Stovebolt.com Forums The Shop Area Interiors So, just how did you install that Gas Tank?????

Well yesterday was another one of those days when you unwrap the package and it leaves you disappointed. I was installing a reproduction behind the seat gas tank in a stock 1950 1/2 ton pickup yesterday and ran into problems right from the start. The tank came from Classic Parts of America a earlier this fall. It looks real nice at first glance and next to the original tank it even looked quite original, till you started looking at some of the details.

The first thing that we noticed was the flange on the original one was flattened down in the areas where it sat in the saddle and where the straps went over the top, the flange on the repro wasn’t. now the last thing that you want to do is start bending a welded seam with out any way of leak checking it after it’s bent. The second thing that popped up was the fuel outlet at the bottom. The tank can only sit in the saddle in one way and it is strapped against the back cab braces with rubber bumpers so you really can’t rotate it forward or backward. The pipe nipple is resting against the back of the hole where it goes through the floor pan and it has to be filled out oval shaped for clearance.

But all that wasn’t the killer. When we went to install the fuel filler neck the filler spout and vent tubes were way off angle. There was about 20° misalignment of the filler stub and the vent was pointing toward the front rather than the side and was off by about 30°.
The two pieces of hose that they sent were way to short to make up for any misalignment and would look really bogus even if they were long enough.

So, with all of the tanks that have been replaced in these Advance Design trucks, my question is, did we just get a bad tank or have any of you run into the same sort of alignment problems?????
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Could it be for a different truck and they sent You the wrong one ? Mabe somone put it the wrong box or the part # is wrong.
Always something

Pete

Denny,
I got the same tank from Classic Parts and ran into the exact same problems. The filler tube angle is so far off that it split the gasket in the hole in the cab that it sticks through. Also, the tube is just barely long enough to get the gas cap on. It wasn't just you.

Thanks Pablo, I was begining to think it was me since no one else seems to have had a problem with them. The tank is my buddy's and I was just installing it for him. I think its past the 30days return so I think he's stuck with it. What a piece of crap, I wish I had known about the outfit Ken posted in another thread. Those tanks look right based on the picture, even the flanges are folded down on them where the straps go.
DG

Denny, yes that repo tank is f***ed up, I had to use a conduit bender to get mine close enough to make it work. OH YEA, MADE IN TAIWAN, great stuff! Oh, the pipe thread on the bottom was metric and I had to redo that to accomodate for the US application!! After a lot of frustration it is now just fine, a nice, new, clean tank from TAIWAN!!

Well that's two, I wonder just how many more are out there who aren't speeking up. Boy we sure should be letting people know about this.
Denny Graham

These tanks come that way. My suggestion is to send them back and make sure you get your shipping back for both ways. If they (any vendor) want to fight you on that ask them if they sent you a replacement if it would fit with no problems, Most of us know that many aftermarket parts need a bit of massaging to get them to fit properly we understand (to a point) but I do not believe that a fuel tank should ever need this. There is too much to loose with safety and liability.
Mike Taylor

Massaging a part to fit is one thing, reworking by cutting, welding or bending welded flanges or pipes is a entirely different situation.
And just how in the world you can dictate to a vendor about what he is or isn’t going to do to rectify the situation is beyond anything that I've ever been able to accomplish.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

That was my point. Along with returning the tank.

Mike Taylor

You can mess with those cheapo Chinese repop tanks if you want but...
Nothin' beats a properly cleaned & sealed original tank.
http://www.por15.com/US-STANDARD-TANK-SEALER/productinfo/TSG/