Author Topic: Switching to a single tank  (Read 5089 times)

Offline SinisterC10

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Switching to a single tank
« on: December 06, 2016, 06:45:48 pm »
Anyone know how hard it would be to convert my 81' Shortbed to a single fuel tank? It has the dual saddle tanks from the factory but I want to change it to an OEM single tank. I'm just wondering how I go about it and where I would by the parts from?

Also, in the truck that had a single tank, what side do you fuel up on?

P.S. I do not want an aftermarket style fuel tank. That would require me to cut a hole in the bed for a gas door which I do not want to do.

Offline 1967KaiserM715

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2016, 08:18:50 pm »
No need to buy parts except some new rubber fuel hoses and a bedside if you want to go that far. I believe the fill up for a stock tank was on drivers side. The rest is as simple as removing the valve and taking the hoses and reconnecting them.


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Offline Captkaos

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2016, 09:59:33 pm »
Pick the side you want, remove the switching valve and run the lines from the sending unit to the lines on the rail..

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Offline SinisterC10

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2016, 11:37:51 pm »
I was under the impression the the single tank trucks had a tank between the frame rails in the rear, but no?

Offline LTZ C20

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2016, 01:21:21 am »
I was under the impression the the single tank trucks had a tank between the frame rails in the rear, but no?
Only on Blazer and Suburban models. All trucks were side saddle outside the frame rails.
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Offline brewster

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2016, 07:08:18 am »
My 1975 k20 came with a single tank from the factory and it is on the passenger side

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Offline SinisterC10

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2016, 11:23:14 am »
Ok, does anyone know what gallon the single tank was compared to the dual saddle tanks?

Offline 1967KaiserM715

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2016, 11:28:12 am »
1979 or 80(maybe a little earlier?) they switched sides. Not exclusively, it's like when they phased in 10 bolt axles, some trucks still got 12 bolts.

All short bed trucks have to use 16 gallon tanks, double that for dual tanks. Long beds could come with either 16 or 20 gallon tanks, giving a total of 4 possible combinations.


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Offline SinisterC10

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2016, 11:16:11 pm »
Good info. Thanks guys.

Offline Captkaos

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Re: Switching to a single tank
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2016, 07:36:55 pm »
LWB trucks with dual tanks came with 1 20g tank and either a 16 or 20 extra.  Trucks switch the standard sides in 1978.

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