Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Robert Haas · 03-01-2018, 12:33 PM

The aftermarket is loaded with tank builders. You can buy a gas tank from hundreds of builders.

The fly in the ointment is when you narrow it down to a specific size/shape and stainless steel construction, the options narrow up and when it comes to full custom,...the proverbial brick wall hits you in the teeth.

Not to walk away from a problem, We decided to just build one our self.

requirements;

maximum volume (25 gallons, Min.)

Custom shape/size needs to fit in our custom frame and clear exhaust, bed floor.

Stainless steel. (Out here in California we are forced to use fuel with Ethanol in it. This stuff with its benzine additive literally dissolves aluminum.)

So with these guidelines in place and just enough skill to get into trouble we took on this project.

First step was to build a profile buck out of plywood.

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once we had this we rolled some steel and had a friend use his CNC plasma cutter to cut out the ends and inner baffles to our pattern.

Robert Haas · 03-01-2018, 12:36 PM

This is as of today.

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vin63 · 03-01-2018, 02:09 PM

Nice!

tinydb84 · 03-01-2018, 02:20 PM

Very nice

**raidmagic** · 03-01-2018, 02:21 PM

Wow. That's cool and a large tank. I bought the 17 gallon tank from LMC and thought it was about as big as could fit.

Blue666(2) · 03-02-2018, 06:24 AM

Wow nice tank. Quality work. Plain old steel worked great for tanks until ethanol was added under Clean Air requirements. Benzene is a natural component in gasoline & additional benzene can be added sometimes to increase octane ratings. Ethanol is the pollutant in gasoline. As ethanol binds to water, this corrosive mix destroys steel, softer metals and some rubber types.

Free Candy Inside · 03-02-2018, 08:59 AM

Nice! I had to make a custom tank for my panel truck in order to keep it in the factory location. Went full stainless as well

AJCK87 · 03-02-2018, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Free Candy Inside

Nice! I had to make a custom tank for my panel truck in order to keep it in the factory location. Went full stainless as well

Awesome! How may gallons did you end up getting out of the new tank? I ended up going with the stock side saddle tank from the panel, until I can get a second rear tank figured. I calculate I’ll have about 17 gallons of diesel to work with, not ideal as my stock Dodge tank had 30 gallons

jchav62 · 03-02-2018, 12:48 PM

WOW!!! Great work!!

Robert Haas · 03-05-2018, 11:29 AM

Little video of where we are as of today

live from the MultiMedia Garage

03-01-2018, 12:33 PM	#1
Robert Haas Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Salinas Ca. Posts: 625	Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank The aftermarket is loaded with tank builders. You can buy a gas tank from hundreds of builders. The fly in the ointment is when you narrow it down to a specific size/shape and stainless steel construction, the options narrow up and when it comes to full custom,...the proverbial brick wall hits you in the teeth. Not to walk away from a problem, We decided to just build one our self. requirements; maximum volume (25 gallons, Min.) Custom shape/size needs to fit in our custom frame and clear exhaust, bed floor. Stainless steel. (Out here in California we are forced to use fuel with Ethanol in it. This stuff with its benzine additive literally dissolves aluminum.) So with these guidelines in place and just enough skill to get into trouble we took on this project. First step was to build a profile buck out of plywood. once we had this we rolled some steel and had a friend use his CNC plasma cutter to cut out the ends and inner baffles to our pattern.

03-01-2018, 12:36 PM	#2
Robert Haas Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Salinas Ca. Posts: 625	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank This is as of today.

03-01-2018, 02:09 PM	#3
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,261	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank Nice! __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

03-01-2018, 02:20 PM	#4
tinydb84 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Jose Ca Posts: 2,871	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank Very nice __________________ David Used parts build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=638991 My brother's Nova: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=727985 Rear suspension rework: http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=750557 Instagram: myfabguy

03-01-2018, 02:21 PM	#5
raidmagic Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Tampa, Fl. Posts: 420	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank Wow. That's cool and a large tank. I bought the 17 gallon tank from LMC and thought it was about as big as could fit.

03-02-2018, 06:24 AM	#6
Blue666(2) Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Valparaiso, IN Posts: 300	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank Wow nice tank. Quality work. Plain old steel worked great for tanks until ethanol was added under Clean Air requirements. Benzene is a natural component in gasoline & additional benzene can be added sometimes to increase octane ratings. Ethanol is the pollutant in gasoline. As ethanol binds to water, this corrosive mix destroys steel, softer metals and some rubber types.

03-02-2018, 08:59 AM	#7
Free Candy Inside Registered User Join Date: May 2014 Location: Dayton, OH Posts: 752	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank Nice! I had to make a custom tank for my panel truck in order to keep it in the factory location. Went full stainless as well Attached Images __________________ 63 1ton Paneltruck build: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=627721 Instagram: jaked937

03-02-2018, 12:48 PM	#9
jchav62 1962 C-10 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Las Vegas, New Mexico Posts: 4,978	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank WOW!!! Great work!! __________________ Joseph Chavez "See the USA in a Chevrolet!!" ......................_____ .........________//__{\_____ ,,,,,,,/__(O)___//___/__(O)_/ 1962 C10 Shortbed Fleetside 327/th350 GV overdrive 1974 C10 Longbed Fleetside 350/th350 "The Trash Truck" 1999 Chevy 2500 OBS, Longbed 5.7/4L80E 4x4 2015 GMC Sierra SLE 1500 4x4

03-05-2018, 11:29 AM	#10
Robert Haas Registered User Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Salinas Ca. Posts: 625	Re: Scratch buildng a stainless steel gas tank Little video of where we are as of today live from the MultiMedia Garage



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