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TBI gas tank

4X4HIGH

4X4HIGH

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Ok, what has anyone done about a loose or maybe even broken gas tank baffle?

Several years ago i put a new pump in my tank and noticed that the baffle wasn't completely attached anymore. Well fast forward to most recently and when i'm at about 1/4 tank of gas or less and make a turn in either direction the truck will die from fuel starvation. This leads me to believe that the baffle has either completely come unattached or has broken into pieces. My guess is that the fuel return line doesn't go all the way down into the bottom of the tank/baffle but rather just drops from the top of the tank. I was thinking about removing the baffle completely and making the return line go down to the bottom of the pick-up sock so that there is always fuel to be had. i did this years ago with a non TBI tank that i installed TPI on and it worked great. I'm not so sure though if it had anything to do with the TPI being a high pressure system versus the TBI being a low pressure system.

Any ideas are welcomed and appreciated.
 
If dropping the return like you said worked before, I'd try it. It really *shouldn't* work any better than any other method, given the choice of air (through the top of the sock) or fuel (from the bottom if you dump to the bottom of an unbaffled tank) the pump would ALWAYS choose the path of least resistance, which is air. You might have just gotten lucky and never run it empty enough, but that sock isn't anything magical that would somehow allow fuel but not air to be pulled through. Perhaps it's because there isn't much room under the pump pickup. :dunno:

Anyways, no fix for the broken baffles but replace the tank, or jsut remove it. The hold down method is just those spring steel clips that fit over studs, once the plastic breaks, it's done. You can't fit anything in there large enough to be effective, and even if you could, it wouldn't be very large.

For the cost of a new TBI tank (about $130) I'd go that route. Either that, or change the return line dump like you said, and really give it a workout with very low fuel levels.
 
I do have one other option. Once i remove the baffle i could always install the fuel foam but then i'd have to deal with installing it in such a way that the sender float would still operate.

Where can i buy a new tank for $130.00 and also is it a baffled TBI tank?
 
You can get a Spectre tank for 90.00 and change from Rock Auto delivered to your door. Spectre is a Canadian company with decent quality. That's the one I bought to replace my rotted tank. The baffle is metal and welded to the tank base.

www.rockauto.com
 
Ok, i pulled my tank tonight and the fuel return line does go to the bottom of the pump directed right at the pick-up sock. The baffle isn't floating around but it still broken as it was when i last had the tank out. I can see what's happening now after studying it for a few minutes so tomorrow i'll order my new tank and it will arrive on friday and i'll have it back together friday night.

I was able to order a new Dorman tank from work for $90.00. :thumb:
 
Interesting...I'm having the same issue with the truck cutting out when the fuel level is low, but thought it had something to do with the fuel pickup not being attached and just sliding around when I came to a stop, and sucking in air. Since the tank is so cheap, and knowing my luck I'd drop the tank to replace the fuel pump and sending unit to find the innards of the tank itself worthless, I might go ahead and order everything at once.
 
The original baffle is some sort of plastic and mine is broken at the front attaching points and it allows the baffle to push up against the bottom of the fuel pick-up sock blocking fuel from being able to enter the pump.
 
When you get your new tank, please note what kind of baffle it is, and if you deem it very effective. Mine seems to work ok, but the baffle isn't as effective a design as the GM design IMO.
 
4X4HIGH said:
Where can i buy a new tank for $130.00 and also is it a baffled TBI tank?
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[FONT=Arial, Verdana]NEW GAS TANK 82-91 FULL SIZE BLAZER JIMMY SUBURBA GM14B (260112240642)[/FONT] [FONT=Arial, Verdana]This message was sent while the listing was active.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Verdana]robgen33 is the seller.[/FONT]
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$79 and 20 shipping to Mich/Ohio area what it said for me.:D
 
Sorry but a TBI tank is 87-91 as they have a baffle in them, besides i already ordered one that will be here tomorrow.
 
Scott......too bad you already ordered one. Im getting a suburban this weekend that should still have the tank in it...was TBI also.
 
Oh well, new tank can't hurt. The burb may have the same issues i'm already having anyways. Thanks for the offer though.
 
I have an aftermarket TBI tank and It does starve for fuel on acceleration/corners when I'm down to the last 1/8th tank. The baffling is like a steel pan welded to the bottom of the tank with a small hole in the bottom at each side. I am running a high pressure system, but I don't see why that would make any difference, really.
 
I also saw this other setup form a hot rod company that retro rods old school cars that would be cost prohibitive to have a cutom tank made (30's and 40's), they have a metal channel that sits at the bottom of the tank and the pickup feeds from inside it...I can't remember the name of teh company...I'll look around. Thanks fo rh tinfo though, I think I will order a new tank (and seal on the top since ga just spills out)
 
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