Fuel Tank

[arlbrl]

Does any one know whether the fuel tank on a 1987 C-10 has the baffle inside of it to prevent fuel starvation?  I switched over an engine and tranny to an 1985 C-10 and the truck dies out when I slow down or come to a stop.  I know the 85 tank does not have the baffle so I need one that has a baffle to stop the fuel starvation.  Thanks in advance.

[yellow76]

Unless you are really low on fuel this should not be a problem. I would look for another problem first before I went through all the trouble of finding and replacing a fuel tank.
How does it act with a full tank?
How is the fuel filter(s)? Idol setting?  

76 stepside 2wd
GMPP 350/350
basicly a big money pit, but a lot of fun.

[DnStClr]

There are no baffles in the 87 tank.

Don St.Clair
Culleoka Tn

[roundedline]

'87 EFI tanks do have baffles in them, but it is so the fuel won't uncover the pump.  It won't be an issue on what you are experiencing.  Unlees, as stated you are really low on gas, you should not be experiencing that type of problem and a baffled tank isn't going to help.  

I would start checking for vacuum leaks or idle adjustments..

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[arlbrl]

I know this is the problem.  I just need to know if the 87 tank has a baffle since the 85 doesn't and the 87 will drop right in place of the 85.  The engine ran fine before the swap and run fine now other then when I brake hard or slow down.  I was on an incline in my drive and the truck died out.  I then pushed it to the street level and it fired right up.  So it know it is the fuel getting away from the pump.

[roundedline]

How much gas is in the tank?  What sending unit are you using?  What fuel pump are you using?  Is it in the tank or external?  What the tank cleaned out?  There is no reason a TBI motor will not run because of no baffleing.  Street and Performance have converted several of them and don't swap tanks, you only need the sending unit and a TBI pump.

If you have ever seen inside a '87 tank, they you would understand why I say this isn't your problem if it is anything over 3 gallons in the tank.  The baffles are just 4 plastic walls that are not fully enclosed around the pump.

If you are on an incline and had a baffled tank, the fuel will still slosh to other side.

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[VileZambonie]

You have to have almost zero gas in this thing for this to be the real problem and as stated, the baffles are used to help aid in fuel slosh not to keep fuel around the pickup tube so if this is your problem it would be easier to just keep a little more gas in the tank.

[dumpbucket]

are you saying you put a fuel injected engine in the older truck? Or did you stay carbureted?

[brlarl]

Hey guys, I'm the originator of this topic.......Just to answer anyone's doubt about the "Baffle" inside the 87 tanks, I ended up picking up a new 87 tank for EFI from Advance Autoparts and low n behold I look inside and their is a small pan about 2.5 " tall and that probably measures 7" x 10".  This pan is tack wellding directly below the sending unit hole and it does actually prevent the stainer from running dry.  One thing I would like to mention is that the pan does have a small opening at one of the corners near the bottom to allow fuel into it from the rest of the tank.  It apparently is there to keep the strainer covered with fuel even during hard braking.  Another thing I failed to mention was my gas gauge did not work so I was having to guess at the gas level.  Well after the new tank and the 87 EFI sending unit was installed my problems went away.  I guess "baffle was the wrong choice for a word when describing what I needed.  Sorry if bring this topic back from the dead causes problems but I ran across it when looking at the forum and figured I'd post the outcome of my adventure. 

[Captkaos]

The baffle is there so the electric pump pickup on EFI trucks won't be uncovered. 
Why did you sign up with a new username?

[brlarl]

I knew you were gonna ask that.......I honestly do not recall why that happened.  Please deactivate the arlbrl account.  Thank You.

[farmallgray]

So you guys are saying putting an '87 pump and sending unit in an earlier tank will work OK? I'm going to convert my 79 to TBI and I have an 87 pump and sender but I don't have the '87 fuel tank.

[eventhorizon66]

So you guys are saying putting an '87 pump and sending unit in an earlier tank will work OK? I'm going to convert my 79 to TBI and I have an 87 pump and sender but I don't have the '87 fuel tank.

I think that was the general concensus here, so yes.  To combat startvation with very low fuel and/or extended periods at severe angles there are these: http://www.autoperformanceengineering.com/html/pickups.html

[brlarl]

Yes switching to an 87 sending unit and an 87 EFI fuel tank will work.  It did for me, I originally had a 85 carburated 305 and switched to a 90 EFI 350.  I did reuse the original 85 tank and the modified 90 suburban sending unit at first but then switched everything to the 87 EFI units.  Since doing so I have not had my engine shut off on me due to fuel starvation.   

[Captkaos]

You can run a TBI pump in a non TBI tank.  Street & Performance has done it on serveral accounts.  You just can run the tank real low.