The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 1960-1966 Frame mounted gas tank.

Can someone who has used a frame mounted gas tank tell me where the filler tube and cap end up, or does it depend on the manufacturer. It would seem that from the ones I have seen it ends up in the bed somewhere.
Thanks, Mike

Mine is going to end up in the bedside with a fuel filler door like more modern trucks. I couldn't see having one in the floor, with a load on, needing to refuel. Just doesn't make sense,
Scott

Thanks, Scott
I will probably go that route too.

i have installed a poly tank on my 64 c20 wrecker that i made a bed for it. it has a pretty good bend to hose going in and it makes filling the tank a little slow. on my 63 shortbed i installed a steel tank. i installed it coming up out of the bed. i won't haul a big load so it won't be a problem and it is easier to fill. i don't think it matters which brand you go with i thought thet are all a copy of the panel tank. i think if you have it come out bedside the hose will still have to pass thru floor then bedside so it will be in the way no matter what. not saying 48bigtrucks is wrong, he will be able to fill no matter what he has on for a load. since neither one of mine was a fleetside if yours is that it will be different. going all the way to the outside fender really wasn' going to work for me on the stepside. good luck, hr

I will probably go with the poly tank too.
My truck is a fleetside and I don`t plan on hauling any large loads so I guess I will wait until I get one to see how to run the filler.

i got a 61 gmc with a flat bed and i made a 28 gallon tank to go in between the rear frame rails were the under mount spare tire carrier would go .the fill tube exit's out the rear of the bed edge .

I've seen some trucks on various websites that used the saddle tanks from the 73-87 Chevy trucks and put the filler neck on the bedside in front of the rear wheel-well like on those trucks. I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to weld the filler door on there.

LMC carries a kit that looks like it is based on a tank out of a K-5 Blazer and the filler wouldn't interfere with the bed floor and the filler would be on the side of the bed.

That`s a thought Drew.
I was looking at the poly tank from Brothers but I don`t know if I`m too keen on having the tank behind the axle. In the case of a rear end collision I don`t know how that tank would take a hit. It might be easier to have a side mounted tank and easier to graft a filler door in the side. Oh, well I have plenty of time to think about this one. Thanks, everyone for the ideas.
Mike

I am in the process of installing a rear mount fuel tank in my '65 short bed, because to me the rear mount is the safest. Check out my post about this here:

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=492803#Post492803

I keep hearing people say that they don't want a rear mount tank becasue of "safety", and then talk about a side saddle mount tanks?

From a safety standpoint you want the fuel tank as far away from the occupants as possible, and ideally have the gas tank protected by some heavy structure such as the frame. You also don't want gas or gas fumes to enter the cabin of the vehicle if the vehicle cabin itself is comprimised during the accident.

So the worst option is the in-cab tanks, next worse is the side mount saddle and then the least worse would be the rear mount, right?

In-cab tanks are just crazy IMHO. Saddle tanks have no structural steel between them and an impact, in the event you are t-boned in an accident. Rear mount tanks have the rear frame crossmember protecting them, if the installation is done correct.

And with the truck arm suspension mounting the tank between the frame rails anywhere but behind the axle is not likely.

Where am I going wrong here guys?

I also have a rear mounted tank made of Stainless Steel. No Poly for me on the rear or any other place as I feel it would be too easy to punch a hole in one. I have the thought of mounting my fuel fill behind the left rear tail light for a hidden tank fill. I saw this done with a 65-66 Fleetside and it was a very neat install and of course out of site out of mind for gas thieves.
62Blue
Don

Note this install will need to have a boat type of filler neck installed to make it work. You can buy a S/S pipe 90 degree sweep with a short piece of hose for a conection.
Don

John I saw your post on your passenger car tank and I think that`s a great idea.
I just may do that, only I would have to mount it lower because I want to use a wood bed system and I read where you were going to have plywood sit directly on those support bars you made. The only problem it looks like with mounting it lower is the notching of the frame.
Mike

Mike,

You could indeed drop the tank flush with the frame rails, I didn't because I don't like the look of the tank being visible from under the back of the truck. The filler neck is a rubber tube with an annodized metal neck that bolts to the tank. You would need to modify this neck to be longer using steel tubing. Then the notch as shown in my pictures would still work. Keep in mind the cross sills are more than 2 inches tall, thus the floor is over 2 inches off the frame. This would still give room for the fuel filler rubber tube.

You could still move the tank up though and modify the cross sills by notching them to clear the tank and tank supports. Then you could use the standard bed boards and brackets but would need to install the floor before the gas tank.

I made a CAD drawing of both mounting versions, flush / recessed, to get a visual of how this works. Check them out at:
http://community.webshots.com/user/lakeroadster/tags/automotive/photos

[quote=Don G.]I have the thought of mounting my fuel fill behind the left rear tail light for a hidden tank fill. I saw this done with a 65-66 Fleetside and it was a very neat install and of course out of site out of mind for gas thieves.
[/quote]

I was wondering if that could be done on these trucks. I have only seen it on a 57 Chevy a buddy of mine had way back in the day where Chevy hid the filler in the fin. I would like to see that install on a truck.

I have a 66 panel that came with a rear tank so I was going to try the old tank on my current pickup build and if it fits i will cut out the filler door and have it added to my quarter on my pickup I dont see how that cant work