mckustomfab
1/2 ton status
So i will start by saying that this may not be right, or even the best way, but this is how i mounted my 40gal suburban tank into my '91 V3500. When i was planning this swap i looked around a lot and didn't find much info. I found a lot of people that had done it but not much in the way of pics. Its not a hard swap but I stuck this together to try and help out anyone else that maybe thinking about it.
With a 40gal tank you will have to relocate your passenger shock because it will try to occupy the same space as the tank. My solution was to run my shocks outside the frame similar to how the newer F150's are. With this being a and staying CCLWB im not worried about tons of flex.
Starting with my 1991 R/V Crewcab conversion LWB, I removed the passenger side rear shock mount because it will be in the way of the tank. I then moved the rear crossmember as far back as possible and added a piece of steel to give the tank a little more to rest on. You can see from the pic how far back I moved the crossmember.
Then i held the tank up with a floor jack and go it level to see what i would have to do for the support that the front of the tank would rest on. Worked out that 2" square tubing sat the tank almost perfectly level, so i drilled and welded some sleeves in the 2" square and bolted it in.
To secure the straps i used a piece of angle iron running across the frame rail , I mounted mine close to the tank to make installing the tank less of a hassle.
I have heard of clearance issues with the 40gal tank so here is a pic of tank to rear diff cover clearance at ride height, don't have any with its stuffed.
I will have to take a small section out of one of the ribs running under the bed floor. This is because the top of the tank humps up and the fill and breather tube might make contact.
I also completely bypassed the switching valve switch and wired the pump into what would have been the passenger side tank. This is the mocking up the receiver hitch, it worked out pretty good, its nice and tight to the tank but no contact.
With a 40gal tank you will have to relocate your passenger shock because it will try to occupy the same space as the tank. My solution was to run my shocks outside the frame similar to how the newer F150's are. With this being a and staying CCLWB im not worried about tons of flex.
Starting with my 1991 R/V Crewcab conversion LWB, I removed the passenger side rear shock mount because it will be in the way of the tank. I then moved the rear crossmember as far back as possible and added a piece of steel to give the tank a little more to rest on. You can see from the pic how far back I moved the crossmember.
Then i held the tank up with a floor jack and go it level to see what i would have to do for the support that the front of the tank would rest on. Worked out that 2" square tubing sat the tank almost perfectly level, so i drilled and welded some sleeves in the 2" square and bolted it in.
To secure the straps i used a piece of angle iron running across the frame rail , I mounted mine close to the tank to make installing the tank less of a hassle.
I have heard of clearance issues with the 40gal tank so here is a pic of tank to rear diff cover clearance at ride height, don't have any with its stuffed.
I will have to take a small section out of one of the ribs running under the bed floor. This is because the top of the tank humps up and the fill and breather tube might make contact.
I also completely bypassed the switching valve switch and wired the pump into what would have been the passenger side tank. This is the mocking up the receiver hitch, it worked out pretty good, its nice and tight to the tank but no contact.
