Gas tank options - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

70 longbed · 11-07-2002, 02:30 PM

I am relatively new to the board, and I see where everyone likes the option of the blazer tank for relocating to the rear. There must be some other options. I heard someone talk about a Camaro tank. Are there any proven methods other than the Blazer tank, either original or poly, that can be recommended?

I am looking at the side marker light, or tailight options for filling. I have the marker light instructions and parts list, can anyone help with the tail light parts list?

**1971Stepside** · 11-07-2002, 03:31 PM

I have been looking into this as well. This type of thread pops of about every week. Here is what I have learned so far.

The blazer tank is a good and easy and relatively inexpensive swap. The bad thing I hear is that the tank hangs down pretty low and is not that appealing to the eye.

You can measure up your frame and head out to your local salvage yard and find something that fits. Who has time for that?

You can get aluminum or plastic tanks from Summit. They are pretty affordable and come in various colors.

You can buy a special aluminum tank that is a custom job for the frame. These are expensive...like around 450 dollars. But, in my opinion they do look the best and fit the best.

I still have not decided completely on what I will do. I would love to have that parts list for the side marker fill.

Do a search on the threads. It seems to me there was a thread just a couple days ago about the tailight filler. Big Orange did that I believe.

Good Luck and share with us what you decide.

Welcome to the board.

70 longbed · 11-07-2002, 03:43 PM

Yeah, looked at all of the above options, and heard this thing about the Camaro tank, something that is readily available, and was looking for input.

Saw the tailight filler option on here, but there were no specifics. I think it was big orange that replied, but there was another pic that had the filler way up in the hole, maybe eliminating big oranges fill problems.

70 longbed · 11-07-2002, 03:54 PM

Found the post, it was "efabman" and "hvychevy454" that posted to someone elses request gor information.

Just go back another day or so and you will find the post, the pics, and all the other info.

Dandeluxe · 11-07-2002, 08:50 PM

I too am scratching my head on how i want to do the rear tank conversion. i dont have side lights so i dont want to cut my truck up. i guess ill run it by a couple of body men and see what they recommend. i like the side marker option the best so far like tennmans his is sweet but it looks like a lot of work. i wish some guys would let us know what hardware they are getting to do these gas door conversions, examples what kind of truck or car is the gas door hardware coming from? the spring hinge and how to rivet the flipper in etc. etc. ill probably go with a blazer tank poly with a gm wiring on the fuel gauge. i wonder how long the fuel line is for that conversion. and whats the best way to route the fuel lines and the vent lines etc. etc.

:p

**JDL** · 11-07-2002, 09:15 PM

When I got my tank made out of stainless it was less expensive than the alum tank. But I have had it a couple years.

I like the stainless more than alum because it is stronger and wont corrode inside from the gas.

I have been looking for the booklet that came with it but havent found it yet. I think i got it from a place called "fat fenders" or something like that.

I should have it going again tomorrow so i can get you some more pics.

Low69CST · 11-07-2002, 11:42 PM

http://www.low69cst.freeservers.com/Blazertank.htm

Thats my site, i put in the tank myself and wrote about it. I don't think it hangs down much at all, atleast for a lowered truck. Maybe on a lifted truck it would show. It wasn't very fun putting that tank in. It may have been if I didn't have the underside of my bed sandblasted and painted when i started hacking into with a saws all. Also haveng the bed on the truck didn't help either.

Terry S · 11-07-2002, 11:58 PM

Hi Guys,

I'm pretty new to the board, but I've noticed that this subject seems to come up quite a bit.

I went through all this as well and ultimately decided that I didn't like the way the blazer tank looked. I went to the local speed shop and had one built from aluminum. since I was able to have it made to the exact dimensions that I wanted, it doesn't hang down as far and holds more gas than the blazer tank. Installation took a little bit of head scratching, but it looks like it'll work out okay. I'm planning to fill it from behind the passenger side brake light, using a filler neck from a full size Chevy van. I haven't got the bed back on the truck yet, so that part is yet to come, but I think that most of the stock filler hardware will work out and will only require a couple of new pieces of connecting hose.

I've heard other people talk about the possibility of corrosion, but I work for a major aircraft manufacturer and I ran this by one of my friends in our engineering department and he said that the aluminum should be fine as long as I didn't use any gas with alcohol in it. That backs up my own observations. We've been putting bare aluminum gas tanks in the planes coming out of our piston engine division for years (They burn 100 octane aviation gasoline). On the other hand, if you think that you ever might want to start using gasahol I would definately stay away from aluminum.

I've got about $325.00 in the whole thing, including sending unit and a new autometer gas guage.

I got quite a few pictures of the whole thing (at least what's done so far). If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll try to figure out how to post them.

Good luck with whatwhatever you decide!

adamls · 11-08-2002, 12:05 AM

We are always interested. That is why there are so many posts on the subject. Lets see those pics allready.

70 longbed · 11-08-2002, 10:59 AM

Terry S,

If you cant get them posted, you could send them to my email:
shulkok@hqisec.army.mil

I am taking dimensions this weekend to have one made.

Can someone help me with thickness and type of aluminum used. What about thickness of stainless.

I went to the search feature, and looked at several pages of older posts. I should have been smart enough to do that earlier, but just wanted to see who was awake on the board. There is alot of good information on some of the older posts. Just use the search at the bottom of the page, then sift through pages of good information.

DanoDMano · 11-08-2002, 07:27 PM

I too am interested in doing this, and am very interested in what you have done. If you could email some pictures to me I would also appreciate it.

Daniel.e.ritola@boeing.com

DanoDMano · 11-08-2002, 10:36 PM

Thanks Terry S.. Those are some great photos, and I like what you are doing.
I think Im going to go with something like yours when I am ready to do it.
Very Custom.........

68racer · 11-09-2002, 04:12 AM

This is a link for the marker light fill http://www.classicheartbeat.com/mark...t_gas_door.htm
A new source for tanks is Jeeps, my buddy fitted one and it is a very good fit.

Terry S · 11-09-2002, 07:25 PM

Thanks DanoDMano, I still haven't figured out how to shrink those pictures enough to get them to post, but essentially what I did was just have a tank built to fit the hole. I scavenged about a jillion junk yards before I decided to go this route, and everything that I found either hung down too far or only held about 15 gallons or so. I would do a few things differently next time around, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

**JDL** · 11-09-2002, 09:57 PM

Do you see the tank?

Terry S · 11-10-2002, 01:23 AM

JDL,

That looks great! That looks like almost the exact shape and size as mine, except the filler neck is on the other side. Just out of curiosity, how tall is it? Mine is eleven inches. I just guestimated that would be about right. Also, I left an access hole in the top, put the sending unit in the lid, and then baffled around the float so that it wouldn't bob up and down when the fuel sloshed around. Do you think that was neccesary or did I just create a lot of extra work for myself?

Dandeluxe · 11-10-2002, 01:54 AM

TERRY S,
PLEASE SEND ME SOME PIC.S OF THAT TANK JOB

E MAIL ADDRESS ddclux@aol.com
thanks, DAN

Terry S · 11-10-2002, 02:19 AM

Dandelux,

They are on their way. If you (or anyone else that I sent them to) can figure out how to post them feel free, my computer literacy is about the equivalent of rubbing two sticks together.

I think that I may have already said this in another post, but if I were doing this again, there are a couple of things that I would do differently. I would have tabs welded to the tank to hang it from, like JDL's appears to have, but I would have also had the filler neck come out the side of the tank up where the side joins the top. this would have allowed me to raise the tank about 2 1/2 inches above the upper edge of the frame (with a little creative trimming of the bed cross members) so the bottom would have been sucked up even further. I also shouldn't have let the guys at the speed shop talk me into puting a sump with a bottom feed in it. After thinking about it a little more, I've decided that a siphon feed from the top into a much smaller sump would have worked just as well and would have looked a lot cleaner.

TJS

gmc-rob · 11-10-2002, 01:48 PM

I am very impressed with the custom tanks you guys are building. Could you send me he pictures as well? Thank you Terry S. ROB

robert.r@shaw.ca

**JDL** · 11-10-2002, 04:25 PM

and

Terry S · 11-11-2002, 08:11 PM

GMC-Rob, they are on their way

**Palf70Step** · 11-11-2002, 09:58 PM

terry S

If you don't mind, I'd like to have a set of the stuff your sending out. Tanks looks greatHoping to do mine this winter (or what the call winter down here). Thanks

email:wpalfrey@cableone.net

Terry S · 11-11-2002, 10:58 PM

they're on the way

**Palf70Step** · 11-11-2002, 11:15 PM

Thanks

72C10chevy4x4 · 11-14-2002, 01:03 AM

Terry, please forward me a copy of your pictures (nplc@helpyourstudent.com)-I'll resize and upload them as well as use them for ideas for my truck :-)

JDL-great looking tank! where is your filler at?

for those who have relocated their tanks-did you leave the OE tank and block it off for asthetic purposes (to look stock) or did you fill the filling hole with metal and blend in the body lines? I was thinking of cutting the top 6" of the filler tube off and welding it closed then mounting it so that it looks as if the original tank is operational. only reason would be for the 'stock' look (to offset some of the other changes).

I just pulled a 79 suburban tank but its not in very good shape-only paid twenty five dollars for it though-may follow your lead and make a custom aluminum tank.

thanks,
Paul

11-07-2002, 02:30 PM	#1
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Gas tank options I am relatively new to the board, and I see where everyone likes the option of the blazer tank for relocating to the rear. There must be some other options. I heard someone talk about a Camaro tank. Are there any proven methods other than the Blazer tank, either original or poly, that can be recommended? I am looking at the side marker light, or tailight options for filling. I have the marker light instructions and parts list, can anyone help with the tail light parts list?

11-07-2002, 03:31 PM	#2
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,928	I have been looking into this as well. This type of thread pops of about every week. Here is what I have learned so far. The blazer tank is a good and easy and relatively inexpensive swap. The bad thing I hear is that the tank hangs down pretty low and is not that appealing to the eye. You can measure up your frame and head out to your local salvage yard and find something that fits. Who has time for that? You can get aluminum or plastic tanks from Summit. They are pretty affordable and come in various colors. You can buy a special aluminum tank that is a custom job for the frame. These are expensive...like around 450 dollars. But, in my opinion they do look the best and fit the best. I still have not decided completely on what I will do. I would love to have that parts list for the side marker fill. Do a search on the threads. It seems to me there was a thread just a couple days ago about the tailight filler. Big Orange did that I believe. Good Luck and share with us what you decide. Welcome to the board. __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

11-07-2002, 08:50 PM	#5
Dandeluxe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: st.louis mo. Posts: 717	REAR GAS TANK CONVERSION I too am scratching my head on how i want to do the rear tank conversion. i dont have side lights so i dont want to cut my truck up. i guess ill run it by a couple of body men and see what they recommend. i like the side marker option the best so far like tennmans his is sweet but it looks like a lot of work. i wish some guys would let us know what hardware they are getting to do these gas door conversions, examples what kind of truck or car is the gas door hardware coming from? the spring hinge and how to rivet the flipper in etc. etc. ill probably go with a blazer tank poly with a gm wiring on the fuel gauge. i wonder how long the fuel line is for that conversion. and whats the best way to route the fuel lines and the vent lines etc. etc. :p __________________ 1969 cst swb 350/400 th . DANNY C . ["]FRIENDS DONT LET FRIENDS DRIVE F@RD$!! 1969 cst swb corvette hugger orange with 400 hp sbc I started out with nothing and i held on to it Last edited by Dandeluxe; 11-07-2002 at 08:52 PM.

11-07-2002, 09:15 PM	#6
JDL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Agency IA. Posts: 1,838	When I got my tank made out of stainless it was less expensive than the alum tank. But I have had it a couple years. I like the stainless more than alum because it is stronger and wont corrode inside from the gas. I have been looking for the booklet that came with it but havent found it yet. I think i got it from a place called "fat fenders" or something like that. I should have it going again tomorrow so i can get you some more pics. __________________ 72 Chevy short step side with 454 air and tilt. 72 nova project car 63 chevy II drag car Agency Iowa Last edited by JDL; 11-07-2002 at 09:21 PM.

11-07-2002, 11:42 PM	#7
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	http://www.low69cst.freeservers.com/Blazertank.htm Thats my site, i put in the tank myself and wrote about it. I don't think it hangs down much at all, atleast for a lowered truck. Maybe on a lifted truck it would show. It wasn't very fun putting that tank in. It may have been if I didn't have the underside of my bed sandblasted and painted when i started hacking into with a saws all. Also haveng the bed on the truck didn't help either. __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

11-07-2002, 03:43 PM	#3
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Yeah, looked at all of the above options, and heard this thing about the Camaro tank, something that is readily available, and was looking for input. Saw the tailight filler option on here, but there were no specifics. I think it was big orange that replied, but there was another pic that had the filler way up in the hole, maybe eliminating big oranges fill problems.

11-07-2002, 03:54 PM	#4
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Found the post, it was "efabman" and "hvychevy454" that posted to someone elses request gor information. Just go back another day or so and you will find the post, the pics, and all the other info.

11-07-2002, 11:58 PM	#8
Terry S Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 118	Hi Guys, I'm pretty new to the board, but I've noticed that this subject seems to come up quite a bit. I went through all this as well and ultimately decided that I didn't like the way the blazer tank looked. I went to the local speed shop and had one built from aluminum. since I was able to have it made to the exact dimensions that I wanted, it doesn't hang down as far and holds more gas than the blazer tank. Installation took a little bit of head scratching, but it looks like it'll work out okay. I'm planning to fill it from behind the passenger side brake light, using a filler neck from a full size Chevy van. I haven't got the bed back on the truck yet, so that part is yet to come, but I think that most of the stock filler hardware will work out and will only require a couple of new pieces of connecting hose. I've heard other people talk about the possibility of corrosion, but I work for a major aircraft manufacturer and I ran this by one of my friends in our engineering department and he said that the aluminum should be fine as long as I didn't use any gas with alcohol in it. That backs up my own observations. We've been putting bare aluminum gas tanks in the planes coming out of our piston engine division for years (They burn 100 octane aviation gasoline). On the other hand, if you think that you ever might want to start using gasahol I would definately stay away from aluminum. I've got about $325.00 in the whole thing, including sending unit and a new autometer gas guage. I got quite a few pictures of the whole thing (at least what's done so far). If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll try to figure out how to post them. Good luck with whatwhatever you decide! __________________ I can do all things thru Christ, but he evidently doesn't want me to beat that Camaro light to light....

11-08-2002, 12:05 AM	#9
adamls Gotta Startem Early Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Amarillo, TX, USA Posts: 364	We are always interested. That is why there are so many posts on the subject. Lets see those pics allready. __________________ 67 SWB In Progress, one piece at a time, maybe 3 years I will be finished

11-08-2002, 10:59 AM	#10
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Terry S, If you cant get them posted, you could send them to my email: shulkok@hqisec.army.mil I am taking dimensions this weekend to have one made. Can someone help me with thickness and type of aluminum used. What about thickness of stainless. I went to the search feature, and looked at several pages of older posts. I should have been smart enough to do that earlier, but just wanted to see who was awake on the board. There is alot of good information on some of the older posts. Just use the search at the bottom of the page, then sift through pages of good information.

11-08-2002, 07:27 PM	#11
DanoDMano Pronounced "Pew-al-up" Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Puyallup, Washington Posts: 845	tank I too am interested in doing this, and am very interested in what you have done. If you could email some pictures to me I would also appreciate it. Daniel.e.ritola@boeing.com __________________ Classic GM Trucks of Washington Club Member 1970 FS chevy,350/350, Edelbrock cam and intake. Holley 650 carb,HEI,AT,Tangier Orange, 18's, Power Locks, Truck Photos

11-08-2002, 10:36 PM	#12
DanoDMano Pronounced "Pew-al-up" Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Puyallup, Washington Posts: 845	Nice Tank Job Thanks Terry S.. Those are some great photos, and I like what you are doing. I think Im going to go with something like yours when I am ready to do it. Very Custom......... __________________ Classic GM Trucks of Washington Club Member 1970 FS chevy,350/350, Edelbrock cam and intake. Holley 650 carb,HEI,AT,Tangier Orange, 18's, Power Locks, Truck Photos

11-09-2002, 04:12 AM	#13
68racer Yeah baby! Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 436	This is a link for the marker light fill http://www.classicheartbeat.com/mark...t_gas_door.htm A new source for tanks is Jeeps, my buddy fitted one and it is a very good fit.

11-09-2002, 07:25 PM	#14
Terry S Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 118	Thanks DanoDMano, I still haven't figured out how to shrink those pictures enough to get them to post, but essentially what I did was just have a tank built to fit the hole. I scavenged about a jillion junk yards before I decided to go this route, and everything that I found either hung down too far or only held about 15 gallons or so. I would do a few things differently next time around, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. __________________ I can do all things thru Christ, but he evidently doesn't want me to beat that Camaro light to light....

11-09-2002, 09:57 PM	#15
JDL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Agency IA. Posts: 1,838	Do you see the tank? __________________ 72 Chevy short step side with 454 air and tilt. 72 nova project car 63 chevy II drag car Agency Iowa



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11-10-2002, 01:23 AM	#16
Terry S Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 118	JDL, That looks great! That looks like almost the exact shape and size as mine, except the filler neck is on the other side. Just out of curiosity, how tall is it? Mine is eleven inches. I just guestimated that would be about right. Also, I left an access hole in the top, put the sending unit in the lid, and then baffled around the float so that it wouldn't bob up and down when the fuel sloshed around. Do you think that was neccesary or did I just create a lot of extra work for myself? __________________ I can do all things thru Christ, but he evidently doesn't want me to beat that Camaro light to light....

11-10-2002, 01:54 AM	#17
Dandeluxe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: st.louis mo. Posts: 717	GAS TANK ???????? TERRY S, PLEASE SEND ME SOME PIC.S OF THAT TANK JOB E MAIL ADDRESS ddclux@aol.com thanks, DAN __________________ 1969 cst swb 350/400 th . DANNY C . ["]FRIENDS DONT LET FRIENDS DRIVE F@RD$!! 1969 cst swb corvette hugger orange with 400 hp sbc I started out with nothing and i held on to it

11-10-2002, 02:19 AM	#18
Terry S Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 118	Dandelux, They are on their way. If you (or anyone else that I sent them to) can figure out how to post them feel free, my computer literacy is about the equivalent of rubbing two sticks together. I think that I may have already said this in another post, but if I were doing this again, there are a couple of things that I would do differently. I would have tabs welded to the tank to hang it from, like JDL's appears to have, but I would have also had the filler neck come out the side of the tank up where the side joins the top. this would have allowed me to raise the tank about 2 1/2 inches above the upper edge of the frame (with a little creative trimming of the bed cross members) so the bottom would have been sucked up even further. I also shouldn't have let the guys at the speed shop talk me into puting a sump with a bottom feed in it. After thinking about it a little more, I've decided that a siphon feed from the top into a much smaller sump would have worked just as well and would have looked a lot cleaner. TJS __________________ I can do all things thru Christ, but he evidently doesn't want me to beat that Camaro light to light....

11-10-2002, 01:48 PM	#19
gmc-rob Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Saskatoon,SK Canada Posts: 41	I am very impressed with the custom tanks you guys are building. Could you send me he pictures as well? Thank you Terry S. ROB robert.r@shaw.ca

11-10-2002, 04:25 PM	#20
JDL Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Agency IA. Posts: 1,838	and __________________ 72 Chevy short step side with 454 air and tilt. 72 nova project car 63 chevy II drag car Agency Iowa

11-11-2002, 08:11 PM	#21
Terry S Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 118	pix GMC-Rob, they are on their way __________________ I can do all things thru Christ, but he evidently doesn't want me to beat that Camaro light to light....

11-11-2002, 09:58 PM	#22
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,643	terry S If you don't mind, I'd like to have a set of the stuff your sending out. Tanks looks greatHoping to do mine this winter (or what the call winter down here). Thanks email:wpalfrey@cableone.net __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

11-11-2002, 10:58 PM	#23
Terry S Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 118	they're on the way __________________ I can do all things thru Christ, but he evidently doesn't want me to beat that Camaro light to light....

11-11-2002, 11:15 PM	#24
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 46,643	Thanks __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

11-14-2002, 01:03 AM	#25
72C10chevy4x4 UK Wildcat Fan! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 515	Terry, please forward me a copy of your pictures (nplc@helpyourstudent.com)-I'll resize and upload them as well as use them for ideas for my truck :-) JDL-great looking tank! where is your filler at? for those who have relocated their tanks-did you leave the OE tank and block it off for asthetic purposes (to look stock) or did you fill the filling hole with metal and blend in the body lines? I was thinking of cutting the top 6" of the filler tube off and welding it closed then mounting it so that it looks as if the original tank is operational. only reason would be for the 'stock' look (to offset some of the other changes). I just pulled a 79 suburban tank but its not in very good shape-only paid twenty five dollars for it though-may follow your lead and make a custom aluminum tank. thanks, Paul

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