We hijacked 1953 panels post on gas tanks, so I thought it would be better to start a new one.
There were two gas tanks designed for the 1947/55 GMC/Chevrolet Panel/Canopy Express and one tank designed for the Suburban.
According to original GM documents, they were either a 16 Gallon tank for the 1/2 ton Suburban/Panel/Canopy Express
or
18 Gallon tank for the 1 ton * Panel/Canopy Express
After looking at my Suburban frame Thursday and removing the old gas tank, my observations were: You can only install an original 16 gallon gas tank on a 1/2 ton frame. Any modifications to the frame to install a 18 gallon tank would encroach on the rearend or the gusset used to strengthen the emergency brake pivot and even then it would be a hard fit with modifications to the filler tube being moved or a new hole being made in the body to accommodate the extra length.
The measurements for the Suburban tank I removed were as follows:
24 X 13 X 13 with 4" radius = 16 Gallons. This was a 1947/53 gas tank with the side gas line fitting. The gas line entered the gas tank at approximately 4" from the bottom. I will open up this gas tank for further observation to see how it operates as a gas tank. I am not sure if there is a tube that goes to the bottom of the tank or if the gas line only picks up gas from it's entry point.
The numbers were entered into this
CALCULATOR I used this email address and phone number (
[email protected] (202) 224-3553), you can just cut and paste it doesn't matter if combine them in each box. You can use your own info if you want.
JIM CARTERS CATALOG PRICE FOR TANK[/font] Here's a picture from bowtietims suburban. It's a new tank from Jim Carter.
[font:Arial Black]BOWTIETIMS TANK[/font] *
[font:Arial Black]HIS ALBUM ON THE GAS TANK AND STRAPS[/font] [font:Arial Black]ACHIPMUNK'S ORIGINAL 16 GALLON TANK[/font] [font:Arial Black]
1953 PANEL'S ORIGINAL GAS TANK Tim Lederman had posted
THIS ONE from a 1954 1 ton Panel. Chevrolet called it a 18 gallon tank.
2005 POST [font:Arial Black]OLD LINK ON THE SAME SUBJECT[/font] [font:Arial Black]ANOTHER LINK ON GAS TANKS[/font] [font:Arial Black]ANOTHER RECENT POST[/font] If you have more information, please add it to this post and we will keep this one for future reference.
PS: I forgot to mention, if you did want an additional gas tank on the 1/2 ton, you can add another same size oem tank on the drivers side. There was the same amount of space, the only problem is the filler tube would be located incorrectly and a modification will need to be made. I am sure someone could modify this to work and install a tank switch between the two tanks. You would also have to figure out a tank strapping system to make this work. You may have to reroute the exhaust system too, my frame does not have one.
