Aftermarket fuel tank experiences - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

77shorty · 12-03-2016, 08:16 PM

Well, I have a hole in my original tank.....I discovered that the used oe one I bought has a JB welded screw in it....nice huh? I've priced one place locally and got a $250.00 quote to fix up my original one.....dang high. My question is: has anyone had a decent experience with an aftermarket tank? The attractive part is price on a repopped tank, but I don't want a lot of headaches with returning or having to modify anything "new", so I'm interested to hear what my truck brothers have done.
My truck has a single 16 gallon tank....77 shortbed c10.

Thanks in advance.
Mark

ElGracho · 12-03-2016, 08:22 PM

I've bought several of the 80 dollar spectra premium tanks from amazon. No problems.

77shorty · 12-03-2016, 08:42 PM

thats good news.....I forgot to ask about the sending units too....also amazon?

vht · 12-03-2016, 09:31 PM

I've used both and never had any problems, sometimes the lip has to be bent some to fit in the brackets. No biggie.

**old Rusty C10** · 12-04-2016, 09:17 AM

I went to advanced auto parts and got the spectra tank and whatever float3 they offer I brought in a competitor ad and they matched it about five years still work great

Greenlee · 12-04-2016, 11:15 AM

I originally had a plastic aftermarket tank. Not sure what brand it was, but it developed a leak around where the sending unit seals to the tank. I kept smelling gas when I would fill up and finally saw where it was coming from. It had screws with metal clips that held the sending unit down. I tried cleaning it up and tightening the screws but it still leaked. I switched to a metal aftermarket tank from LMC and have had no more leaks. The metal tanks have a lip with a locking ring that holds the sending unit down. Long story short: aftermarket tanks are fine, but I will never buy another plastic one.

tucsonjwt · 12-04-2016, 07:06 PM

I have had bad luck with Spectra sending units. They caused a bouncing fuel gauge needle, and the original sending units did not do that. They do reflect the correct fuel level when the gas gauge needle settles down. I would spend the extra $$ to buy AC/Delco sending units, just because the bouncing needle irritates me. However, the Delco units were about an extra $100 each the last time I checked.

77shorty · 12-04-2016, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

I have had bad luck with Spectra sending units. They caused a bouncing fuel gauge needle, and the original sending units did not do that. They do reflect the correct fuel level when the gas gauge needle settles down. I would spend the extra $$ to buy AC/Delco sending units, just because the bouncing needle irritates me. However, the Delco units were about an extra $100 each the last time I checked.

Good to hear>....I'm experiencing needle bounce and it kind of makes me crazy....so, thanks for the heads up on that situation......I heavily dislike redoing things after I've spent time researching and tweaking about it.....sheesh. Thank you very much.

77shorty · 12-04-2016, 10:41 PM

Tusconjwt.....I found an acdelco sending unit......and you're right.....149.00....but if it gets rid of the needle bounce, its money well spent......thanks again. Mark

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucsonjwt

I have had bad luck with Spectra sending units. They caused a bouncing fuel gauge needle, and the original sending units did not do that. They do reflect the correct fuel level when the gas gauge needle settles down. I would spend the extra $$ to buy AC/Delco sending units, just because the bouncing needle irritates me. However, the Delco units were about an extra $100 each the last time I checked.

Ric's/86 · 12-04-2016, 11:11 PM

Spectra premium tanks are made in Canada. Very good quality in my opinion.
If i was you, buy it local (Auto zone, Advance auto, O'Reillys) that way you can exchange it easily if it's damage. I ordered mine at Auto zone. The store had to order three tanks to get one without damage. Imagine doing this through the internet. As for the sending unit. I looked every where. No AC Delco.

Good luck with your project.

Ric's/86 · 12-05-2016, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 77shorty

Tusconjwt.....I found an acdelco sending unit......and you're right.....149.00....but if it gets rid of the needle bounce, its money well spent......thanks again. Mark

Make shore is for the driver side.

*gmachinz* · 12-09-2016, 04:02 PM

I like using Spectra tanks and new GM sending units.

77shorty · 12-09-2016, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmachinz

I like using Spectra tanks and new GM sending units.

Thats what I'm gonna end up with me thinks.....BTW....I'll have an extra sending unit for a few days cuz I ordered two FLS1098 ac Delco units....found out I can get them through work at a much cheaper price....sooooo, If anyone is interested I'm willing to sell one.

barry1982 · 12-09-2016, 11:27 PM

I have installed several aftermarket steel tanks. Never had a problem. Maybe I got lucky, but re used my original sending units without trouble as well.

12-03-2016, 08:16 PM	#1
77shorty Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Portland, Or Posts: 100	Aftermarket fuel tank experiences Well, I have a hole in my original tank.....I discovered that the used oe one I bought has a JB welded screw in it....nice huh? I've priced one place locally and got a $250.00 quote to fix up my original one.....dang high. My question is: has anyone had a decent experience with an aftermarket tank? The attractive part is price on a repopped tank, but I don't want a lot of headaches with returning or having to modify anything "new", so I'm interested to hear what my truck brothers have done. My truck has a single 16 gallon tank....77 shortbed c10. Thanks in advance. Mark

12-03-2016, 08:22 PM	#2
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,553	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences I've bought several of the 80 dollar spectra premium tanks from amazon. No problems. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

12-03-2016, 08:42 PM	#3
77shorty Registered User Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Portland, Or Posts: 100	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences thats good news.....I forgot to ask about the sending units too....also amazon?

12-03-2016, 09:31 PM	#4
vht Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Brooksville Ky Posts: 531	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences I've used both and never had any problems, sometimes the lip has to be bent some to fit in the brackets. No biggie.

12-04-2016, 09:17 AM	#5
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences I went to advanced auto parts and got the spectra tank and whatever float3 they offer I brought in a competitor ad and they matched it about five years still work great __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

12-04-2016, 11:15 AM	#6
Greenlee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 1,668	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences I originally had a plastic aftermarket tank. Not sure what brand it was, but it developed a leak around where the sending unit seals to the tank. I kept smelling gas when I would fill up and finally saw where it was coming from. It had screws with metal clips that held the sending unit down. I tried cleaning it up and tightening the screws but it still leaked. I switched to a metal aftermarket tank from LMC and have had no more leaks. The metal tanks have a lip with a locking ring that holds the sending unit down. Long story short: aftermarket tanks are fine, but I will never buy another plastic one.

12-04-2016, 07:06 PM	#7
tucsonjwt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,189	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences I have had bad luck with Spectra sending units. They caused a bouncing fuel gauge needle, and the original sending units did not do that. They do reflect the correct fuel level when the gas gauge needle settles down. I would spend the extra $$ to buy AC/Delco sending units, just because the bouncing needle irritates me. However, the Delco units were about an extra $100 each the last time I checked.

12-04-2016, 11:11 PM	#10
Ric's/86 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Ocala Fl Posts: 37	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences Spectra premium tanks are made in Canada. Very good quality in my opinion. If i was you, buy it local (Auto zone, Advance auto, O'Reillys) that way you can exchange it easily if it's damage. I ordered mine at Auto zone. The store had to order three tanks to get one without damage. Imagine doing this through the internet. As for the sending unit. I looked every where. No AC Delco. Good luck with your project. Last edited by Ric's/86; 12-04-2016 at 11:17 PM.

12-09-2016, 04:02 PM	#12
gmachinz Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Des Moines, IA. Posts: 4,143	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences I like using Spectra tanks and new GM sending units.

12-09-2016, 11:27 PM	#14
barry1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Waskatenau, Alberta Posts: 259	Re: Aftermarket fuel tank experiences I have installed several aftermarket steel tanks. Never had a problem. Maybe I got lucky, but re used my original sending units without trouble as well.



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