Should I leave the Fuel Tank in the Cab?

[Davetopay]

I see no need to ditch my in cab tank, but I wouldn't mind having a switch like I did on my 78 Econoline. It had a 16 gallon on the driver's side frame rail, and a 22 gallon under the back. One fuel gauge and a switch to flip between the two. I could cruise almost 500 miles on band road trips before stopping for gas.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by Sinister

I left mine in the cab so I could put my spare tire under the bed.

There you go. The pickup with the bad rep for gas tanks (CBS manufactured BS, IIRC) was the Silverado with side mounted tanks. Get T-boned and there ya go.

Those that are mounting them in the back are looking for trouble with a much more likely rear end collision, because protection isn't engineered in, IMO.

Mine's staying put.

[bigsnookmaster]

Mines in the cab, but I bought a new tank and had 2 number 10AN bungs welded in the botttom. 1 is my main fuel line, and the other is plugged in case I want to run nitrous,then I have the other to run the separate fuel system. I also have my original sender as a return if I ever go fuel injection.

[Bad70sbchevy]

Just throwing this out there, even if you do get rear ended, at least the gas is spilling under the bed instead of inside your cab. Theres a guy on the forum somewhere talkin about the same issue, he got t boned by a drunk driver and got messed up pretty bad. Got soaked by gasoline from the tank being behind the seat, but he said he got lucky because in the crash the battery was knocked out during the collision. Also its safer at Gainesville Raceway

[BenE]

I have a c-30 that I took the cab tank out of and made saddle tanks from an old school bus tank. Cut it in half, you have enough for two 23 gal. tanks and still fit between the cab and spring perchs. But then it has a gooseneck brand metal flatbed. I have another c-30 that I was helping a friend build that we reshaped the cab corners to use a mid 70's saddle tank. He lost interest in it, I traded for it but never finished it. I need to get on that!

[David67]

Thanks a lot for all the advice! I plan on leaving it in there and with the engine going to be so loud, I shouldn't have to worry too much about any noise from sloshing and what not

Originally Posted by gcburdic

David....I guess since I asked about this in your other thread, I should comment here....keep it in the cab

Haha, your question was the inspiration for this thread! It really got me thinking about it!

[67_ShortFleet]

Originally Posted by Bad70sbchevy

I moved mine and I love it. I did it at first for safety reasons since its my daily driver and thats the last thing I want to have behind the seat in a crash. I did notice a major improvement in ride quality once I put mine in the back. Also like mentioned before you will get some added traction in the rear. If you do change gas tanks, I highly reccomend using a 1969 Camaro gas tank if you do want to change yours to the rear. It lets you hide the filler neck behind the license plate (no holes in the bed), the fuel sender works with the gas guage, and it does not hang down hardly at all compared to the Blazer tank conversion (Also its cheaper than the blazer tank).

Do you have any pictures of what you did?

[Bad70sbchevy]

Yeah, I'll post some today.

[Bad70sbchevy]

Hope these are good enough, took these pics with the phone and I havent washed the truck in a while.

[Bad70sbchevy]

Heres another, I got the idea from the back in black truck on the forum.

[robnolimit]

At my shop we make and install custom aluminum tanks all the time. It is an added expense, and may-or-may not be needed. Additional room in the cab is nice, for amps, speakers, air ride controls... But, it will Not let you move the seats any farther back. Filling should not be a 'PITA' if the swap is done correctly. (so many things really depend on the quality of the parts AND the installation) Moving weight to the rear can help with ride quality and handling. Custom tanks will need a sending unit to match the guages. The stock senders are 0-90 ohm. Additional fuel plumbing is also required, and remember that electrick fuel pumps "PUSH" fuel, so they need to be mounted near the tank. We use 3/8 line, or bigger. I hope this info helps.

[GASoline71]

Originally Posted by RBC67

seriously, if the sloshing bothers you, your exhaust is to quiet....

Yep...

Mine is still in the cab. I thought about moving it to the rear. But I drank a bunch of beer until the thought went away...

Gary

[wzuke]

Originally Posted by Bad70sbchevy

I moved mine and I love it. I did it at first for safety reasons since its my daily driver and thats the last thing I want to have behind the seat in a crash. I did notice a major improvement in ride quality once I put mine in the back. Also like mentioned before you will get some added traction in the rear. If you do change gas tanks, I highly reccomend using a 1969 Camaro gas tank if you do want to change yours to the rear. It lets you hide the filler neck behind the license plate (no holes in the bed), the fuel sender works with the gas guage, and it does not hang down hardly at all compared to the Blazer tank conversion (Also its cheaper than the blazer tank).

Just saw the pictures - Thanks

[wzuke]

Originally Posted by Bad70sbchevy

I moved mine and I love it. I did it at first for safety reasons since its my daily driver and thats the last thing I want to have behind the seat in a crash. I did notice a major improvement in ride quality once I put mine in the back. Also like mentioned before you will get some added traction in the rear. If you do change gas tanks, I highly reccomend using a 1969 Camaro gas tank if you do want to change yours to the rear. It lets you hide the filler neck behind the license plate (no holes in the bed), the fuel sender works with the gas guage, and it does not hang down hardly at all compared to the Blazer tank conversion (Also its cheaper than the blazer tank).

Thanks for the pictures!

[steves1967]

I've tried 4 different gas caps, and I still get fuel dribbling out when I go around a right turn. I only keep the tank 1/2 full now, and my paint appreciates it. I plan on moving my tank to the back real soon.

[cam.man67]

I have no problems with the in-cab tank. You don't get the road salt and muck on it like the 73-87 saddlebags.

[Bad70sbchevy]

Originally Posted by wzuke

Thanks for the pictures!

Your welcome.

['72customdeluxe]

Originally Posted by Dads69C10

Ive always been told it was more of a safety issue, is there any truth to that?

If you got hit hard enough to blow up the tank, the impact alone would probably kill you. If that's what you mean

[Bad70sbchevy]

No, its the fact you got gas leaking inside your cab from lets say a side impact or rollover which can cause a fire which can be deadly if your knocked unconcious. Yeah if you have it in the rear it can catch fire from a rear end collision but at least its not inside the cab with you. Just my 2 cents.

[LostMy65]

So where do you guys end up putting the spare tire?

[mwilliams5891]

Originally Posted by Cole Trickle

Al,

When you added the sound deading material how much did it knock the noise level down vs. stock?

1-10 (10 being loud)

I would say the truck is a solid 9 now...lol

As far as I understand that "sound deadener" is really meant to reduce rattles and you need more or a CCF material to actually kill most sound.


look here:

http://www.sounddeadenershowdown.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi

and this is a place that sells some good stuff... I'm not saying buy it you can just see some of it

http://www.secondskinaudio.com/

[70chevytruck]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

So where do you guys end up putting the spare tire?

My AAA card is my spare tire....$55 per year is a bargain when you own an older vehicle. My vote is move it...never liked the idea of my son or daughter riding on the gas tank.

[1970 CST STEP]

Originally Posted by 70chevytruck

My AAA card is my spare tire....$55 per year is a bargain when you own an older vehicle. My vote is move it...never liked the idea of my son or daughter riding on the gas tank.

+1 on son/daughter on the tank!!!

[Hubscrub]

i have no worrys about my in cab tank i also like the look of the filler on the cab if i did move it i would leave the neck and filler for the look. i really don't see a problem with the safety of these if it was that bad it would be a far larger story after all these years of GM makeing these like this for so many years. I rode in one of these truck since i was a baby and believe me my babys will be in one too.

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

So where do you guys end up putting the spare tire?

Stepside guys have the option of using the fendermount spare...

I moved my tank to the rear, one of the first mod's I did. More interior room and safer IMO.