The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Relocating the fuel tank??

1961 Apache 10 pickup. Can 'Bolters weigh in on relocating the fuel tank from the cab to the back of the truck? I bought a tank from Brothers' and installed it in between the frame rails just ahead of the rear bed crossmember. I chose to put it inside the C-channel instead of below, which seems more secure but I realize would be a major diassembly headache if the tank ever needs to be serviced. Opinions on whether this is a mistake? I was also reading another thread that now has me worried that I'm creating a safety hazard in the case of a rear-end collision and should just stick with the in-cab setup in my '61 pickup. I've spent money and time on this, but if it isn't safe, I may go back to the original. What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

GW

I'm not familiar with the 60-66 models, but I put a 55-59 Panel/Suburban tank under my '56 3100 which put it between the driveshaft and the right frame rail. The frame is the same so it fit right up to the cross members just like it should. I piped the fill pipe back to the right rear fender and put the filler door just behind the wheel opening. I think it looks pretty good. I used this filler door kit from Tanks Inc.

http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/p...=466/category_id=60/mode=prod/prd466.htm

I stayed way from the rear location for a few reasons

1. I wanted to carry a spare tire as this is a driver.
2. I didn't want the filler in the bed because I have a bed cover and carry luggage when we travel and didn't want the cloths to smell like gas if I dripped inside the bed after fueling up.
3. Safety...can you say Pinto?

Mike B

The debate on gas tank location safety rages unabated. Remember Pintos with rear gas tanks would explode in rear end collisions? Then Chevy pickups with side tanks would explode in side impacts. Wherever you put a gas tank, you are in peril if you get hit from that direction. Most people don't like sitting with a bomb inside the passenger compartment however.

As far a service convenience goes, removing a gas tank for service is a rare event. My Astro has 450,000 miles and the tank's never been out. Don't worry about it.

Good post, miraclepieco

I do not mind the gas tank inside the cab (on a cab truck).
"high & inside/above frame rails" - seems a safe location to me

I do not mind the tank to the rear of the rear axle, inside the frame rail and forward of the rearward end of the frame rails (as on panel-body A-D trucks).

Put it where you want. In reality it is going to be as safe one place as another. Gas is an explosive material and given the right circumstances it will go boom no mater where you bolt the tank on.