The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 1947/55 PANEL * CANOPY EXPRESS * SUBURBAN GAS TANK

We hijacked 1953 panels post on gas tanks, so I thought it would be better to start a new one.

There were two gas tanks designed for the 1947/55 GMC/Chevrolet Panel/Canopy Express and one tank designed for the Suburban.

According to original GM documents, they were either a 16 Gallon tank for the 1/2 ton Suburban/Panel/Canopy Express

or

18 Gallon tank for the 1 ton * Panel/Canopy Express

After looking at my Suburban frame Thursday and removing the old gas tank, my observations were: You can only install an original 16 gallon gas tank on a 1/2 ton frame. Any modifications to the frame to install a 18 gallon tank would encroach on the rearend or the gusset used to strengthen the emergency brake pivot and even then it would be a hard fit with modifications to the filler tube being moved or a new hole being made in the body to accommodate the extra length.

The measurements for the Suburban tank I removed were as follows: 24 X 13 X 13 with 4" radius = 16 Gallons. This was a 1947/53 gas tank with the side gas line fitting. The gas line entered the gas tank at approximately 4" from the bottom. I will open up this gas tank for further observation to see how it operates as a gas tank. I am not sure if there is a tube that goes to the bottom of the tank or if the gas line only picks up gas from it's entry point.

The numbers were entered into this CALCULATOR I used this email address and phone number (webmaster@boxer.senate.gov (202) 224-3553), you can just cut and paste it doesn't matter if combine them in each box. You can use your own info if you want.

JIM CARTERS CATALOG PRICE FOR TANK[/font]

Here's a picture from bowtietims suburban. It's a new tank from Jim Carter. [font:Arial Black]BOWTIETIMS TANK[/font] * [font:Arial Black]HIS ALBUM ON THE GAS TANK AND STRAPS[/font]


[font:Arial Black]ACHIPMUNK'S ORIGINAL 16 GALLON TANK[/font]


[font:Arial Black] 1953 PANEL'S ORIGINAL GAS TANK


Tim Lederman had posted THIS ONE from a 1954 1 ton Panel. Chevrolet called it a 18 gallon tank.



2005 POST

[font:Arial Black]OLD LINK ON THE SAME SUBJECT[/font]

[font:Arial Black]ANOTHER LINK ON GAS TANKS[/font]

[font:Arial Black]ANOTHER RECENT POST[/font]

If you have more information, please add it to this post and we will keep this one for future reference.

PS: I forgot to mention, if you did want an additional gas tank on the 1/2 ton, you can add another same size oem tank on the drivers side. There was the same amount of space, the only problem is the filler tube would be located incorrectly and a modification will need to be made. I am sure someone could modify this to work and install a tank switch between the two tanks. You would also have to figure out a tank strapping system to make this work. You may have to reroute the exhaust system too, my frame does not have one.

here is a photo of my tank. http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo91/1953panel/DSC00840-1.jpg

and my cork float that was in the tank when I bought it. http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo91/1953panel/DSC00842-1.jpg

My original tank looks just like achipmunks tank.If you need a picture of it,I will load it up for you guys.

Interesting the slight difference between mine and Alvin's tanks. The canted section near the top is in a different position.

OOOK guys. Let me muddy the water....or perhaps help clear it up some.
When we refer to "MY" tank it is NOT off a PANEL. I got this tank from Mike at the Stovebolt Reunion in 2008. My ORIGINAL tank I took out of my panel is just about totally rusted away.

So, "my" tank may have been out of a SUBURBAN rather than a panel. Leo, that may be why you see a "canted" section near the top that is differnt than yours.

To help us out on this I am going to get my ORIGINAL tank, the one from Mike (suspected Suburban) and the NEW one I bought from JCarter for my panel and take a picture with all three of them in a line. I will come back and post the pic here.
ALSO.. I told Gmoniz that I was going to meaure me out 128 ounces (one gallon) and see how much it takes to fill the tank. Then he made a good suggestion to me.... see how much I can siphon out to see if it leaves any in the tank that would require less to fill up. (Thus the 13gal we keep hearing about)
I can hook me a line to the pickup tube and see how much can be sucked out before it quits.

This is intriging and I "must" know the answer!!!

There were slight differences in the gas tanks that we scrapped (didn't take pictures.. dope! ) between the 1947/48 truck gas tanks, the 1947/53 Panel/suburban gas tanks and the 1954/55 Panel/suburban gas tanks. I did notice slight differences in dimples/creases and indentations. They looked like they would all interchange with each other, with slight modifications to each. The 47/48 truck tanks had different filler tubes an the 1954/55 panel/suburban tanks used different sending units and no longer have the fitting on the side for the gas line.

I will see if I can get the different tanks side by side for caparison and pictures.

I have a few of those that i saved from the squisher. I havent gotten them out and lined them up to compare details. I basically just grabbed them to save'em. I'll be back.

I also forgot to mention the 18 gallon side tanks and one ton panel gas tanks that we scrapped too. I am working on getting more information and pictures. Marty, send me what you have, I am checking in with Tyler too, he grabbed a few too.

Correction,mine looks like alvins tank.

Does anybody know anything about this suburbans fuel tanks, yes,it has two.

two fuel fillers

OOK. Here we go.
#1. old tank is the original rusted out in front off MY panel.
#2. is a new tank recently purchased from JCarter
#3. is the primered tank I bought from Mike Taylor 2008 before repop's were made. ** It could be a suburban tank??

Observations: the original rusted out tank has a baffle 9" from the end where the pickup line is located. It is a solid baffle. I used a 1/8" wire to confirm it had space UNDER it for gas to flow to pickup tube.
NOTE: one of the pics shows the pickup tube which is "bent" down to the bottom and is tack welded to the bottom.
The other picture shows the baffle itself. Now, I stuck the 1/8" wire down through the gauage opening and with a flashlight could see the wire actually go UNDER all baffles so the gas can flow to pickup tube. Only ONE baffle in tank.
Any other questions before I throw the rusty one away?
Hope this helps and you can get the pics open. IF not, go to my photobucket below and it will be the first 4 pictures on page one.... theres a few updated pics in their if you care to look.


http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/Fueltanks001.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/Fueltanks002.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/Fueltanks003.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/Fueltanks004.jpg

They all look the same to me .Thanks for posting the pictures.

Hope you're whole truck wasn't as rusty as that tank.

Leo, it was pretty bad. Just take a look at the photobucket!! LOL

Tyler (garandboy) Sent me these to [font:Arial Black]ADD TO THE CONFUSION[/font] How many tanks did they make?

Here is some text out of the 1950 salesman’s data book along with the last page in this pdf out of the 1929-1957 Chevrolet Master Parts That should let you see what is what on this subject. The reproduction fuel tank that Jim Carter has made was off an original 1947-48 pick-up tank just like the 1947-1953 full-bodied panel, canopy & suburban tanks at IS 16 gal (aprox) as the 1 ton panel and canopy sport a 18 gal tank.

In with a comment a few years behind. I have seen a 58 Napco Suburban that had dual tanks from the factory, one on each side. I wonder if that could explain why those tanks has fillers on opposite sides.

It's not everyday I read these forums and find my own truck in here! mphudak, I do not know whether my truck was original from the factory that way, I kind of doubt it. The story I have is that it was originally purchased by the California forestry service, and I assume that it was modified for them. Yes, it had a gas tank on each side, and a filler tube on each side as well, so the tank would have had a filler on the opposite side from usual. They were plumbed into a "t" valve, and there is a knob in front of the drivers seat which set the valve and controlled which tank it was drawing from. Unfortunately, the previous owner removed the extra tank, but the plumbing, "t" valve and valve control are still there.

I assume by now your 'burb is here in town? I'll have to give you a call and check it out.

I wondered if you were on here. Seeing those pics of the left hand tanks sure makes me think it could of been original, not to mention the stampings in the inner rockers w/the opening for the filler neck. Anything is possible though.

I finally got my suburban down in october. I haven't done anything w/it other then collect more parts to put it back on an original chassis. Give me a call when ever, I'm usually working on something around the house.

Anybody have any info or pics on how to move the gas tank even if not original tank to behind the axle?and move the filler accordingly

installed rear tank

old topic