Gas tank question
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 15
From: Wichita, KS
Carry a broken off broom handle or something similar with you and you can stick that in the hole to see how much gas is left, too, though with a flat tank like these have in them, it may be a little vague.
Dave
Dave
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
1940 one ton gas tank
hi,
I thought about this alot... have a suggestion.
my truck had the tank under the seat, my opinion is it is too risky to replace it, so I am relocating a new tank to behind the differential, between frame rails. made a simple sheet metal cover plate for filler hole in cab.
I am buying a plastic gas tank for a boat from overtons.com comes with fuel level sender, etc. then plan to make a sheet metal skid plate protector to be extra sure. they have a great selection.
easy , accurate and safe. for about $200.00 -$250.00
looked into a custom stainless steel tank, but cost is about $850.oo!! yikes.
the fuel filler neck is only tricky part, two options,
1.route directly up to bed and cut hole in wood, looks ok, but would have to lower tailgate each time you fill up.
2. route to lower rear section of fender, cut a small hole, I think this looks fine and is a liveable solution., seen it done before....
you can get steel gas lines or flexible rubber to run along inner side of rails, easy....
when I am done in about 6 weeks I will post pictures....
good luck!
-mpr
I thought about this alot... have a suggestion.
my truck had the tank under the seat, my opinion is it is too risky to replace it, so I am relocating a new tank to behind the differential, between frame rails. made a simple sheet metal cover plate for filler hole in cab.
I am buying a plastic gas tank for a boat from overtons.com comes with fuel level sender, etc. then plan to make a sheet metal skid plate protector to be extra sure. they have a great selection.
easy , accurate and safe. for about $200.00 -$250.00
looked into a custom stainless steel tank, but cost is about $850.oo!! yikes.
the fuel filler neck is only tricky part, two options,
1.route directly up to bed and cut hole in wood, looks ok, but would have to lower tailgate each time you fill up.
2. route to lower rear section of fender, cut a small hole, I think this looks fine and is a liveable solution., seen it done before....
you can get steel gas lines or flexible rubber to run along inner side of rails, easy....
when I am done in about 6 weeks I will post pictures....
good luck!
-mpr
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: Gibsonia, PA
Here's another option if you haven't gone down the road too far..
Here is another way to do it. I wanted to preserve the original filler tube but not ride around "on top" of my gas !
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...way-guide.html
It's at the bottom of page 1. Probably $400 with sender and all.
P.S. Some states don't allow plastic gas tanks unless they are metal shrouded. I would check. I have a history of having to do things over and over again
Here is another way to do it. I wanted to preserve the original filler tube but not ride around "on top" of my gas !
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...way-guide.html
It's at the bottom of page 1. Probably $400 with sender and all.
P.S. Some states don't allow plastic gas tanks unless they are metal shrouded. I would check. I have a history of having to do things over and over again
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
gas tank alternative
john,
yes thanks i saw that.
what still scares me personally about that option is the gas tank is still exposed to the cab and people.
any rupture or even a small leak in the filler tube can be disastrous,
better not smoke in the truck!!
I used to design gas tank fuel level senders and pumps for GM yrs ago,
I will play it safe and redesign it for out behind the axle.
good point though about a metal vs plastic tank, never thought of that one - but i will have a metal shroud around it.....
thx
mpr
yes thanks i saw that.
what still scares me personally about that option is the gas tank is still exposed to the cab and people.
any rupture or even a small leak in the filler tube can be disastrous,
better not smoke in the truck!!
I used to design gas tank fuel level senders and pumps for GM yrs ago,
I will play it safe and redesign it for out behind the axle.
good point though about a metal vs plastic tank, never thought of that one - but i will have a metal shroud around it.....
thx
mpr
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Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,643
Likes: 35
From: Orange County, CA
Early Mustang gas tanks are a near prefect fit between the frame rails behind the rear end. Search on this site, there was a tech article written up about this. And it's a budget friendly upgrade, new Mustang tanks can be had for about $150, plus they have a bottom mounted drain and pick up. Just route the filler up the bed floor with a short length of pipe.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
mustang gas tank
Gary-
are you sure? i tried this, my friend is a professional mustang restoration expert, has a good business.. his tanks are too long.
the rail dimensions for the early trucks are way too narrow to fit between the rails, my dimensions are only 29.5" x 15"
the overton plastic tank is much deeper, so there is a tradeoff on depth.
using an early mustang tank means it will be mounted completely under the frame rails instead of between them, the overall depth may not be much different..
the big deal is legality of a plastic tank....
another alternative I found is a metal tank - chevy metro geo , but only 11 or 12 gallons capacity. i still may get that because this is a weekend truck , not a long distance anything.
whenever you search for parts, all the computer databases are set up by make and year, you cannot search by part dimensions, so it is painfully time consuming, have to go thru every single tank ever made...
I will let you know what I finally decide..
thanks,
mpr
are you sure? i tried this, my friend is a professional mustang restoration expert, has a good business.. his tanks are too long.
the rail dimensions for the early trucks are way too narrow to fit between the rails, my dimensions are only 29.5" x 15"
the overton plastic tank is much deeper, so there is a tradeoff on depth.
using an early mustang tank means it will be mounted completely under the frame rails instead of between them, the overall depth may not be much different..
the big deal is legality of a plastic tank....
another alternative I found is a metal tank - chevy metro geo , but only 11 or 12 gallons capacity. i still may get that because this is a weekend truck , not a long distance anything.
whenever you search for parts, all the computer databases are set up by make and year, you cannot search by part dimensions, so it is painfully time consuming, have to go thru every single tank ever made...
I will let you know what I finally decide..
thanks,
mpr
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: Gibsonia, PA
Did a little research to see if my gut feeling was full of crap. Which, as usual, was.
Detroit has been using plastic gas tanks in vehicles for certain models for at least 15 years. They, however, are slowly reverting back to metal due to the fact that methanol is hard on the plastics and tends to leach. Their primary worry is that regulations are pushing higher methanol content and the vehicles have to maintain emmission standards for 10 years which is a point driving them back to metal. (because the plastic leaching affects emmissions) Flex-fuel vehicles (high methanol content) are all stainless steel.
Detroit has been using plastic gas tanks in vehicles for certain models for at least 15 years. They, however, are slowly reverting back to metal due to the fact that methanol is hard on the plastics and tends to leach. Their primary worry is that regulations are pushing higher methanol content and the vehicles have to maintain emmission standards for 10 years which is a point driving them back to metal. (because the plastic leaching affects emmissions) Flex-fuel vehicles (high methanol content) are all stainless steel.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 15
From: Wichita, KS
I was wondering about that whole plastic legality thing. The T-bird I'm disassembling is a '95 and it has a plastic tank. The inner half where it goes around the exhaust and driveshaft is shrouded by metal, but the outer half is completely exposed. The '89 Mercury I took to the crusher awhile back also had a plastic tank, I think. Not positive on that, though. It's been a few years.
I guess this settles it, though. I'm building my tank out of SS. If I had AC TIG at home, I'd do aluminum, but SS isn't that much more expensive. Just costs more to weld since you have purge the inside of tank to prevent sugaring, or use Solar Flux or similar.
BTW, they are using ethanol, not methanol in the newer fuels, such as E85. Methanol is primarily used for racing fuel, at least here in the midwest.
Dave
I guess this settles it, though. I'm building my tank out of SS. If I had AC TIG at home, I'd do aluminum, but SS isn't that much more expensive. Just costs more to weld since you have purge the inside of tank to prevent sugaring, or use Solar Flux or similar.
BTW, they are using ethanol, not methanol in the newer fuels, such as E85. Methanol is primarily used for racing fuel, at least here in the midwest.
Dave
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: Gibsonia, PA
More useless crap....European gasolines use up to 3% methanol as well as ethanol. Methanol is added as a denaturant to bio or industrial ethanol so it is not taxed and regulated as an alcoholic beverage ("Grain" is ethanol, methanol is "you're dead"). Although methanol is not generally listed as an "ingredient" in normal fuel, it's in there!
P.S. We really took this thread off the cliff..
Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,643
Likes: 35
From: Orange County, CA
mpr, I forgot you are working on a '40. They had narrower frames than the '42 and up, which used SAE standards for frame width. For those with a '42 and newer the Mustang tanks will work.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
From: Gibsonia, PA
One more useless (or useful) info, especially if your ride sits around without driving for a while....
Team 4: Ethanol Could Leave Some Boaters, Mowers Out Of Gas - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh
PEACE !!
Team 4: Ethanol Could Leave Some Boaters, Mowers Out Of Gas - Pittsburgh News Story - WTAE Pittsburgh
PEACE !!
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