The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Did you move your fuel tank?

I posted this in a thread in the 'burb section but it's not gotten any action, so I thought i'd move it up "front and center".

I hear people saying they want to relocate their fuel tanks for "Safety", but I have to wonder how many of these "under the seat" or "behind the seat" trucks actually blew up or caused a saftey issue?

In my simple little brain, I can't imagine it being any problem so long as it isn't leaking/rusted out.

The gas VAPOR is whats so dangerous, keep the tank full and it's way less likely to explode than if its near empty.. in fact, a friend of mines uncle used to own a welding/body shop and before he did any welding near the gas tank, he took it down to the local gas station and FILLED IT UP.

My dad's uncle (whom I also called uncle) had an old '48 Chevy 3100 he drove every day.. from the day he bought it used 5 years old, to the day he fell over dead (40+ years).. window down, left arm perched in the window, and a big ole cigar hanging out his mouth.

(It wasn't uncommon to get an eye full of cigar ash when you rode with him, either!)

So whats the "saftey concern"? a fuel leak in the event of an accident?

My general thought is, if your gas tank decides to explode while your flying down the road at 55MPH, it isn't going to make a darn bit of difference where it is.. under the seat, behind the seat, or under the bed.

You're going to be one crispy southern fried dude.

Oh Yeah!!! But ... it sure is nice to have that 21 gallon tank (excluding the cost to fill it up!) in the rear and all that room behind the seat to throw tools and extra parts in!

In the past 3ish years or so , it seems most people do this mod for what Keb88 wrote - for the space, added fuel capacity or both.

People also do it when they customize the truck, all different interior, high $ radio, etc.. It seems a lot of people take it out when they put in bucket seats, not everyone but I have noticed that trend.

Also for the space to stash stuff.

There is a good tech article on jim carter's site about why the tank is in the cab anyway and and good reasons for leaving it there.

My attitude is if the in tank cab punctures in a crash - the crash was pretty dang severe and yer prolly dead.

As long as ya keep the seals on the tank in good shape, ya should be good. It is my understanding gas needs to be a vapor to combust right, hence why carburetors and fuel injectors do what they do how they do it.

Mostly I've seen people take it out to add space in the cab, custom stuff, or they just wanted a bigger tank.

-W

Woogeroo
Be careful talking about customizing around Fumblin46 your bound to get an ear full

^^teeheee (no comment )

Sublime, you're being a little mean,.......but I was thinking the same thing.

i just finished moving mine to under the bed in the rear. i hated the smell of gas in the cab. it was not an easy or cheap thing to do but i am pleased. also i wanted the extra weight in the back for winter driving. yea i drive it all year around it is especially fun in the snow. have driven front wheel drive for the past 30 yrs. missed the fun of rear wheel drive. RON

Mine is in the cab, under the seat.

Sorry if I came across the wrong way,I was just poking a little fun at fumblin

I'm pretty thick skinned, I can take it just as well as I can dish it out.

My '46 tank is under the seat, my '50 tank is behind the seat.. I don't smell gas in either one, unless I happen to spill some on me while filling it up.

I read somewhere somebody didn't like the sound of gas "sloshing" around in the tank, but i'd be hard pressed to hear any sloshing in the '46 with the tranny geared as low as it is!

That was the same thought behind the Ford Model A
putting the gas tank in the dash
how offten do you see anybody survive a crash in a 80 year old car when the dash is smashed?

My 46 is bone stock exept for Brown Lipe over/under drive wich I might get rid of if I cant make it any qieter never had a problem with fuel in cab expt for that rubber seal that leaks spills down the filler and back in to the cab.
It shure makes it easer to start after it sits for a cuple months
with the fuel leval alomst leval with the carb

I havent moved mine.Might someday.Only reason would be to get a little more storage room in the cab.Fumes???must have something leaking if your getting fumes.Safety???never heard of any safety issues with in cab tanks.Drove them for years without any problems.

i have never heard of the old behind the seat tanks exploding i saw a 66 burn up once after a roll over and the gas laeking from the tank ignited.how ever it is concievable that if the truck got rear ended hard enough it could crush the back of the cab and tank.i replaced the stock tank on a 66 GMC with one from a suburban for the extra cab space it was pretty much a bolt on deal.the hard part is deciding where to put the filler cap.

If one want to relocate their tank under the bed, what is the best option? I found one in a mag. that was custom made for over $400. That's allot of $$$.
Has anyone used another tank from another vehicle that happened to fit between the rails?
I have a 59 Chevy pickup
Joe

59Apache
btw my Dad had one- 3/4t lb 17" rims kinda funny green.
Anyway- I have a '80 something 30 gal burb tank in my '50, filler through left rear fender. Tight fit, but it works. Pretty sure that Blaser is the same tank.

The danger of a tank behind the seat is in a roll over the cap shears off and spills gas all over where the sparks are being generated by the metal rubbing the pavement. A couple of kids burned to death near here a few years ago in spite of some heroic efforts to get them out. That said, I have one truck with the tank behind the seat and one with the tank mounted under the side of a flatbed. I made it out of a water preassure tank.

One thing good about the gas tank behind the seat, If it has a leak, it really cuts down on your smokin

Moved the tank under the bed actually pass. side, converted to a more modern Chevy truck tank. Was a royal pain to fill and was really in my way when it came to doing any real mods underneith. So, went back to the under seat unit, it's great. I think the tanks underneith or in back are a bigger hazzard than stock in a pre 46.