73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Fuel Systems and Drivability => Topic started by: Bowtie4004x4 on August 29, 2008, 03:10:24 am
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Does anyone have any thoughts or experiances with the poly fuel tanks? I was working on hanging exhaust on my '80 today when I noticed moisture on the bottom of the fuel tank, thinking it could have been from a mudpuddle or something I wiped it off. The leak got bigger :( This tank is only a couple years old, and the other tank has been rusted out for a long time. My '78 has a leak as well up by the sending unit. Just wondered about the poly tank as the '80 will be running over brush and thru the tree's while cutting wood this winter. Might save the tank if it could flex a bit when I run over a stump :P
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JMO, but if you can get a steel tank for $100 and a plastic one for $140, the steel tank looks like a better buy- 40% better. Both will have the tank shield below and both can suffer off-road damage. For longer life you can coat the tank with a spray undercoating.
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No experience with them, but most people complain about the steel prices on tanks, they freak out when they price a plastic one.
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$129 vs. $114 at Whitney. for 15 bucks difference how much undercoat could I buy? ;D This last one seemed to have rusted from the inside out lots of rusty water came out of the tank. It sat for a couple years with no bed on it. My guess would be the previous tank changer didn't get the rubber "O" ring under the sending unit in right or tore it.
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Iv used plastic and iv used the steel..i like the plastic alot better..today's plastics are very strong.
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If that is all they are now, shouldn't be to bad.
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Hey now, I'm thinking of a replacement fuel tank and am considering the plastic MTS tanks. (http://www.mtscompany.com/) Haven't contacted the company as yet and there doesn't appear to any FAQ's on their site, so am wondering if anyone has actually installed one of their tanks.
Can I use my original mounts and straps? How about original sending unit? Stock lockring & gasket?
Assuming these tanks will use the original mounts, would I still need to use the so-called anti-squeak material, or just something to keep the metal from wearing into the plastic? Any opinions on these things, pro or con?
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yes, $129 to $115 is so close in price you gotta go plastic. MTS tanks are sold at JC Whitney. That anti-squeak mat'l is a strip of rubber. Should be easily gotten at a hardware store, no?
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Ordered the Poly tank today from whitney. I was thinking Inner tube for the anti-squeak material... I'm a cheapo ;D I'll take some pic's when I get it of the install and let ya know how it goes.
out of three trucks sporting four fuel tanks I had zero good ones :( What's a guy gotta to to get a break? lol
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Yep, I'm leaning toward the MTS tank because they look to be about the best around, check out this article:
http://www.fourwheeler.com/projectbuild/129_0409_1992_ford_f150_gas_tank_hitch_replacement/index.html
Good luck Bowtie on your tank R&R, I'll be looking forward to hearing how the thing fits up and all...
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is the plastic safer in a wreak ??
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The tank would be the least of my worries in a wreck. Especially if you are referening to the bogus exploding tank lie....
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The tank would be the least of my worries in a wreck. Especially if you are referening to the bogus exploding tank lie....
i have a truck that is rusty enough any side hit will be into the tank
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They make fuel cell's from plastic, the one I ordered (haven't seen it yet) is supposed to be 1/4 thick plastic and one piece design that supposedly eliminates seam splits/cracks. Given and old rusty seamed steel tank, and a seamless no rust plastic one , I'll take the plastic. It's actually not plastic but I can't spell pollypropowhatever lol. ( I guess that's plasic too just a higher grade or something)
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I'm still looking for a tank that has enough baffles in it so the needle will be somewhere even close to accurate...
My needle just waves around wildly (as all these trucks do) as if i did'nt need to know what my fuel level actually was. Sometimes GM is not so smart. But i guess the same is true for all automakers.
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Finally the tank arrived!
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project10.png)
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project11.png)
"Tabs" that hold the sending unit in.
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project12.png)
Warning.
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project13.png)
My picture taking is poor, but the locating tab on the sending unit has to be clipped off as the replacement hold down tabs interfere with it. (they did not tell me this in the instructions)
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project15.png)
Another shot of old sending unit and new "cropped" one.
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project16.png)
Inlets.
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project9.png)
Ready to install :)
(http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq178/Bowtie4004x4/Project21.png)
I'm sure all tank changes are like this but I had to leave the front tank strap loose to allow me to get the bolts started in the bracket. Other than that the plastic tank is a cinch to install. I used an old innertube to keep the straps from being directly on the plastic but I don't really see this as being a necessity, just my way of doing things. I have alot of Murphy's Law behind my projects. If anything can go wrong it probably will.
The tank seems to be well put together and rust free :) I would buy another one at this point in time however I will some testing this winter to see how well it works out. Hope this helps.
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I walked by mine Monday before I left out of town and I noticed a strong fuel smell so I need a tank as well. I go by JC every other week or so, did today back from Burlington, IA. I will have to see if they have them in stock. Not that it matters a whole lot but is it baffled? How is the gas gauge? I will be draining the tank tomorrow as much as I can before it all is on the ground.
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HEY NOW Mr. Bowtie--- Looks like a winner!
And I know what you mean by 'well put together' 'cause I ordered one too for my '86 one-ton. And it is hefty and solid feeling with those 1/4" thick walls! Haven't installed mine yet because it got delivered to my neighbor's house instead of mine... it sat there three days before he called me to pick it up... says he looked out on his front porch on Saturday and "noticed" this huge box but said he figured it might be something the wife was going to take to the dump!#@#$%^&!!
Anyway, I also like the way the fuel-sender mounts w/ring & gasket--- lot easier than the stock version. I also am getting a NEW sender from Ac-Delco because my old one was tweaked and already knew it didn't read right ... you run out of gas w/ 1/8th tank showing? For any one else who wants to know, the reason I'm getting the Delco sender is because all the other aftermarket ones I looked at in the stores were cheap, plastic-looking things and the Delco unit is all steel--- made to last... (I hope)
Thanks for the tank-pics Mr. Bowtie and best of luck to ya'... BTW--- that's a fine looking Deere ya' got there in the background, my bother-in-law still farms his dairy with an old '58 and she just keeps on running!
ha,hah!
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All the sending units I got from Advanced were all metal.
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All the sending units I got from Advanced were all metal.
Thanks for that info Capt-K, however in my case, limited time did not permit me to look online for replacement sending units and wait possibly days for delievery, otherwise, I would have given your senders consideration.... this weekend coming up is hopefully --"The Grand Finale'."
Fact is, AC-Delco has a dealer warehouse here in Huntington Beach which also sells retail as well... their prices are fairly high but saving time was the major factor in my project.
best regards!
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No biggie about getting them from me. I was just saying all the ones I have gotten from Advanced Auto Parts were metal, and you could walk up to the counter and get it....
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No Baffles. Tractor is my Uncles, has a boom on the back for picking up Deer and that is about all the ol' girl is used for now days. But if she could talk imagine all the storys. hehe
Everything to this swap was original equipment or provided with the tank, save for the anti Squeek material (anti rub material as I call it now.)
The fuel gauge seems to work properly, I put around 10 gal in it from gas cans and it shows 1/2 full. Still as someone pointed out fluctuates with the sloshing of the gas in the tank and on hills.
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Just finished my tank install today. Felt good to drive it since the middle of August... I replaced the tank saddles and sending unit while I was at it.
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I have replaced my fuel tank with a poly tank. I installed a metal plate under it to protect it. its been in 4 years now. The only issue I have is that when you fill the tank the fuel tends to leak from the sending unit. I put a bead for rtv gasket sealer to fix that problem. The poly tank also doesn't allow moisture to build in the tank like the metal ones. And they are lighter.