Fuel tank talk, removal, interchange.... ect

[Tommyd11730]

So it looks like the passenger side tank is leaking on my 84 K2500.  My question is im not sure how many gallon it is, can i find that in the 3 digit build rode sticker?  Or, if my tank is say the smaller one, will the 20 interchange?  I mean physically interchange with the exsisting straps and sender.
Lastly, I did a search but was unable to find a thread on how to remove the passenger side tank.
Thanks!!

[VileZambonie]

I doubt you have the small tank in a K20

[1967KaiserM715]

If it has a 6ft short bed it can only take the 16 gallon tank. I have seen 1 short bed K20, guy said it was original, had Dana 44 front and corporate 14 sf rear, 350 and all emissions in place, but you never know.


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[VileZambonie]

There's no short bed K20

[Tommyd11730]

Thanks for the heads up. Can i drop the pass side tank without disturbing things, like the crossover valve?  Was hoping i could drop the tank, plug the lines and assemble the parts ill need to put it back together. Figure anything made of rubber will have to be replaced.

[VileZambonie]

Yes just plug the lines

[Tommyd11730]

Unbolted the plastic shield to have a look. Appears the rust is pretty bad around the strap area.  Have to wonder tbough, these stupid plastic shields.... they retain so much crap maybe some kind of drain holes should be added?

[VileZambonie]

That's why many people eliminate them

[Tommyd11730]

Whats your opinion?  Off or on?  Keep in mind i live in the rust belt.

[VileZambonie]

For a truck that never sees snow and rust it's a non issue but if you are subjecting it to salt, the salt and sand gets trapped which results in the tank rotting out. If you use it in those conditions you can prime it, paint it, use bedliner coating etc to protect it.

[Irish_Alley]

ive never seen a tank with the plastic shield that hasnt rusted the hangers real bad.

[ehjorten]

I had one plastic liner on the RH tank on my '91.  It rusted the tank and hangers.  When I removed it there was probably 20 pounds of hard, caked dirt in that liner!!!

Why did they have those liners?  Was it purely to "hide" the bottom of the tank from view?  If you have a galvanized tank, the galvanizing works great if it gets wet and then is allowed to dry-out!  It doesn't work so well if the galvanizing is not allowed to dry-out.

I am personally torn between making the truck look factory correct on the outside and actually making modern improvements.

One question I have...the later hangers...they have the extra portion of hanger that wraps around the outside of the tank and has the stud for mounting the full tank liners.  How the heck do you get that off to replace the staps???!!!  The riveted on straps are sandwiched between those two stamped metal parts.

[Tommyd11730]

Dropped my pass side tank today. Easy Peezy.  Considering lsaving it out. Truck is only used locally anyway.  Next up is to try and remove the plastic shield from the drivers side without dropling the tank.

[bd]

...Why did they have those liners?...

I think to help protect from debris tossed up by the front tires.

[ehjorten]

Anybody have any insight to this little issue?

The later hangers...they have the extra portion of hanger that wraps around the outside of the tank and has the stud for mounting the full tank liners.  How the heck do you get that off to replace the staps???!!!  The riveted on straps are sandwiched between those two stamped metal parts.

I cannot seem to get those parts seperated!  Maybe they are welded together?