit,and your factory gauge will work,my truck is slammed and i have zero problems.new member here need to get some pics of my buggy, ive had itover 20 yrs,got it when i was 15,

[canso]

I have a short leaf spring truck so space was limited. I could not find a tank that would maximize the space and not hang to low. I had a tank bent up and I welded it. The size I built was 18x27x8, it holds 15 us gallons. The tank cost 70 dollars to bend, 50 dollars for an adjustable 90 ohm sending unit, 40 dollars for powder coating. These are also canadian dollars. The steel was 12 gauge I put one baffle in it and a couple of 3/8 fittings. When I was done I plugged all the holes and put a pressure test on it and snooped the fittings.
This is the only way I found you can do this with out having a tank that hangs down 10 inches.

[Dandeluxe]

i like the tank slammed has but how do you fill it w/o cutting a hole in the bed floor? and also id like to see the looks of the tank after the bed is on to see if it shows up under the bed. if you dont slam it you probably dont have to raise the bed up 1&1/2 inches. i am planning on doing mine in the spring . and want to put the filler door where the rear side marker lense was and put in a s-10 door and hard ware. thanks, DAN

[canso]

No, I am not raising the floor of the box. The tank goes up inside the rear cross member until it touches. Also I have put my fuel filler behind the marker light with a gas door hinge. You can not see the tank below my rear sport bumper.

[Slammed67]

polevault1977: Thanks for the compliment!

The fuel pump is a Holley "red" street pump. Works great. However, I wasn't thinking when I installed it....... the filter should be ahead of the pump, whereas mine is after. I plan to correct that though. The tank sits on two straps that I also bought from Summit. I had to modify them (shorten) in order to raise the tank. Looking back, I could have made my own straps and not bought those. There are no top straps because with the bed on, there is no where for it to go anyway.