Dear FTE members,
I came across a dilema today. My mechanic purchased a gas tank from the junk yard today and lo and behold it did not fit under the truck. I am trying to fit it underneath the frame in the back of the truck, I have a 1956 ford pickup. my dilema is he is charging me by the hour and I dont think he knows what to look for and so I need someone's expertise. What is a recommended gas tank for this type of truck. What will fit underneath it. I am on a budget and can not afford a alum. fuel cell. So any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

 

An aluminum gas tank is less than $400, and I'll bet you've already spent nearly that much paying your mechanic to goof off at the junk yard and buying some rust filled tank that doesn't fit, so he has to do it all over again. What will that cost? If you have the ability to do things yourself, there's a lot of labor intensive shortcuts you can take. But at $50 an hour, or more, how much are you willing to spend on his time to hack in junk, when a made-for-your-application tank will fit in place by drilling 4 holes. Time involved, 30 minutes. If you have an electric drill, you could perhaps even do it yourself.

So there's your choice, parts or labor. It's the same money, where do you want to spend it? On nice, new parts that will add value to your project, or into your mechanic's pocket? I can appreciate being on a budget as well as anyone. But there are times where trying to save a buck costs way more than it's worth.

 

This is what I put in my 1960. You can call and check the dimensions and see. Many other tanks available at this vendor and they are not full of rust.

Discount Radiators - # 1 source for all radiators online - all makes amd models - best price!

 

or;

INSTALLING A MID-60's Mustang Tank in a '53 F-100 truck

or;

TANKS Inc. gas tanks for street rods and custom cars and trucks

 

i have just finished installing an rci 30x12x12 cell in my 55.it was 240.00 on ebay.and no rust to try to remove...easy enough for me.

 

I got the mustang tank for my 52 from Rock Auto, It was less than $200 3 yrs ago. I then followed John Niolon's writeup.

 

I just finished installing a brand new 69 Mustang gas tank in my 49. Real easy job. The tank cost 160 bucks brand new.

 

I picked up a brand new 68 mustang tank plus sending unit total $200.00. I'm following John's thread as well. I might tweek it a bit.