More fuel capacity

[ranger danger]

My 69' Suburban has the OEM 21 gal. gas tank. I would really like to double the tank size. What are some of the ways that can get me there. I do not want to cut new filler necks into the body! I know of one company making a 40 gal tank but they are expensive! I've also heard of a "dealer installed" 45 gal tank. Where might I find one of these? Thanks

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by ranger danger

My 69' Suburban has the OEM 21 gal. gas tank. I would really like to double the tank size. What are some of the ways that can get me there. I do not want to cut new filler necks into the body! I know of one company making a 40 gal tank but they are expensive! I've also heard of a "dealer installed" 45 gal tank. Where might I find one of these? Thanks

Finding a good original 40 gal tank might be a tall order. The one I took out of the '72 I parted out was in really bad shape.... There are (I think) 4 tubes that are welded into the tank that the mounting bolts go through. There were holes rusted through inside the tubes and it would have been almost impossible to fix them. You may get lucky and find a good one but I really doubt it.

LockDoc

[magicoolbus]

I have an aux tank in my suburban that was made by Travel Tanks, a California company long out of business. It is designed to go under the middle seat. It is a basic welded up steel box that is plastic lined and has given me no trouble for the 20 years I have had it. Picture of label below.

[CG]

Board member here put in a late model tank in his burb, but I can only remember his real name (no help I know). Let me think about this and see if I can figure it out and find a link.

Ok I found the link and it turns out he didn't use the tank he had a custom one built. He got the idea from this thread though, post #17

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=520146

[ranger danger]

Originally Posted by CG

Board member here put in a late model tank in his burb, but I can only remember his real name (no help I know). Let me think about this and see if I can figure it out and find a link.

Ok I found the link and it turns out he didn't use the tank he had a custom one built. He got the idea from this thread though, post #17

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=520146

Thank you sir, that's the kind of stuff I'm looking for!

[notchbackgta]

I just put one in from an 87 Suburban because I wanted an in-tank pump, but the earlier ones are similar 40 gallon with senders for the carburetor

[60sIron]

Mine came with the middle seat bolted to it, as already posted. Rubber hose with a grommet and cap on the drivers side. The filler looked bad. But more importantly very unsafe. I can hear the screaming........ But no one can tell me that a fuel tank in the passenger compartment with a filler that can easily be torn off in an accident or roll over is safe.

[ranger danger]

Aero Tank has a replacement 40 gal. tank but $525!?
http://www.aerotanks.com/inventory/1139.html

[Bigdav160]

I used a early nineties square body Suburban 40 gallon tank.

It fits like like a glove.

I did have to add a crossmember (and relocate another) to make the support straps fit.

I also moved the filler neck to the corner to align with filler tube. With some fancy piping, you might be able to get away from the filler neck relocation task.

[notchbackgta]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

I also moved the filler neck to the corner to align with filler tube. With some fancy piping, you might be able to get away from the filler neck relocation task.

I used a 45 and a 90 elbow with a reducer to adapt from the smaller of the body to the larger of the tank and keep the stock location

[rocknss]

Originally Posted by notchbackgta
I used a 45 and a 90 elbow with a reducer to adapt from the smaller of the body to the larger of the tank and keep the stock location

Do you have part numbers of the 45,90 and reducer you used and location were you found them. I'm looking into converting my Burb to EFI with a larger tank also.

[vectorit]

You can do what my Burb had for most of it's life, and that is to put 2 21 gallon tanks in it. The second one will fit right behind the existing one, and the fill tube was modified to be a Y pipe with one cap.

The fuel was diverted using a manual valve, and the fuel gauge was switched between the two with a toggle switch on the dash.

It worked good for many many years, and I only took it out because I was was restoring the truck to OE spec.

[ranger danger]

Originally Posted by vectorit

You can do what my Burb had for most of it's life, and that is to put 2 21 gallon tanks in it. The second one will fit right behind the existing one, and the fill tube was modified to be a Y pipe with one cap.

The fuel was diverted using a manual valve, and the fuel gauge was switched between the two with a toggle switch on the dash.

It worked good for many many years, and I only took it out because I was was restoring the truck to OE spec.

A very interesting idea!! Rather than 2 fuel gauges, I would cap off the second tank sending unit and then put a 3/4" equalizer tube between the 2 tanks with a ball cock valve inbetween. That way you would always have the ability to shut off flow between them. Primarally, the fuel level would stay equal. Interesting....very interesting!!

[notchbackgta]

Originally Posted by rocknss

Do you have part numbers of the 45,90 and reducer you used and location were you found them. I'm looking into converting my Burb to EFI with a larger tank also.

Sorry, it was two 90's with a reducer adapter between them. Its a little under 1.5" at the filler and it 1.75" at the tank. I had to trim them both once I got the tank under there. I can try to take a picture tomorrow, if I remember. I got all the parts off Amazon

Gates 24716 Fuel Hose, 1-3/4" - 90 Degree
Gates 24715 Fuel Hose, 1-1/2" - 90 Degree
1.5" OD x 1.75" OD Step-Up Transition, 304...

[infinite-foamies]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Finding a good original 40 gal tank might be a tall order. The one I took out of the '72 I parted out was in really bad shape.... There are (I think) 4 tubes that are welded into the tank that the mounting bolts go through. There were holes rusted through inside the tubes and it would have been almost impossible to fix them. You may get lucky and find a good one but I really doubt it.

LockDoc

It could be done I think depending on the ID of the tubes.

I am running a second factory tank behind the factory. I am running a trailer hitch which will also protect the tank in a rear end collision, but the hitch had to be pushed back such that the entire tube sticks out behind the bumper.