73-87 gas tank

[KruizerKing91]

theres been all this talk about rear mount under bed gas tanks and i was curious if anybody has used a under cab 73-87 tank? its only about 3 or so inches wider than the rear frame rails on my 60, with a little triming it seems like it would work. i dont care to much if its sticking up through the bed. im just curious if anybody else has done this?

[dwebster8783]

I just finished this conversion. its not a bad project I just recomend taking the bed off to save your back and knees. I am building a 65. I used a tank from a 75 blazer. first I bought the conversion kit but was not impressed with the fact that it stuck up above the frame rails so high and you had to cut into the bed braces to make it work. with the actual blazer tank and sme mods it sits flush with the top of the frame. the trick I did was weld 2inch box tub the length of the tank to the bottom of the frame, you have to remove a very small frame brace (which does nothing really) and the very back cross member needs to be moved back as far as you can go with it. If I can figure out how to post pics I will. total cost of tank conversion was about $50 just remember that the newer tank are 90 ohm senders and the conversion kits come in 30 or 90 ohm.

[chevy_man5]

KruizerKing91 are you talking about the tanks outside the frame rails under the back of the cab / front of the bed in the 73-87? If so, I have been wondering about that as well. I haven't started attempting to figure that out yet, but it has been rolling around the back of my mind. (lots of empty space back there, which usually gets me in trouble!)

[dwebster8783]

yes it would get you in trouble chevy_man5 if you get broad sided

[chevy_man5]

I was thinking about relocating it to between the frame rails under the bed. I haven't measured it, or anything yet, but I think that is what Kruizerking was asking about.

I would definitely NOT leave them outside the frame rails, that just does not seem like a very good idea at all, for the same reason you stated dwebster. Thank you for attempting to keep me out of trouble though!!

[KruizerKing91]

thanks for the input dwebster8783 i was also considering that option.

chevy_man5: thats exactly what im refering to. i have one laying here and off of my 74 that i used for my 6 lug disk brake swap. the bed is already off so i will try to get a decent picture of what the tank looks like sitting on the frame rails. it only needs a bit of triming of the frame for it to fit.

[blackedoutharley]

What about mounting them outside of the frame rails as they were originally installed on the '73 and later trucks?

I have a pair that I planned on using for this purpose to remove the tank from inside the cab.

I have had no luck locating the manual valve to switch from one tank to the other (usually mounted on the floor next to the seat) though.

[chevy_man5]

Blackedoutharley, do you know how hard they are to remove. According to the dimensions listed in LMC, and the comment by Lakeroadster, it doesn't look like it will work.

My daughters donor truck has a switch mounted on the floor. I don't know if it works or not, but I'd be more than willing to box it up and send it to you for the shipping charge. I hope this isn't in violation of forum policies, if it is, someone please let me know!

[dwebster8783]

unless you guys are planning on modifying those tanks to be a 5 gallon tank you will not have room inside the rail even with a long bed. I can take pictures and measurements if you want since my bed is still off. I can hardly get a 7 gallon air tank to fit inside the frame rails. really your best bet is to do a tank inside the rails behind the rear end. those saddle tanks are really unsafe and I personally would rather have the cab tank then a saddle tank but thats my opinion . spend the few bucks on a blazer or suburban tank and you will be much happier with the out come. let me know if you need measurements.

[chevy_man5]

Kruizerking and I were thinking about taking the 73-87 tank and moving it to under the bed, between the frame rails, in the back. That way we could use parts on hand, but still get the tank out of the cab, and in between the frame rails.

It does look like overall, the Blazer tank would be the easier/better way to go, but being the cheapskate I am, just looking for a cheap way to do it!!

[KruizerKing91]

Originally Posted by chevy_man5

Kruizerking and I were thinking about taking the 73-87 tank and moving it to under the bed, between the frame rails, in the back. That way we could use parts on hand, but still get the tank out of the cab, and in between the frame rails.

It does look like overall, the Blazer tank would be the easier/better way to go, but being the cheapskate I am, just looking for a cheap way to do it!!

this is exactly what were trying to do!

and if any one is confused as to what tank i was refering to, its the tank located under the passenger seat on the out side of the frame rail. ill have some pictures of it in a few

thank you everyone for your input and knowledge i appreciate it

[blackedoutharley]

My plan was to install them outboard of the frame rails forward of the rear end on my '65 LWB fleetside. I have not tried to fit them yet so can't say one way or the other that this is a simple bolt in.


I remember seeing the NBC report and try not to believe everything I see on t.v. (unless its on Top Gear), especially after it came out that the reports were grossly exaggerated and that the trucks used in the segment were rigged to intensify the explosions for the benefit of dramatic effect.

I hope they fit as I want to have multiple fuel tanks for extended range and don't like the idea of the tank being visible from the rear of the truck like what I have seen from others that have used the Suburban tank; I just want the tank out of the cab.

[dwebster8783]

blackedoutharley- I parted out a 80 chevy truck with the saddle tanks with the intension of using those on my 65. I agree with you about not seeing the tanks. the saddle tanks hung down below the cab and bed several inches which I really did not like. so I bought the conversion kit for the back. this hung down a lot and stuck up above the frame rails which ment my bed would have to be modified. the kit said it was a blazer tank but I dont think so because the blazer tanks I found at the wrecking yard are way different. the picture I posted below is the conversion tank the picture posted earlier is an actual blazer tank from a 1975 4x4.