Should I leave the Fuel Tank in the Cab?

[DeputyDan]

Originally Posted by rbagley

If your pickup were to end up on its side somehow the gas cap would get yanked off and gas would spill out and probably all over the driver. If you were sliding and generating sparks there would probably be a good chance of becoming dead.

As a Deputy Sheriff I have never seen one of the in cab tanks blow but I have been to several accidents that involved tanks mounted under vehicles blowing when rear ended. In my experience odds are you will blow up much quicker if rear ended this is why ford has put an fire suppression system in our patrol cars because of the risk of the tanks blowing when rear ended.

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by DDixon1000

As a Deputy Sheriff I have never seen one of the in cab tanks blow but I have been to several accidents that involved tanks mounted under vehicles blowing when rear ended. In my experience odds are you will blow up much quicker if rear ended this is why ford has put an fire suppression system in our patrol cars because of the risk of the tanks blowing when rear ended.

But how many accidents involving pre 1973 trucks have you been involved with? Since they haven't built a truck with in cab tanks since '72, and eveything that has been built since has tanks under the vehicle the overwhelming number of vehicles have under the vehicle fuel tanks. The odds are probably 10,000 : 1.

It all boils down to personal preference. If you feel safer with the tank out of the cab, then take it out.

GM put the tank in the cab because it was the least expensive place for them to put it from a cost of installation on the assembly line perspective.

Just think about it: Long bed, short bed, step-side, fleetside, didn't matter, all the tanks were in the cab... it was easy and made them more money due to minimized labor to install.

There was very little emphasis on "safety" when designing cars and trucks before the mid 1960's.

In 1967 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) introduced the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 301, “Fuel System Integrity” [NHTSA Part 571.301] to reduce deaths and injuries occurring from fires. Initially the standard only applied to passenger cars, however, in 1977 light trucks were also included. GM no doubt saw this standard lurking on the horizon and redesigned the fuel tanks outside the passenger compartment. As far as GM's Safety vs. profit record they actually did a study on this subject in 1973:

At the heart of GM's resistance to improving the safety of its fuel systems was a cost benefit analysis done by Edward Ivey which concluded that it was not cost effective for GM to spend more than $2.20 per vehicle to prevent a fire death.

While this was certainly done in response to the side mounted tanks that were used on the "new" 1973 models, it shows that safety wasn't job one at GM, profit was.

[Vintage Windmills]

Why wouldn't you get more leg room by removing the tank in the cab? You may have to modify the seat mounts but you could push them further back, right?

How many gallons is that Camaro tank?

[pat 70/71]

relocated tanks in all three of my trucks. just personal preference. Agree with the sheriff on being hit from the rear would be more common than a roll over. I just like the clean lines of our cabs. I have early classic tanks in my trucks and they work excellent. cheers, Pat

[72lb4x4]

Just for perspective, the 73-87 side tanks are also considered unsafe. So in the cab, in the back, and on the side are all unsafe.

Where should the tank be?

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

Why wouldn't you get more leg room by removing the tank in the cab? You may have to modify the seat mounts but you could push them further back, right?

How many gallons is that Camaro tank?

The top of the seat already sits up against the back of the cab with the tank there. Removing it will not gain you any leg room.

[leddzepp]

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

Just for perspective, the 73-87 side tanks are also considered unsafe. So in the cab, in the back, and on the side are all unsafe.

Where should the tank be?

6 to 1, half a dozen, or the other. It does not matter.

[RCbowtie69]

mine is still in cab & no gas smell

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by 72lb4x4

Just for perspective, the 73-87 side tanks are also considered unsafe. So in the cab, in the back, and on the side are all unsafe.

Where should the tank be?

The best location, based on crash testing, is between the frame rails, in front of the rear axle.

Unfortunately that is tough to do, especially on "truck arm" suspensions like ours.

[Vintage Windmills]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

The best location, based on crash testing, is between the frame rails, in front of the rear axle.

Unfortunately that is tough to do, especially on "truck arm" suspensions like ours.

And with the narrow frames on these trucks. I dont think one from a newer silverado would fit even with leaf springs. Since at least the 99 (and probably even earlier) trucks had a wider frame rail spacing. Maybe someone could find narrow tanks and put one on each side of the driveshaft.

[Bad70sbchevy]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

So where do you guys end up putting the spare tire?

Got it laying in the bed in the back. (covered bed)

[lakeroadster]

Here is first hand testimony from one of the members here in regards to in cab tank safety. It is from “junkyardjohn”, post #25 on this thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=117123

IN 1977 I WAS HIT BROADSIDE AT AN INTERSECTION BY A DRUNK DRIVER (I WAS DOING 55 OR 60) CAUSING ME TO ROLL END OVER END IN MY 72 3/4 TON FORD. AFTER ROLLING ABOUT 80 YARDS, I STOPPED WITH THE TRUCK UPSIDE DOWN WITH MY HEAD PINNED TO THE GROUND. IT STOPPED IN A LITTLE DEPRESSION IN THE GROUND, & EVERYTHING WAS FROZEN(IT WAS DEC. 23rd IN MICHIGAN). THE BEHIND THE SEAT TANK WAS JUST FILLED. IT SPLIT, & ALL OF THE GAS DUMPED OUT OVER ME, & ALMOST DROWED ME IN GASOLINE, AS MY HEAD WAS PINNED TO THE GROUND. I WAS PINNED IN THE WRECKAGE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I HAD PLENTY OF TIME TO PONDER THE PLACEMENT OF SUCH A FUEL TANK. THE ONLY REASON IT DIDN'T CATCH FIRE WAS MY BATTERY WAS THROWN OUT DURING ONE OF THE ROLLS. LUCKY ME-- I GOT OUT OF IT WITH A BROKEN BACK, 14 BROKEN RIBS, A BROKEN COLLAR BONE & ABOUT 300 STITCHES ON MY MELLON. SO YEAH .... IT IS KINDA A SAFETY THING.

I CONSIDER THESE TANKS A BIG BOMB BEHIND THE SEAT ALSO. THE REASON YOU DON'T HERE ABOUT ALOT OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THEM IS THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIANCED PROBLEMS WITH THEM ARE DEAD.
JOHN

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

So where do you guys end up putting the spare tire?

I put it behind the seat, but now the seat won't go back far enough for me to get in the truck.........

J/K I'm going to just throw it in the bed!

[Boneyard]

I bought a fuel cell to put between the frame rails of my sons 67. I didn't like the idea of the fuel neck sticking out in case of a roll over. I was thinking more of my sons safety than where he was going to carry his spare. I couldn't think of any other way to eliminate that hazard without relocating the tank. I never got it installed and he had to sell his truck. Here is the setup I have. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=430864

[19seventeeCustom]

it's amazing that some of you guys move the tank in the back for safety concerns.

What about no airbags? abs? full shoulder belts?...etc...etc.etc

[Boneyard]

I agree. Shoulder belt is a must have, along with better braking.

[Hubscrub]

Originally Posted by 19seventeeCustom

it's amazing that some of you guys move the tank in the back for safety concerns.

What about no airbags? abs? full shoulder belts?...etc...etc.etc

i agree, if safety is your main concern maybe a new car is more of the fit for those people
worry less, cruise more

[71sierragrande]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i agree, if safety is your main concern maybe a new car is more of the fit for those people
worry less, cruise more

Hubscrub nailed it. I say, sit on the bomb and floor it! Otherwise, get a new truck.

[flashed]

I just installed a new tank in my truck back in the cab ,no smell ,no problems .

[72chevyk10]

i moved mine and never gave the cab tank a second thought. i hated that thing, every time i turned right fuel would dump out. with 3 new caps.. it smelled like a gas station.. and i couldnt fill it up much. get maybe 50-60 miles out of it before i had to refill the little bit that wouldnt spill out.. got a new blazer tank and LOVE it.. got 2 vent lines and it fills full speed. and with my truck as top heavy as it is i didnt want to roll over on that cab tank if i get in a crash.

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by 19seventeeCustom

it's amazing that some of you guys move the tank in the back for safety concerns.

What about no airbags? abs? full shoulder belts?...etc...etc.etc

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i agree, if safety is your main concern maybe a new car is more of the fit for those people
worry less, cruise more

Originally Posted by 71sierragrande

Hubscrub nailed it. I say, sit on the bomb and floor it! Otherwise, get a new truck.

"Some men see things as they are and say why - I dream things that never were and say why not." -- George Bernard Shaw

[bajaracing]

just had mine moved under the bed. just knowing I'm not cruising with with my family with our backs against a tank of fuel makes me feel better...

[Spoof]

Putting the tank behind the seat was dumb...sloshy,smelly and potentially deadly. Is it any wonder GM doesn't do it any longer?
Some reasons to justify spending some cash to move the tank...

1) decent subwoofer/ storage space
2) EFI upgrade possible
3) can shave ugly filler neck
4) moves weight over the rear tires

[myoldchevytruck]

I had no reason to change it. Kept the classic look, although, I changed the hard line and I used steel braided hose. I had the connection about 2 feet past the fuel pump and used a 3/8" npt to -6AN Fitting (male to male fitting). I used 3/8" hard line from AutoZone. Be sure to use a small piece of rubber line to transition the hard line from the frame to the cab as there maybe movement between the two (Thanks Wes from Classic Heartbeat for telling me that). Here's a few pics of what I did.

[71sierragrande]

Originally Posted by lakeroadster

"Some men see things as they are and say why - I dream things that never were and say why not." -- George Bernard Shaw

I recently bought a motorcycle, and I felt that it was unsafe with the gas tank underneath me. So I just built a trailer to house the tank, and its much safer being pulled along behind me, and looks better too.