The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Gas Tank

I have been reading and occasionally participating in this forum for a while but now have a question about the placement of my gas tank. I have a 38 1/2 ton truck and the gas tank is currently under the seat. The truck is not on the road but still in the works. How many of you move the gas tank and why? How many of you leave it in its original location? I know my 38 is not the only truck that came with the tank under the seat so if your truck came like this please post your comments. I searched and did not find this topic, but my search skills may be lacking. Just trying to get some comments so I can decide what to do with my truck.
Thanks,

Probabley the biggest reasons to move the tank out of the cab is the gas smell.
Bill

I think I would worry a lot if I had continuous gas smell in my cab.

Was that a problem with 1938 gas tanks?

I moved mine for 2 reasons. I don't like the idea of sitting on 18 gallons of gas or fumes, and I wanted some more space inside the cab for storage. These cabs are quite small and the space under the seat is very useful for other items.

I used a Mustang tank from the 65-69 era. I mounted it sideways and ran the filler hose to the side of the bed.

My 38 is all stock. I have never smelled gas in the cab from the tank. And, I don't mind sitting on a few gallons of highly flammable fuel!! Seriously, the tanks on these trucks are placed in a pretty safe place. You also have to remember the design for late 30's Chevrolet was "state of art" for the time. I think a lot of people relocate the tank for ease and to allow for late model modifications to cab, interior, and other stuff.

it's purely a personal choice - there is really no valid "reason" to move the tank from the stock location, but folks come up with a variety of excuses to do so

Bill

I have a 37 and as most of you know the 37's have split bottom seats requiring one to go to the passenger side and lift that side of the seat to get the gas cap off and fill it up.

I've been running my tank in its original location since 2000 and have not had problems until recently. I honestly need a new gas cap. The tanks themselves are designed with a vent that works nicely but you have to have a good gas cap which I do not at this time.
Gas smell, if you are careful not to let even a drop or two drip on the tank, or anywhere else, your good to go. Even if I do I just roll out the window for minute and all is well.

Now, with the bad cap I do get gas smell and I am leaning toward putting the thank in the back for reasons mentioned above. The biggest being storage space. And, as you know, these trucks don't have much room to begin with due to the contour of the cab..... and I've gained a few pounds in the meantime!! At first chance I'll be switching. I don't mind the trouble of fueling it up so its just a matter of convience and personal choice as Red58 mentioned.
Honestly, I think its pretty darn safe sitting between two good chassis rails and inside the metal seat riser!!! No more dangerous than the behind the seat........ just my opinions.

Thank you for the explanation, Alvin.

Where/how does that tank vent?

Thanks guys, it really sounds like a personnal choice. As you know the 38 is different than the 37 in how you fill the tank, the 38 has a filler neck through the cab on the passanger side. I think this would help to not get a drop of gas in the cab and help to eliminate the gas smell. I guess If I moved it I would have to fill the hole in the passanger side of the cab where the filler neck is. Any suggestions on a replacement tank or kit? also what do they cost?

My 39 has it under the seat with the filler neck through the cab on the passenger side. Never a problem. I did put a sediment bowl with a shut off valve on the tank where it comes through the bottom of the cab. That allows me to shut off the gas flow and it catches anything before it gets to the fuel pump.

Tim, I doubt that I can explain how the vent works in the 37 so to make sure I don't screw it up I'll scan a page in my 1937 "Engineering Features" book.

...the short version is there is a vent in the middle of the tank that actually vents the sir into a tube that vents the fumes to the outside. I'll get the book out of the shop tomorrow. It kind of interesting and folks may enjoy adding the info base....after all "knowledge is the best resource" !!!

Thanks, Alvin. You explain that it has an exterior vent. That is what I wanted to know.

Mine was rotted out so I don't know if it smelled or not. I moved to the back for storage. All my electrical stuff is under the seat along with the heater, tools, and spare parts.

Joe

On my '65 and '66 both have tanks inside the cab and I don't have any problems.

On my '53 I moved the tank to between the frame in the rear just to get more space in the cab. It's a pain to fill because you have to be really carefull not to drip gas on the bed wood, but the added storage space makes up for it.

On the '59 the PO moved the tank to the rear and routed the filler tube to the left rear fender using a custom welded pipe. I'm keeping it this way for 2 reason, I like the added space and I don't want to weld up the hole in the fender (okay I'm a little lazy).

And on the '41 the jury's still out if it's getting moved or not.

Mike38 - If you do decide to move the tank I'll be interested in what tank you choose. I don't know if they offered a frame-mounted tank option in '38 so you'll have to select a tank that fits between the rails. You'll need to decide where you locate the filler (most folks I see put some sort of trap door in the bed), and you'll need to fabricate some custom hangers and brackets.

It sounds like lots of work for something that seems to work just fine where its at. I am leaning toward leaving it where its at. But I still have time to decide, I noticed no one recommended a replacement tank or kit?

I got the tank for my 49 from Tanks Inc. It is a 16 gal that fits between the frame rails behind the diff. I ran the filler through the rt rear fender and added a 12V fuel pump.

Tim asked earlier about the venting on my tank which sets directly under the seat and you have to raise the right side of the seat to take the gas cap off.
I'm not sure if a 38 tank is made this way to vent but here is some info on the 37 for those interested. This is a pic out of the 37 repair manual.
Just as info....

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/Ole%20Blue%201937/IMG_0001_zps12f250ea.jpg

I probably spoke to soon because I have never driven my 38. When I had a 72 It always smelled after a fill up.
Just my 2 cents
Bill

goneagain - the smell after filling was a combination of things, but mostly the rubber joint between the filler and tank neck can deteriorate with age, it's a problem common to all series and easily fixed

Bill

Thanks, Alvin (I got the image in PM, also).