Gas Tanks... probably the most debated "safety" issue here on the Stove bolt.
The best plan: Do whatever makes
you feel safer.
For me it was moving the tank to the rear. FYI: pictures and data, go to post #8 of my build thread
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=363509My opinion (for whatever it is worth) is having the gas tank any place but in the closed compartment where I am sitting is an improvement.
If you look at "modern trucks" they have the tank between the frame rails and not in the cab. The manufacturers are required to crash testing vehicles today which results in locating items, such as fuel tanks, in "safer" locations. That was not the case when our old trucks were built in the 1960's.
With the "truck arm" rear suspension on our trucks mounting the tank in front of the rear axle will mean the tank will end up being under the cab and therefore can't be more than about 8" deep or it will be hanging down. You will also have restrictions on where you can run the exhaust and the tank will be problematic for transmission removal / repair.
If you feel safer not having the tank in the cab putting the tank behind the rear axle is a compromise. It gets the tank out of the cab and it puts it between the frame rails. And, as has been said before, if you have a structurally strong rear bumper or add a structural cross member at the back of the frame as part of the gas tank relocation it will be as protected during a rear end collision as much as it would in a side collision.
Again, it is about doing whatever makes
you feel safer. Nobody can argue that point.. but you!
I hope this helps.
