Fuel Tank Relocate or Not?

skippyf15 · Post by **skippyf15** » April 26, 2007, 7:28 pm

Okay, You guys have settled the front axle issue. Now for safety I should relocate the fuel tank to the bed area right. This is my first truck build. I've done a couple of muscle cars, they were easy compared to the truck.

Post by **kid2** » April 26, 2007, 7:45 pm

We took the stock seat tank out of my 65 and turned it around anfd mounted it against the front of the box. We had a cover made for it to protect it and it looks great............Kid

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » April 27, 2007, 7:45 am

Personal Opinion Follows!
I think the paranoia over the fuel tank is unnecessary.
The reason most people move it is to gain legroom, not for 'safety'.
I look at wrecked vehicles every day for my job. I've seen scores of pickups hit in the back end. It is extremely rare for one to be hit so hard that the bed will shove into the back wall of the cab, and even then, rarer still that it would impact the tank enough to split it open. If it was that hard of a hit, I think you'd be far past worrying about a gas tank anyway.

It's not a simple job to move the fuel tank, unless you are simply going to stick it in the bed like a piece of cargo (remember, personal opinion). Placing it under the floor of the bed creates two problems: where to put the spare tire, and how to install a filler neck.
Final personal opinion: I think anyone who stays awake at night worrying about a cab mounted fuel tank really shouldn't be driving an old, poor handling, no airbags, no door beams pickup truck in the first place. But like Glenn Beck says, maybe it's just me.

skippyf15 · Post by **skippyf15** » April 27, 2007, 8:22 am

This is true, I have read countless articles about putting the tank under the bed it just seemed the thing to think about.

Post by **Greg D** » April 27, 2007, 8:23 am

I don't off hand remember who but someone put a Ranger tank flipped end for end inside the frame rail and used to stock filler, this is what I would do if I change mine. My reason for doing it would be to gain the space behind the seat. I personally won't do a Mustang tank conversion cause I don't want a filler neck in the floor of the bed. I have seen them (JC's uni) with the filler out the back. I agree with DV also If I want to drive something with all the latest safety equipment I get the 05 Stang out, mind you this has NOTHING to do with why I bought that car. I won't likely be moving the tank on the Uni.

Fanatic · Post by **Fanatic** » April 27, 2007, 10:11 pm

THANK YOU DWIGHT !!!!

I can only see moving the tank so that you have a place to put JUNK.

My seat is against the rear of the cab before it is against the tank, so even the leg room issue is mute.
There is no leg room ---no matter what you do.
Glue some padding in place of that fancy zippered thingy cause your knee will be resting there anyway, and who wants to look like they have a 4" scar on their leg . ttttttttttt

You want leg room---buy a van......You want cool---drive a SLICK !

Tim

66fordtrucknut · Post by **66fordtrucknut** » April 28, 2007, 5:47 am

I guess that makes 3 of us, It's not like they're pintos.
Charlie

jakdad · Post by **jakdad** » April 28, 2007, 10:04 am

Charlie said it, Pinto Gas Tanks!!!!

skippyf15 · Post by **skippyf15** » April 29, 2007, 8:04 am

Like I said this is my first truck, I've read alot of articles and looked at alot of suppliers and I thought it was the way to go. Maybe I shouldn't read so much.

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » April 29, 2007, 8:21 am

I did it because I wanted to see if I could, and just because I liked the look.
You can keep 18 gallons of gas under your ass if you want, but I think I'll pass .......................
'cause if I turned it over I don't want to cook.

(thank you)

With apologies to poets everywhere.
U@ss

MadMaxetc · Post by **MadMaxetc** » April 29, 2007, 4:25 pm

Uncle Skip wrote:...'cause if I turned it over I don't want to cook.

This is why I don't want it in there. I can avoid the hit...its the tip and roll over that I am woried about. I don't like to be covered in gas, not a safe fealing.

As for what you can do. There are options...

Flip the tank around like Kid did. Easy.
Mustang tank like Skip did. Moderate (welder needed)
Find a tank from a Salveage yard with a side fill and graft in a door on the side of the bed. Hard (Lots of hunting and Fabrication)
Fabricate your own. The Skys the limmit!(Hardest)

Just my 2 cents.

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » April 29, 2007, 9:35 pm

Flip it? In Kansas? There ain't nothin to hit out there!

FORDMANLCRACKEL · Post by **FORDMANLCRACKEL** » April 29, 2007, 11:34 pm

Skippy, a fuel tank is not 100% safe no matter where it is mounted. I just didnt want it in the cab with me and i wanted more gallons of fuel than the stock tank would hold, so i built my owne. It is made fron 1/8 mild steel and holds 42 gallons. There are pic. of it and where i put the fuel fill in my album. I put speakers behind my seat.

Lonnie

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » April 30, 2007, 12:18 am

The reason i have(had) both my truck's tanks in the rear is not first because of safety, although like skip that is a serious consideration for me.

It's because whn we moved in 1973, my dad, and I and a '66 Dodge, I smelled enough gas and cigarette fumes combined to give me a splitting headache just thinking about it. We moved about 250 miles in a '66 dodge with that stinking dang cab tank and me living in total fear that the next smoke my dad light might have us blown over the countryside, from the reek of gas fumes in that cab. Later, I owned a '72 and the instant headache from that reek came right back to me again. I build my vehicles to enjoy them. Reeking gas tanks are not enjoyable to me.

jakdad · Post by **jakdad** » April 30, 2007, 4:48 am

kid2 wrote:We took the stock seat tank out of my 65 and turned it around anfd mounted it against the front of the box. We had a cover made for it to protect it and it looks great............Kid

Could you put up some pics of your conversion? I would like to see the mounting brackets etc. Sounds pretty neat.
Jim

skippyf15 · Post by **skippyf15** » April 30, 2007, 9:46 am

Hey kid would you post some of your work I'd like to see it as well.

Post by **kid2** » April 30, 2007, 10:12 am

I will look for some pics. Matt is the one who made the cover for my tank, All I did was bolt it in. All we did was bolt a piece of angle to the floor and set some rubber padding in the angle and set the tank down into it and lean the tank to the front wall of the bed. We then drilled three holes in the top box front to alighn with the three mounting holes in the top of the tank. We had to put spacers inbetween the tank and the box front. Matt and I have been discussing putting together a kit to remount the tank. We have made some other plans to make the switch much easier and have plans to Fabricate all the mounting brackets and tank cover to sell in kit form someday. If we can put together the power rack and pinion steering for a straight axle we will sell the brackets in kit form also.

I need to make sure Matt gets most of the credit for what we are putting together now. I can come up with all kinds of ideas but it takes guys like Matt and Lance to make them a reality. As some of you know my chop top would not be where it is with out Lance's work. He was the one who decided where to cut the roof and doors and planned it all out, all I did was worry at first. Lance and Matt are the ones who have gotten my 64 to where it is now, chopped top and on a car frame. Matt is the one who built some of my Mounts and crossmember to mount the back of the cab/front of the box and I want to make sure people do not think I have done all this stuff on my own. It is Guys like Lance and Matt and another freind of mine Chris and Wade who are awsome freinds and guys who have taught me tons that have gotten my stuff to where it is today because with out them I think I could do what I have done but not as quick ( ok nothing I do is Quick )and not near the quality that it is.............Kid

skippyf15 · Post by **skippyf15** » April 30, 2007, 2:28 pm

I'll look forward to seeing your pictures.

blackagatha · Post by **blackagatha** » May 2, 2007, 1:59 am

kid 2, you REALLY need some photos of your stuff.... especially the chop top. And you should share some blueprints or something of the cuts...

JC, I agree fully with your argument... I hate the gas stench, but I've (kinda) gotten used to it. most everybody that gets in though thinks we're gonna die. A few of my friends refer to my truck as the "car bomb" because of it.

I really wanna do something like fordmancracel did... that's about what I been thinking. About 30 gallons, incorporated with a toolbox/ shed for eventual air-ride equipment.

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » May 2, 2007, 6:13 am

You shouldn't have a fuel smell inside the truck. Have you replaced the inlet hose from the filler neck? That is the most common source of gas stench.