[vickraft]

I am planning on moving the gas tank from behind the seat of my 51 chevy pickup.
While searching on line I came across a universal tank sold by a Co. called Tanks Inc. Previously, I had read some good stuff about this Co. in Classic Truck magazine & also in this forum.
I chose a ss tank, 34"long 10"wide x 11"high. Here's the plan!
Install tank underneath, against the inside of the frame, passenger side, behind the cab, in direct line with original gas filler, cab floor, & top of the new tank.
Drill hole in cab floor in direct line of new tank filler hole
Weld exhaust pipe from gas filler area through the floor inside, allowing about 2" of steel pipe to protrude under the cab. A flexable rubber hose connection will join the underbed tank to the original filler, via the protruding steel pipe. Install new fuel injection pump same type as original Astro donor vehicle.
What I like about this is, I won`t need an alternative fuel filler & door. No need to weld over the original cab fuel filler.
Both the spare tire storage and the original gas filler remain useful. This will keep the outside body looking stock.
I am waiting for the new tank to be delivered. I will post more pics as I go.
I have attached mockup pics of the plan.
Hope this plan can help someone else that wants to move the gas tank from the cab http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...fillerside.jpg.

http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...newgastank.jpg

[chevyguy5288]

Looks pretty good so far. I was planning on putting a tank in the same location so more pics and an update would be great. I was thinking of a tank from a van but your solution is intriquing.

[vickraft]

I do have a very nice gas tank from the Donor Astro Van. But it is much to long & to wide. The only thing that was right about it was the depth. I expect delivery of the new tank sometime in April. I will definetly post pics as a go along. Thanks for the interest & nice chatting with you.

[vickraft]

I am in the process of transfering the old EFI fuel pump locking ring to the new tank. Once this is done I will reinstall the intank fuel pump in the new tank.


http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...ckraft/005.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...raft/003-2.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...raft/004-1.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...ckraft/008.jpg

[trees]

That is roughly a 25 gal fuel tank and it looks awfully close to the ground for a fuel tank. Can you raise it higher than what the picture shows? Looks like a 8 " deep tank would give you more ground clearance and still give you about 18 gal capacity. Also, how are you going to run your exhaust?

Trees

[vickraft]

You'r right. I am a little concerned myself about ground clearance. Checked the front end ground clearance under the mustang II crossmember, ran a level straight edge from the bottom of the tank to the crossmember & found them to be level to each other at this time. Still have a little lowering of the rear end to deal with? Your right another 2 inches higher would make me a whole lot more comfortable. Presently doing some more measuring before I make the final mounting brackets.

[vickraft]

Forgot to mention. The exhaust will be on the drivers side. Looks like good clearance in this area.
Also this tank is 16 gallon capacity. 34 long 10 wide & 11" deep.

[vickraft]

I have just measured ground clearance. All measured from underneath each component.
Front crossmember 10 3/4".
Transmission crossmember to the ground is 12 1/4".
New fuel Tank clearance is 10 1/2"
Rear differential to ground is 7"
As you can see there is a 1/4" difference in ground clearance between the front crosmember and the tank being 1/4" closer to the ground. I have moved the tank up as far as I can. I was thinking of adding a small metal sweep approx. 1/2" to the front crosmember. This would give me a warning when and if I ever got to close to bottoming out in the front. Also this would make the front lower than the tank by a 1/4". This would make the front crosmember 11 1/4" giving me 1/4" more ground clearance for the tank.
Anyone have any feedback or thoughts on this Idea?