The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop S-10 gas tank question

I did the search thing, and can't find anyone who has had quite the same question. I'm in the midst of the "swap the '53 bolt onto the '85 S-10 frame" project.

I am moving the gas tank out of the cab. I could use the S-10 tank, but it presents three problems.

One, I have to cut a hole in the side of my bed for a filler tube, and I am not great on body work.

Two, it makes it harder to run dual exhausts.

Three, I have already swapped a 4WD rear axle in. It has a sway bar that mounts where the gas tank is now.


So the queation is, has anyone put a gas tank at the rear, between the frame rails on an S-10 frame? If so, what kind? I'm wondering about a S-10 Blazer tank????

Wow, 40 gallons. Thanks for the heads up. I guess what I really need is a tape measure and a little time. Wonder if a 92-96 caprice would fit....the spout coming out the rear would simplify things.

Measured a modern suburban fuel tank today. Its 31" by 31" and I have a 33" by 28" slot available.

Canyon, we are going to have to meet up sometime so I can check out your project. I am also doing the s-10 frame swap, but you are a few steps ahead of me. Maybe I can learn from the speedbumps that you incur.

Phil

Canyon I just finished putting the tank in my S10 swap. I used a tanks inc fuel tank with the in tank pump. It is just a square box tank. It fit nicely. I will try to get some pics tomorrow and show you.

robin58-

Thanks for the input. I spent today prowling Cherry Avenue Auto Parts in Amarillo, a place 53GMCPhil should know well.

In fact, there is a 3/4 or 1 ton AD sitting in a cleared out spot...I hope it's not headed for the crusher.

I measured every stinking tank in the lot and finally hit the S-10 Blazer section.

DUH!

They already have the tank in the rear, between the frame rails, just where I want to put mine. The crossmembers and mounting are just a little different, but looks like it could be easily fabricated.

In fact, I found a tank already pulled and carried it over to a bed-less S-10 to compare. Should work great.

The Blazers have the filler neck coming out the left side of the body. However, I plan to have mine come out the rear, under the bed and in front of the bumper. I don't foresee any problem.

If the cold front doesn't hit tonight, I'm going to go pull one tomorrow. $30 I pull, $50 they pull. There were already several out, but they were missing the hose fittings/gauge sending unit. I plan to take the hold-down straps, the plastic gravel shield, the filler cap and the sending unit.

I'll also have them pull some front springs. My donor is a regular cab 2.8 liter. I spotted an extended cab, 4.3 liter w/air conditioning. It should have the heaviest springs available.

Daveb8, thanks for your help, too, but it looks like the S-10 Blazer is going to work great.

Phil-

Forgot to say...don't know if I am really ahead. So far, I have stripped my S-10 to the frame, pulled the gas tank, and installed a 4WD rear end.

I got a 2000 Blazer rear, so I have disc brakes and a sway bar. I'm currently fabricating the frame mounts for the sway bar.

I have the engine/trans unbolted, ready to come out, but I have yet to take the time to drive a tractor into town to do the lifting. Might do that tomorrow if I have time.

I'm thinking of starting a thread detailing my progress or lack thereof.

I am swapping a 38 cab on to an 85 S10 chassis. So far I am planning on keeping the stock tank as it seems to be a good fit, but the info is helpful for future reference. I have a 50 for a future work up.

Question: Why the swap to a 4WD rear?

Thanks, Jim

The conventional wisdom is that the 2WD S-10 rear is too narrow for the AD (1947-1955) pickup bed. My measurements confirm that.

Also, by going with a newer Blazer rear, I got disc brakes.

The 4WD rear is about 4 inches wider, I believe.

My reasons for swapping gas tanks are stated above. One very strange thing I didn't realize at first...the four door S-10 Blazers have a sway bar that mounts to the rear of the rear axle. The two door models, the sway bar mounts facing forward.

So if you are swapping in a 4WD rear, and you want the sway bar, and you want to retain the stock gas tank, get a rear axle from a four door.

Something I have learned form this thread and other sources too, is that there are many variations of S10 pickups, 4 or 2 doors and also the many years they have been in production.
But.... I have a question. The disc brake rear end was designed for anti lock brakes. How will that work without the anti lock or are you planning on adding that too?
I really don't understand how anti lock brakes work, but I know you need an electronic speedo sending unit for them.
Ter

There are no wires or anything going to my rear brake unit, so I'm not sure they were ever anti-lock.

And even anti-lock will fail safe to conventional. My 2004 Silverado anti-locks failed, and I unplugged them. They continue to work in normal mode.

The anti-lock part of the system is more part of the master cylinder, or at least installed close to it. All that is installed on the axle are the speed sensors.