I would like to remove the in-cab gas tank for more space behind my seat. I have after-market saddle tanks now but hesitate to use them due to safety concerns. I would like to purchase and install a tank underneath between the frame rails. Can anyone help me out with where to buy a frame mount gas tank and any been-there-done-that tips?
Thanks, Dale
71 F100 Custom

 

This isn't that hard- not sure if you can search old threads yet or not, but it has been covered a lot here. It can be done with all aftermarket stainless steel, just order and drop in, or it can be a retro fit of late 60-early 70 mustang tank. Do a search and see what you turn up. Good luck .

 

I did this swap with a `67 Mustang gas tank in my `67 F-100 shortbed styleside. I don't really have measurements or anything for you to follow, as most of the stuff I build is custom and I eyeball a lot. Used some 1" square tube and made 2 cross-members to hold up the front and back of the tank. cut a door in the bed, hinged it, added a skull liscense plate bolt for the handle, and wholla!

Best advice I can give is don't worry to much about it, its a simple job and can be planned and done in a weekend with a couple of trips to the parts store in between. And if it all falls off, remember, Its Just Gas!

P.S. The sending unit works with the old gauges, just make the old wire long enough to reach the new tank.

 

I am putting one behind the rear axle. Plan A failed when the tank sprung a leak you can see this tank on the web page, It came from an 80's van, I cut off 4 inches and had it welded back together, well it was a very tight fit and I guess I broke a weld open and caused the leak. So now plan B, start from scrach. I am going to build a 20-25 gal tank out of 12 guage steel. I have also graphed a filler hole into the side of the truck, I need to update the page to show this.
Robert
72 F-100 Ranger XLT W/ 86 5.0L W/ AOD
www.geocities.com/krazdndenver

 

I hope that you are not going through this just for the room, cause you might be very disappointed. There is no big safety issue with them in the cab either. FYI

 

I don't know what you consider room, but the amount I got after the tank was out was way better that the miniscule amount of space as stock.

I fit My sub-woofer speaker box in the middle, and still have room for two backpacks on each side. I hated hearing fuel sloshing around when the tank was low, and the smell of gas when the tank was full. Also, the sender on my stock tank was broke so it was cheeper to put in the mustang tank I already had than by a new sender.

 

You could try to find the camper special tank that goes along the driveshaft inside the frame, that would probably be the easiest swap. Just look for a camper special built from 67-72, most of them had the second tank. I also found a tank that will fit behind the axle on my '69 f-250. Its the rearmost tank from a late seventies single rear wheel F-350. It has to be the special extended wheelbase truck that has the spare tire mounted in the passenger side of the bed. The tank is plastic but it fits very nicely in the older trucks. I used a filler neck and cover from the early camper special belly tank. The donor trucks for the rearmost tank are very hard to come by but they do show up from time to time. You'll need the rock guard for this tank as thats what allows you to mount it. Its basically cradled by it. You will also have to fabricate a couple of straps between the frame rails to hang the rockguard / tank cradle from. Best of all since its a Ford tank the factory guage will work too.

 

One of reasons anyone does this is to get rid of the sloshing, and usually some odors (I know replace the grommets and gaskets, they dry out and crack). I wanted to get rid of filler on the cab, for smoother look, and (this is embarassing) I sometimes "dribbled" when I filled up. But also it's fun to hear from those who can't stand someone doing anything non-stock to these trucks. If you really want to have fun post something about lowering a 67-72 on the suspension thread!

 

Thank you all for your good ideas! I think I'll try to locate a Camper Special frame mount tank. Trev, I had to LOL when I read "sometimes I dribbled". I don't know why but it made me think how much I love my truck...
Thank again,

Dale

71 F100 360
92 Bronco 351W EFI

 

If you go that route, get one out of a '67 - '69, they're bigger 'cause they don't have the evap. crap inside. While you're at it, get everything that goes with it like the plate that covers the filler pipe on the inside of the bed. When you take it off you can see how the bed was cut. That rubber hose from the filler pipe to the tank is not available anymore but you can jerry one up.

Barry

 

Man,

If you find one, find two, cause I've been looking for one for awhile... I'd really like to get hold of one.