The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 65 chevy short step gas tank - advice needed.

hello guys:
another question please.
i just purchased a 65 short step from AZ with basicaly no rust, it is no show truck, it needs to be restored but it will run and drive in it's current condition if i fix it's gas tank issue.

my problem - the prior owner put a metal gas tank in the bed
(yes-inside of the bed)which is now old and rusty. i would ultimately want to install a good under bed tank from "EARLY CLASSICS ENTERPRISES" who i understand make one of the best under bed tanks around but cost about $900. however i must get it up and running quick as i am not ready to get into a full restoration so i was thinking about just putting another original tank behind the seat. i am guessing that a behind the seat replacement should not cost as much as the specialty under bed tank or require as much work to install. any recommendations on this or where to look for a reasonably priced original type replacement?
thank you all for your advice.

Wow, $900.00 for a gas tank seems pricey. You should be able to get a behind the seat tank relatively inexpensivly, especially if you buy a used tank from a salvage yard or put a post here in the swap meet. Just make sure your sending unit works. The holes for the fuel line should still be there and if it's temporary, you could run a rubber fuel line. (Just watch out around the exhaust manifold or headers.) If you want a new tank, almost all of the specialty catalogs have what you need, including the extensions for the fuel tank cap. Good luck.

Original tanks are easy to find, and for very cheap.

thanks guys
what could i expect to pay for a new behind the seat replacement tank?
any supplier in particular?
thank you

I did post on your tank, I was not aware that we could not " sell" an item. I I also sent you a PM. The stock tanks are cheap, and they do work. I have my frame sitting bare so easy for the upgrade for me. New tanks not overly costly. I have seen prices high and low I think it matters where they get them from etc. Dont forget you will need a sender as well.

blazer tanks fit between frame wells nicely. can buy new ones for around $200. need 30 ohm sender to work with stock fuel gauge thru '66. check with truckandcarshop.com. mine kit worked great.

Check the aftermarket places for a price on a new behind the seat tank,or perhaps the local wrecking yard for a used one.An in cab tank hooked up properly with no leaks is AOK.I hear more people saying the can smell gas inside the cab,with the original tank. If that is the case there is something not right. probably a leak somewhere in the filler neck or perhaps the tank.I have a 55 and a 65 with stock tanks,behind the seat,with no problems whatsoever.I see no reason at all to change them out for an under the bed unit.