16 to 20 gallon tank swap?

[gotsmeuhh350]

I just got an 86 c10 long bed, and it has dual 16 gallon tanks. Both have holes. Lol I know that after I put $35 in the passenger tank and watched it all lay on the ground. 20 gallon tank and straps is $100 shipped. I would like to do away with one of the tanks and run just a 20 gallon tank.

But my questions are,
which tank would be better to replace, and which tank should I do away with?
I know it's a long bed, so a 20 gallon should fit just fine right?
Will the straps bolt to the same spot?
The filler neck will have to be shortened/lengthened? My drivers side is steel with only a little piece of rubber, so wouldn't that be easiest?
I also plan and getting new vent lines and such too.
Would pulling the bed off make things a lot easier? There's a rats nest of trailer wiring I would like to do away with and make decent while I'm at it too. Not to mention, wire wheel and paint the frame.

If anyone could help, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[timthescarrd]

Don't know about the rest, but as to which tank to do away with, it comes down to preference.  What I've found with mine, the driver's side was removed before I got the truck, leaving only the passenger side.  All my other cars, and most newer cars gas on the drivers side, so when I go to fill up the truck, I have to remember to pull around to the other side of the pump, and I'm facing against most of the other traffic.  So consider how you're used to filling up your other cars as to which side to remove. I intend to add the other tank back and have two.

[rich weyand]

I'd put it on the passenger side.  20 gallons of gas is 120 pounds plus tank and brackets.  Call it 150 pounds.

Now let's say you weigh 180 pounds, and you usually drive the truck alone.  Put the tank on the passenger side and that's 150 pounds on one side, 180 pounds on the other.  Put it on the driver side, and that's 330 pounds all on one side.  The suspension will compress a little on one side, none on the other, and it will always lean left a bit.  Over time, that lean will become permanent.  Balance it out and you get no lean.

Now if you normally ride around with the wife or girlfriend in the passenger seat, and she weighs 150 pounds more than you, I would put your single tank on the driver's side to balance her out.

[gotsmeuhh350]

Alright, I see what you mean.  Lmao. I already have the passenger tank almost off, so I'll just replace that one. I'll forget about the drivers side until I feel like taking it off.

[blazing816]

I thought the long beds were 18 gallons not 20

[Captkaos]

The tank straps (although it could prove interesting removing them successfully) should be the same.  And if I remember correctly the mounts are the same also...