Wasn't sure which forum to put this in so feel free to move...
I have a 1954 Chevy 3600, moved the fuel tank out of the cab about 5 years ago. Current setup is a custom made 35 gallon tank located in the bed.
This has worked great for years but times have changed and id like to relocate to an underbed tank and reclaim my full bed space.
The problem I'm finding is that most aftermarket tanks or those from the normal donor vehicles (Blazer, mustang, el camino, 47/48 suburban) do not appear to fit or work with my 3600 frame. Most are geared to the more popular 1/2 tons. I seem to have the width (side to side) but not the length (front of truck to back) due mostly to the extra crossmember on the frame. Depth of tank also is flexible though ideally somewhere between 10-12" as id rather not have the tank super low.
I don't really want to move the crossmember or pay $500+ for a new/custom tank etc. unless i absolutely have to. Location isn't as big of a deal, weather its behind the cab on the side of the frame rail or behind the rear axle. The space between the last crossmember and the rear of the frame is roughly 17x31.
FWIW the truck will soon have a flatbed which should allow me some added flexibility.
Ive gone thru multiple searches on this site and others with no luck... curious if anyone knows of a tank roughly 17x31x 10/12" deep. Or anything else that might work. Bigger volume the better.
Side tanks off a GM P/U with dual fuel tanks. Tape measure and your local salvage yard can be your friend.ðŸ›
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
JustHorse - Ill see what i can find next time i get a chance. My local yard has greatly reduced its hours with Covid now and my work schedule (thankful to still have one!) makes things tricky...
MikeB- Ive been strongly considering that the more i keep running into obstacles... just means undoing some past mods behind the seat and finding a new home for several items-not the end of the world but I'm calling it Plan B for a bit still...
Swear id looked over all they're stuff already but you got me to look again and sure enough they have a Universal (U4) thats 30x16x8... at 15gallons. Not sure how i missed it but thats pretty much just what i was looking for size wise. Though i wish it was bigger in the volume dept. Beggars can't be choosers though!
Thanks again to all! Ill try and remember to post back with an update after i get something installed.
I used the tanksinc.com U4 on my 48 3600. I think it works well. Second pic just shows how I have the lumber to level the frame, I adjusted tank height so that the fill tube was just above the top of the frame, and notched the board. (sorry don't have pic of the other side on the computer!)
Great looking truck ASU! I have those same wheels i think!
Those pics are definitely helpful, I hadn't thought of placing the tank directly behind the cab, looked like the easiest spot was farther back but now ill have to go out and poke around with the tape measure.
Any chance you have the dimensions of your flatbed? Length, Width, and how high you lifted it off the frame to clear the tank?
My flat bed is from the 40's, best I can tell, original to the truck. It is 7'6" long and 6'6" wide. The boards I have on top of the frame rails are 2" thick, and 4-1/4" tall at the front and back, close to 2-1/2" when they go over the frame arch. I need the clearance for the wheels, the gas tank is only about 2-1/2" over top of the frame rails.
Beggars can't be choosers though!