What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

dual fuel tanks

J

jeff_buob

Registered Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2007
Posts
32
Reaction score
0
Location
thunder bay, ont, canada
i already tryed searching this, but with no luck. on my 1980 chevy with dual fuel tanks. the fuel selector valve keeps calfing or getting broken off.
could a guy just add a t fitting to the 2 supply lines, and suck from both tanks at once

or would it just suck from the easyest/closest tank to the fuel pump, i am not running a return line or that fuel vapour line. i know transports do this, but they have a cross over line, to equal out the returned fuel.

am i crazy like my dad suggested or could this work
 
No, one will get sucked dry, then essentially have a big air leak in the pickup of the other tank causing no fuel flow.

*I think*
 
I am almost positive that once one tank was empty you would run into issues.
 
My buddy's old Ford had a manual valve on the fuel lines. Dash switch only changed the fuel sender for the gauge, the lines had to be manually changed from tank to tank. He had the main tank on the back of the cab ('72 Ford) and two saddle tanks in front of the wheelwells. All the fuel lines run under the drivers seat and the selector valve was just beside the seat slider. Hard to see and out of the way, but easy to reach while driving.

Would be a hassle to reroute fuel lines, but if you are frequently changing out the 'lectric valves, might be worth it for reliability.
 
I like cabledawg's suggestion but if you want to keep it factory just find someone parting out a truck with dual tanks. When I went to a fuel cell I practically gave my entire fuel system away including the tanks, wiring, valve and all the lines.
 
Now that I've re-read this, I meant to say the lines were under the cab floor with the valve. The valve lever was run through the floor so the tanks could be changed as you were driving.

I dont think it'd be smart to have the lines actually in the cab:eek1: Even a small leak inside the cab could be dangerous and may be fatal without proper ventalation.
 
what years did ford use these, iv never seen one, but i like the idea. i would rather spent money on something mechanical than electrical.

also my buddy said that chevy trucks had a skid plate over the selector valve, was this part of a package or did they all have them, i imagine most have been discarded to make changeing them easyer
 
Not sure on either question. My buddy's truck was a '72 F250 Camper Special so it could have been a factory installed option.

I couldnt tell you about GM dual tank setups as I've never had one.
 
jeff_buob said:
damn looks like i get to spend another 120 bucks on a selector valve
Click to expand...

get this one, it's the same company that makes the GM one, Pollack. (trust me, I bought the GM one and then returned it to the dealer, it was the exact same brand just in a delco box) Just make sure you get the correct amount of ports, this is the 6 port model with 3/8 and 5/16 lines. It plugs right into the stock connector and bolts in with the stock bolts. It comes with an extra connector and switch you don't need too.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/motor-driv...05&zmam=15972153&zmas=21&zmac=141&zmap=812705
 
if your running a higher output fuel pump like an edelbrock that has 40psi take that in account due to some switching units only being rated for 10psi...
 
Back in the day, our route trucks would sometime need more than a single tank's worth of gas to make a day.
They could buy gas locally, but we got better prices by buying in bulk.

When we got a new truck, we would go to the junkyard, and buy a tank from the same brand vehicle and make a mount under for it with a filler spout out the side of the body.

By buying the same brand, ie Ford for Ford, or GM for GM, we could be pretty sure the sending unit had the same values. That way a simple single pole double throw switch would let the driver switch the gage to each tank.

We ran the lines under the cab, and used a valve from NAPA with the stem up through the floor between the end of the seat and the door, in the floorboard.

It worked fine.

If you decide to buy one of the aftermarket tanks that mounts in the bed under the toolbox, be careful.
Make sure that the valve you buy does not have a position that lets both tanks hook together .

I helped put a 50 gallon tank in the bed of a friend's Chevy. There was no place for a sending unit in that one.
He was always running out of gas because of it. He would run the original tank dry, and switch over to the big one.
It lasted so long, he would forget, and first thing you know, he ran it out.
So, he had a bright idea.
We re-plumbed the lines so that the big tank ran into the fuel line between the original and the engine, and the valve we changed to a simple on-off valve.

When he ran low in the original tank, he would turn the big tank on, and let it fill the other tank. When the gas gage read full, he would turn it off.

One day, he pulled into the hunting camp with gas running out the filler spout.
He had filled both tanks at service station a day or so before, and topped off the regular tank from the big one on the way to the camp.
But, he had gotten distracted and had forgotten to turn the valve off.

He had dumped all but a couple of gallons of the 50 on the road!

BTW CableDawg, back in the 60s most pickups like my F600 had the whole gas tank in the cab behind the front seat.
Plus the gas lines running to the engine.
So just running a line in the cab, would not be all that dangerous.

J.
 
well i picked up another working one from the scrap yard, any one know if theres supposed to be a skidplate/cove over em from the factory, iv never seen one. i suppose i could fab one up tho
 
Fordum said:
BTW CableDawg, back in the 60s most pickups like my F600 had the whole gas tank in the cab behind the front seat.
Plus the gas lines running to the engine.
So just running a line in the cab, would not be all that dangerous.

J.
Click to expand...

The tank in my dad's '75 Ford is behind the front seat as well. I've always been a little un-easy about it. :crazy:


jeff_buob said:
well i picked up another working one from the scrap yard, any one know if theres supposed to be a skidplate/cove over em from the factory, iv never seen one. i suppose i could fab one up tho
Click to expand...
Mine had a metal skid that bolted in place around it to keep debris from hitting it.
 
Avery4jc said:
The tank in my dad's '75 Ford is behind the front seat as well. I've always been a little un-easy about it. :crazy:




Mine had a metal skid that bolted in place around it to keep debris from hitting it.
Click to expand...




Yea , just because it came from the factory that way doesnt mean they werent drinking when they designed it :rolleyes:
 
i wish i could find another one, i broke one of the plastic fittings off mine and i cant use both tanks :angry1: but my 76 frame under my 82 body has a metal skid plate hiding the valve but i broke it off to get to it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom