Frame notch for aftermarket Blazer tank?

[jfalesi]

I got one of those aftermarket plastic Blazer tanks (can't remember the vendor) to replace the rusted out tank on my '71 Suburban. The neck on the Blazer tank interferes with the frame rail... has anyone notched out their frame rail to fit the tank neck? How much did you take out? Is the frame still safe? Sorry I don't have any pics. Maybe next weekend.

Thanks,
-Jamie

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by jfalesi

I got one of those aftermarket plastic Blazer tanks (can't remember the vendor) to replace the rusted out tank on my '71 Suburban. The neck on the Blazer tank interferes with the frame rail... has anyone notched out their frame rail to fit the tank neck? How much did you take out? Is the frame still safe? Sorry I don't have any pics. Maybe next weekend.

Thanks,
-Jamie

Any reason you didn't get the Suburban tank? I don't think I would chop out too much of the frame.

LockDoc

[jfalesi]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

Any reason you didn't get the Suburban tank? I don't think I would chop out too much of the frame.

LockDoc

I haven't seen any Suburban tanks for sale - only Blazer/Suburban tanks. I bought #2042 from MTS.

http://www.mtscompany.com/chevy-gmc.htm

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by jfalesi

I haven't seen any Suburban tanks for sale - only Blazer/Suburban tanks. I bought #2042 from MTS.

http://www.mtscompany.com/chevy-gmc.htm

I did some more checking and it seems like all of the guys that have replaced them in the past are having the same problem as you. On the metal tanks they have the neck removed and re- soldered to the correct angle. I don't know about the plastic ones. If you cut the frame I would weld in some kind of a brace or filler to stiffen it back up.

LockDoc

[smaster]

I am about to do the same to my 72, I was looking to use this one:

http://www.aerotanks.com/inventory/1139.html

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by smaster

I am about to do the same to my 72, I was looking to use this one:

http://www.aerotanks.com/inventory/1139.html

If you get it be sure and let us know how the installation goes.

Thanks,
LockDoc

[Big Block]

I used a plastic one on a 72 4x4 Suburban it had the short neck. It was a tight fit but managed to sandwich it in between the frame rail and the body. Now more recently I had the metal tank that I bought from the Car and Truck Shop out of California sells and it was a pain. I ended up bending the lip of the frame down to clear the neck. It wasn't pretty but it worked. Not one of my finest quality jobs. Yeah, it was a hack job not proud of it either. Pressed for time to get it back together.

[jfalesi]

It looks like the tank will fit without notching the frame rail, but the filler hose has to make a tight turn where it hits the underside of the bed. The hose will have a kink in it but hopefully it will still allow the tank to be filled.

[jfalesi]

Originally Posted by Big Block

I used a plastic one on a 72 4x4 Suburban it had the short neck. It was a tight fit but managed to sandwich it in between the frame rail and the body. Now more recently I had the metal tank that I bought from the Car and Truck Shop out of California sells and it was a pain. I ended up bending the lip of the frame down to clear the neck. It wasn't pretty but it worked. Not one of my finest quality jobs. Yeah, it was a hack job not proud of it either. Pressed for time to get it back together.

Big Block, was your filler hose linked with the poly tank?

[jfalesi]

Originally Posted by jfalesi

Big Block, was your filler hose linked with the poly tank?

Sorry, I meant "kinked" not "linked".

[Big Block]

Yeah, a little bit. Just makes filling the tank slower.

[THI]

http://www.justgastanks.com/1971-72-...ban-fuel-tank/

[jfalesi]

Originally Posted by THI

http://www.justgastanks.com/1971-72-...ban-fuel-tank/

That's the tank I have. The fill neck is the right angle for Blazer, wrong angle for Suburban.

[bennylava]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

I don't think I would chop out too much of the frame.

LockDoc

Always makes me uneasy when I see people doing it. Well pictures of it anyway. I wouldn't want to do it to my truck lol

[Reggler]

I have the poly tank in my suburban. My frame isn't bent or cut to fit the filler neck tube. It was a pain to get the tank in and out a few months ago, but i managed to get it up in there with no kinks. One thing I did was take a big stone wheel in a die grinder and open the filler up.[I had to wash the tank out anyways] I noticed it was smaller opening then new gas station nozzles. Whatever I changed helped greatly.

[chris mc bride]

Same issue with tank in Panel truck. Found out during install. I heated neck and gave little angle up and no problem. Might try neck off old tank if still have.