Has anyone ever removed the behind the seat gas tank and replaced it underneath the truck with a different style tank? I would like to move it for the following reasons:
1). To get rid of the ever present gas smell.
2). To be able to have room behind the seat to install sub-wolfers, etc.
3). So I don't feel like I always have a bomb behind my back.
Any info woul be really appreciated.

Thanks

 

<center><font size="1" color="#ff0000">LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-99 AT 09:56&nbsp;AM (EST)</font></center>

LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-99 AT 09:54 AM (EST)

LAST EDITED ON Jun-04-99 AT 09:52 AM (EST)

I have wanted to move my tank, but haven't gotten around to it. I just wanted to say I'm glad you moved west.

1- The rubber either needs to be replaced or rolled over and reclamped at the filler, and the smell should stop.

2- After thirty four years the tank hasn't yet been declaired a disaster. (no bomb)

3- Exhaust pipes come into play as well as frame widths. I can tell you that after 72 the rear of the frame is wider by 3in. Since pipes can be installed at different places your 65 could be different from my 66 because I have installed headers. I also have a class three hitch to deal with. The frames should be the same.

You will have to be creatave.

John

 

I am also considering doing this for my '64 restoration project, although I have gotten used to the smell of gasoline and old vinyl. Anyway, I had an '83 F150 on which the tank mounted outside the frame rail on the driver's side. I was thinking a tank like that would be easier to retro-fit because exhaust systems, shocks, etc. would not get in the way. Another big plus is that it would be much easier to run a filler tube to a tank that's closer to the side of the bed. I am wondering, though, if the fuel gauge sending unit would be calibrated properly for a '61-66 application. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!

 

My cousin did the same thing to his pickup but instead of putting a tank under the frame he just ran the pickup on propane with the 90 gallon tank in the bed.

 

I am placing a tank where the spare tire was hung; I also had to ditch a receiver hitch. The tank is a 20 gallon model from a 70 Mustang; 68 and older models came in 16 gallons. There undoubtedly are other tanks but finding one narrow enough to fit between the frame is tough. My F100 is a short box styleside and I didn't want to cut the sides nor the steel floor. That is why I chose a rear fill type. The "50 Years of the Ford F-Series" magazine carried a story about putting in a 85 Isuzu Trooper tank but the filler comes off to the corner (left/front or right/rear). And the box has to raised an inch. To me, the important point is the find a flange-mounted tank rather than one with straps. You have to build a frame then hang it from the truck frame rail. There are some fuel cells with sender units but all require cutting the box floor to access the fill cap. Hope this gets you started.

 

>I am placing a tank where the
>spare tire was hung; I also
>had to ditch a receiver hitch.
>The tank is a 20 gallon
>model from a 70 Mustang; 68
>and older models came in 16
>gallons. There undoubtedly are other tanks
>but finding one narrow enough to
>fit between the frame is tough.
>My F100 is a short box
>styleside and I didn't want to
>cut the sides nor the steel
> floor. That is why I
>chose a rear fill type. The
>"50 Years of the Ford F-Series"
>magazine carried a story about putting
>in a 85 Isuzu Trooper tank
>but the filler comes off to
>the corner (left/front or right/rear). And
>the box has to raised an
>inch. To me, the important
>point is the find a flange-mounted
>tank rather than one with straps.
>You have to build a frame
>then hang it from the truck
>frame rail. There are some fuel
>cells with sender units but all
>require cutting the box floor to
>access the fill cap. Hope this
>gets you started.

I was wondering do you have concerns regarding a rear end collision. I too wanted to place the gas tank where the spare tire goes, but became concerned with a rear end collision. ANy advice or suggestions would be helpful.

 

I just bought a '71 F-350 with dual tanks. I'm installing a 400M & C6 from a '77 Ranchero so I've been all around, over and under the truck.

I also want to get rid of the in-cab tank. It's too dangerous. A minor accident could become fatal if the tank ruptures or if the filler hose rips. I've got some friends who are cops and they have been there when someone burns alive in an otherwise unremarkable accident. This will also give me some storage room behind the seat.

I would be afraid to install a tank that sits outside the frame. Remember the problem GM had with the "side-saddle" tanks it installed in its '70s & '80s trucks. The underbed tank on my F-350 sits on a shelf of the driver's side and extends from the frame to almost the centerline. The drive shaft center bearing support bolts to this shelf and up above somewhere. I'm not sure how many gallons it holds but it is large.

I also own an '81 F100 with dual tanks. It has one the driver's side under the bed and the other is at the rear of the bed, above the spare tire. I have a class 2 hitch welded to the frame and it doesn't interfere with either the tank or the spare tire. Each tank holds 19 gallons and both fillers are on the driver's side.

I haven't measured the size of either tank on my F-100 and the frame sizes of the F-350, so I don't know if either would fit the older truck. It could be that the side tank from the '81 truck would fit under an older truck.

Hope this helps.

Bruce

 

One thing I forgot to mention. A fuel tank that sits under the bed and behind the axle is still protected by the frame and rear bumber. Just make sure the filler neck goes to the side.

 

Dennis how do you walk out of your home and get into a vehicle and drive anywhere?

Have you ever looked under the rear of a car or truck. About 99% all have the tanks at the rear.

The best thing for you to do is stay far enough ahead that no one can crash into you.

 

I agree that being rear ended is a concern with a rear fill neck. But as posted by others, many cars today have the tank behind the rear axle; it is just that the filler neck is now to the side. What is needed is to extend the frame rail around the back of the tank. I would not depend upon the bumper nor its arms for protection. Since one of my arms was nothing than a piece of cut and bent angle iron, I am going to place channel iron behind the bumper and bolt that into the frame rail. I should mention that I only have a chrome bumper which will have a hole cut in the license plate area; the plate will be mounted to one of those hinge type fold down holders from a 81 car. There also is a section of fuel hose connecting the tank to the neck which will allow some flexing in case of an impact.

 

That's one of the things I like about my '72, the sloshing sounds coming from behind the seat.

 

Put some good ole redneck glasspacks on and you can't hear that as much.

 

I wanted to update everyone about my gas tank relocate project and head off any problems for others. After trying a number of times, I went to a 16 gallon tank; it has the same exterior horizontal dimensions as the 20 so the frame size remained the same. The extra height above the flange wouldn't allow enough slope on the filler pipe into the tank for me. It is amazing how much room 4 gallons takes up. A 20 gallon can work but since I had a 16, I took the easy way out.