Hey,

I've got a '77 F-250 Highboy that has been sitting for about 10 years. I have finally started the resto process on it. I have rebuilt the 460 in it and went through the brake and steering system and also replaced wheel bearings and u-joints. All I had left before my first drive was to clean the fuel tank and reinstall it. So much for that, it had a 1/2 rust hole in the bottom. I have seen that the most popular replacement is a '84 Bronco II tank to go in the rear. I love this idea but I have a few questions.

1. While this tank does not seem to be overly expensive I am on a budget and trying to keep cost down. My local pull-a-part junkyard has a '87 & '88 Bronco II. Will either of these tanks work?
2. I understand that Highboys never came with a rear tank from the factory. My bed has a fuel door behind the rear tire on the fender. I'm not sure if the truck has been wrecked in the past and the bed replaced from a donor truck or what. Can I use the fuel door with a Bronco II tank? I don't want to have 3 fuel filler holes in the truck.
3. Does the Bronco II tank tuck up in the frame rails enough so it won't get caught on anything while offroading?
4. Do people make their own tank straps when doing this install?

Thanks for any help!!

-PhilMac

 

I have a in-cab tank from a 77 f250 available in NJ if you are interested.....

 

Thanks for the offer. Since I am going to have to get a new tank its a good opportunity for me to relocate it. I also live in Alabama so by the time I pay to have it shipped it may be worth it to buy new. Thanks again.

 

The in cab tank is still available through Dennis Carpenter or Blue Oval Truck Parts for around 200 bucks.

 

$50 + shipping if you change your mind

 

not familiar with the bronco II tank, but yeah, the in cab trucks did NOT have a fuel door, so the one you have should work. not sure what plumbing will be necessary to get fuel from door to tank though. I knew someone who used a plastic tank out of a newer F350 chassis cab, fit in the narrow frame like it was made for it....

 

But, this is not the same in cab tank used 1973/77. The tank you're referring to is this: DOTZ-9002-A (replaced C1TZ-9002-K) .. 19 1/2 gallon capacity / Obsolete-Reproduced.

FoMoCo service part replacement: 1961/66 F100/1100 / 1963/69 N/NT/T500/1000 / 1967/69 F800/1000 (use the earlier cab) / 1967/69 F100/750.

Factory installed: 1970/72 F100/750 except 1970/72 F100/250's with Evap/Em.

1973/77 In-Cab Fuel Tanks

D3TZ-9002-F .. In-Cab Fuel Tank-Use without Evap/Em / Obsolete

D3TZ-9002-G .. In-Cab Fuel Tank-Use with Evap/Em / Obsolete

 

The Bronco II tanks will fit between the frame rails...but unless you modify frame cross member (I won't do that)...it sits too far forward and in 4 wheeling situations axle would hit the tank....I've used a 2wd rear tank...turned sideways and made custom straps and mounts and it worked great!!!

 

i wrote an article on here about using a ranger tank in the rear of a highboy. Wanted it to show up as a sticky because there have been a lot of people asking about it but i guess the moderators didnt approve. I did it in a 77 highboy that had the fuel door in the bed, but it was bolted shut. i removed that door and used a fuel filler setup from a 73 ltd. moved the small angle iron crossmemer forward to attach the front of the straps to and welded some hardware store hinges onto the rear of the ranger straps and bolted them to the rear crossmember to hang the tank.

 

lasthighboy, what year and configuration was the ranger that you got the tank out of? I would imagine it would be easier to find a tank out of a ranger just because of how many there are.

Thanks

 

it was out of an early 80s ranger. 83 or 85 probably. rear tank. tried a front tank that ran along the framerail but the left rear shock was in the was if i remember correctly.

 

The fuel door on the bed is from the factory. Mine has it as well even though there is no rear tank. When I got it smogged after buying it I had to explain it to the smog guys since they were trying to pull it open.

You can just barely see it in my sig pic.

 

i am trying to make a 74 f250 2wd rear tank fit in a 71 f250 4x4...

currently we moved a small cross member forward towards the rear axle and the stout rear cross member as far back as possible. we
added a stout v-5 ford hitch that mounts to the bottom of frame rails
4 massive bolts on each side

turned the tank so the filler goes out the back just under the tailgate

straps above and below that came w/ the 74 tank

the tank is tapered (left side deep to right side shallow)

if i get the front of the tank lower than the filler so the tank can actually be filled to capacity and not sit in the hose causing a leak

should this work?

should the 74 sending unit work w/ my 71 fuel gauge?

thank you!

 

HaHa a few years later, but do you have any pictures on what you did to mount the 2wd tank? I have a 2wd tank and would much rather use that then buy a new tank.

 

if you have a 76 then I believe your frame is wider and this tank was an option in this position. So mounting w filler on side is an option. Forget the filler in my pic. I actually had a muffler shop make a 3' pipe w 90 and bell on other side to connect to a 90 fuel grade hose. So the pipe pops through the bed in front of driver side taillight in the dead space. Fits between the bed and frame. Came out great!