The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop how to make a gas tank?

anybody out there know how to do this? what type of material? it would be nice to make one that fits perfect instead of jimmying around with one out of a donor vehicle. the truck is a 50.

If you're a TIG welder, make it out of stainless. If you're paying someone, check out Rock Valley Antique Auto. Hopefully the link I just did will work. Haven't quite figured out the link thing.
web page

Anyways, these guys specialize in gas tanks. You can send 'em your old one and they'll make a duplicate. Or they may already have the plans to make one for you without having to send your old one. I could be wrong but, seems the prices are reasonable too.

Why make a new one or buy some high dollar tank? I found the 67-69 camaro tank (18 gal) fits perfect between the rear frame rails of my 54. Other options include 69 or 70 Mustang tanks and 74-81 camaro/firebird tanks. Unless you are building a show truck I would put the $300 you can save towards another more visible aspect of your project. Just my $0.02.

There are several sites that show donor tank installations/uses. A yahoo or google search should find them.

If you want to make one yourself go for it. I saw one site where the guy made his 20 gal tank out of 14ga steel but I would think that 16ga would be sufficient also.

I have made a couple of tanks out of epoxy resin, fibreglass or dynel cloth and styrofoam. You shape the styrofoam to the desired shape of the tank, then lay up the cloth and resin on the foam plug. after the resin is cured, you cut a hole in the tank (e.g. for the sender) and pour gas into the tank. The gas dissolves the foam and you are left with a hollow tank. Make sure you use epoxy resin; polyester resin will eat the foam. You can make a tank to fit any application using this method. Don't forget to include baffles in the design.
Gord.

How and where are the best place to position the baffles?

I built my tank using 14 gauge steel and a mig welder. I used the heavy steel for safety and easy of welding. I added baffles inside for three equal compartments. I cut all four corners of the baffles to let fuel run thru. I hammer formed the end caps over a oak pattern. The case was one piece bent fout times over a 1 inch pipe for radius edge instead of a sharp corner. Is a 18 gallon that fits just the way I wanted. I had the end caps to weld and one long seam. To check it, I used 15 psi air and soapy water. If you weld slow and carefully, you won't have any problems. I believe you could set the truck on it and not damage it. It is heavy, but its not going to fail!! Total cost, 1 sheet of 4x8 steel, less than $50. Joe

I agree with Joe's suggestions about the baffles. However, a 15 psi air test is too gutsy for me. The presure on a 2 foot square tank would be over 8600 pounds. For my tests, I used about 3 pounds, let it sit for 1/2 hour. Should be no loss in that time. This is the same technique we used for sewer systems when I was doing engineering/contruction work. I know a guy who was building an airplane and he blew up his wing tanks testing with too much air pressure - a lot of work ruined in an instant - be careful!

Gord

Another option instead of steel baffles is fuel cell foam. You can buy it in blocks and just cut to fit inside your tank. I think the only way to get in in there is you need one something like one of those race car/motorcycle style cap deals with the large hole and bolts all the way around.

I bought an aluminum fuel cell that has the foam in it but am now thinking of building my own tank out of steel for a lower profile.

This is something I'm looking at doing too, since I don't like the idea of a big bomb right under my ars.

You guys that are putting it between the frame rails, where are you putting the filler neck?
I was thinking about using one of those 40 gallon fuel cells you can buy from Summit, but how to fill it is the challenge. It would have to have a filler neck somewhere.

You can buy small cubes of fuel cell foam, that can fit in the feeler neck.

custom classic trucks magazine, the latest issue has an article on a under bed tank with measurements. also placement of the filler. there is no date on the issue because of the address label covers it but on the front it says relocate your cab-mounted fuel tank and a blue and silver truck on the front. hope this helps. ron. i am planning on doing the same thing in the spring. but i have to move the exhaust system i just installed, duals, plus the brake lines are in the way. poor planning!!!!!!!!!!! ron

You can always use a stainless steel beer keg, for a gas tank , then you have the fun of drinking the contents first while you do the rest of the work on the truck...