I need a new tank for my '48 1.5ton Loadmaster. I see Jim Carters and Chev's of the 40's both carry a New underbed gas tank. But they say it is only correct for the 1/2 ton. What is the difference? Size, capacity or appearance?
A ton and a half would have come with a side mounted tank. That is not to say that you can't make the one for the 1/2 ton fit, but you will have to mount it up high to clear the drive shaft and if you have a bed, it will be difficult access the filler. The capacity is about correct, but it was made for a half ton with a filler coming out of the side of the bed below the floor.
I was assuming the New tank mounted just like the original side mount my 1.5ton has. Definitely glad I asked. I have been looking in the archives and online but I am not finding any sources for a new original replacement for my '48 1.5ton tank. Any suggestions?
Don't mean to hijack anyone's thread, now I'm confused do all 1.5 trucks have side mouted gas tanks, cause my 52 has a cab mounted gas tank like the 1/2 ton
RDomeck it looks like You do great work! Though I would prefer something more like the original. Ratmugrosa here is a Jim Carter gas tank article that should answer your question.
"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir "When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me Some TF series details & TF heater pics
1949 and later came with with a tank located inside the cab. The larger trucks had about a gallon or so more capacity, but the tank inside the cab on 1949 to 53 are interchangeable from 1/2 to 2 ton. 1954 is the same dimension, but uses top draw instead of bottom draw. I personally believe that the 1954 and up top draw tank was the safest tank that GM built. Side mount tank were assumed to be protected by the overhang of the body of the truck on larger trucks. The regulations of side mounted tanks are pretty stringent. And they apply to the year of manufacture of the tank, not the year of manufacture of the vehicle.
