87 Sending unit in an older tank? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dropd80s · 03-30-2011, 11:16 AM

I am putting a TBI 350 and 4L60 from a 90 sub in my 86 CCSB. I have a short bed saddle tank on the truck now which I believe is of 81/82 vintage. If I buy a 87 sending unit with an in-tank pump, will it fit my older tank? I know the tanks in the 87s had baffles in them and Im not worried about that now. Just want to get her running. I will replace the tank with a baffled one later if slosh and pump starvation becomes and issue. I just want to make sure the sending unit will fit my tank I have now. If I have to buy a sending unit and tank I think it'll be cheaper to run a frame mounted pump.

babyJay · 03-30-2011, 11:30 AM

IMO the frame mount would be the better option. When it quits, you won't have to drop the tank.

dropd80s · 03-30-2011, 01:24 PM

Yeah I've done a little research this morning and I think I have found a good and really inexpensive frame mounted pump.

Cherub · 03-30-2011, 04:05 PM

Yes the 87 intank sending unit will fit. just make sure you get a pump that will give you the PSI you will need for TBI

Big Port Jimmy 6 · 03-30-2011, 09:25 PM

If you do go with the in tank unit, the baffled tanks are a must. My 87 crew had earlier tanks installed when it was shortened. It would shut off unpredictably when it was under 1/4 tank and would cut out under full throttle also. The late tanks are fairly cheap < $100, so they are a good investment. Jay

bigd65 · 03-31-2011, 07:41 AM

Get a Mr. Gasket pump, they are cheap at O'rielys and work great. I put one on my truck and mounted it on the frame back by the tank and it works great

daytonagp4 · 03-31-2011, 10:14 AM

Drop....what inexpensive pump did you find? I'm getting ready to buy one tonight and looking for a cheaper method if you got it

greguw · 03-31-2011, 03:23 PM

Baffles are a must especially once the fuel gets below the halfway point ... keeps the pump fed with a consistant feed of fuel ... Had a buddy that kept burning up pumps in his tbi conversion and could not understand why ... he ran below 1/4 and pump would run dry when he took turns ... not enough to effect performance but enough to eat up pumps .

dropd80s · 04-11-2011, 10:51 AM

The pump I bought was a E2182 from Rockauto.com. After some research I found quite a few people having luck with the E2000 pump. I also found a guy running a variation of this pump in the E2182. It is the same pump with different fittings used in in-tank applications. I am planning to run this pump on the frame rail and not in the tank. Since they are I dentical other than the outlet fittings I think it will be fine not being submerged in fuel. Rockauto had them on Wholesale closeout with a really good price. The pump is a little more pressure than most would reccomend, but again there seems to be a lot of people running this pump with great success. And at this price it was cheeper than any other lower PSI pump I could find. I have not installed mine yet so I can't reccomend it yet. Hopefully I will get her running soon with a full report on its performance.

03-30-2011, 11:16 AM	#1
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	87 Sending unit in an older tank? I am putting a TBI 350 and 4L60 from a 90 sub in my 86 CCSB. I have a short bed saddle tank on the truck now which I believe is of 81/82 vintage. If I buy a 87 sending unit with an in-tank pump, will it fit my older tank? I know the tanks in the 87s had baffles in them and Im not worried about that now. Just want to get her running. I will replace the tank with a baffled one later if slosh and pump starvation becomes and issue. I just want to make sure the sending unit will fit my tank I have now. If I have to buy a sending unit and tank I think it'll be cheaper to run a frame mounted pump.

03-30-2011, 11:30 AM	#2
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? IMO the frame mount would be the better option. When it quits, you won't have to drop the tank. __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW

03-30-2011, 01:24 PM	#3
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? Yeah I've done a little research this morning and I think I have found a good and really inexpensive frame mounted pump.

03-30-2011, 04:05 PM	#4
Cherub Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 970	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? Yes the 87 intank sending unit will fit. just make sure you get a pump that will give you the PSI you will need for TBI __________________ 2014 LTZ Z71 Silverado 82 C15 LQ4/4L80E Conversion 78 Suburban build (SOLD) 83 4x4 Suburban(SOLD) 82 C15 (my first truck) Last edited by Cherub; 03-30-2011 at 04:05 PM.

03-30-2011, 09:25 PM	#5
Big Port Jimmy 6 Addicted to Rust Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Abbeville SC Posts: 1,030	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? If you do go with the in tank unit, the baffled tanks are a must. My 87 crew had earlier tanks installed when it was shortened. It would shut off unpredictably when it was under 1/4 tank and would cut out under full throttle also. The late tanks are fairly cheap < $100, so they are a good investment. Jay __________________ Current trucks: (48 GMC100 320 inliner) Gone (48 Suburban in pieces) Sold 87 GMC CCSB 5.3 4l60E Daily Driver ECTA National record holder XO/PP We never really grow up, we just learn how to act in public.

03-31-2011, 07:41 AM	#6
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? Get a Mr. Gasket pump, they are cheap at O'rielys and work great. I put one on my truck and mounted it on the frame back by the tank and it works great __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

03-31-2011, 10:14 AM	#7
daytonagp4 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Haven, IN Posts: 171	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? Drop....what inexpensive pump did you find? I'm getting ready to buy one tonight and looking for a cheaper method if you got it

03-31-2011, 03:23 PM	#8
greguw Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bucks County , Pa Posts: 223	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? Baffles are a must especially once the fuel gets below the halfway point ... keeps the pump fed with a consistant feed of fuel ... Had a buddy that kept burning up pumps in his tbi conversion and could not understand why ... he ran below 1/4 and pump would run dry when he took turns ... not enough to effect performance but enough to eat up pumps .

04-11-2011, 10:51 AM	#9
dropd80s Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: wichita falls tx Posts: 429	Re: 87 Sending unit in an older tank? The pump I bought was a E2182 from Rockauto.com. After some research I found quite a few people having luck with the E2000 pump. I also found a guy running a variation of this pump in the E2182. It is the same pump with different fittings used in in-tank applications. I am planning to run this pump on the frame rail and not in the tank. Since they are I dentical other than the outlet fittings I think it will be fine not being submerged in fuel. Rockauto had them on Wholesale closeout with a really good price. The pump is a little more pressure than most would reccomend, but again there seems to be a lot of people running this pump with great success. And at this price it was cheeper than any other lower PSI pump I could find. I have not installed mine yet so I can't reccomend it yet. Hopefully I will get her running soon with a full report on its performance.



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