magik235
Still Alive
What is the best brand of gas tank to buy? Is there any advantage to a 25 gallon tank over the 31 gallon tank?
CK5
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What is the Best Brand of Gas Tank?
- Thread starter magik235
- Start date
chicken joe
1/2 ton status
i ordered mine from lmc. i got the 31 gal tank, sending unit, straps, and all the rubber. i thought it was reasonably priced.
the main reason i did this is, when i got the k5 someone befor me put in a driver side fill and 25 gal tank whit what looked to be a tbi set up. they even cut up the rear quarter with a gas door.
the reason i went 31 gal is it was stock and 6 more gal
the main reason i did this is, when i got the k5 someone befor me put in a driver side fill and 25 gal tank whit what looked to be a tbi set up. they even cut up the rear quarter with a gas door.
the reason i went 31 gal is it was stock and 6 more gal
euzoa
1/2 ton status
I got one right from rock auto, no issues with it
I went with the Dorman 25 gallon tank from Autzone. After shipping autozone pricing was within a few bucks
My Spectra tank has been good for ~10 years, appears to be still going strong.
Difference in 25 vs 31 gallons is range/capacity (duh) and clearance. 25 gallon is a couple of inches shallower.
If you have no reason to run the 25, run the 31. There is no such thing as too much fuel.
Difference in 25 vs 31 gallons is range/capacity (duh) and clearance. 25 gallon is a couple of inches shallower.
If you have no reason to run the 25, run the 31. There is no such thing as too much fuel.
I got mine from parts geek for like $100 shipped I think.
Seemed nice to me. Got here fast too
Seemed nice to me. Got here fast too
Just looking at Rockauto, the tanks (not TBI, no idea if they cost more, they should) run from $42 to $105, depending on 25 or 31, and who makes it.
wasted wages
1 ton status
as long as you have the new straps,,,, a 25 should go right into the same top brackets as a 31..... correct ? 
I just bought a new 25 ( the old one was a ball of rust inside and out ) but I didn't want the additional depth of the original 31....so I bought the 25 along with new straps....
The straps and top of the old tank had something that looked like tar paper stuck to them.... no "rubber" strips....
would some plain old "Home Depot" tar paper work for the straps and top of the tank ????
I just bought a new 25 ( the old one was a ball of rust inside and out ) but I didn't want the additional depth of the original 31....so I bought the 25 along with new straps....
The straps and top of the old tank had something that looked like tar paper stuck to them.... no "rubber" strips....
would some plain old "Home Depot" tar paper work for the straps and top of the tank ????
The straps and top of the old tank had something that looked like tar paper stuck to them.... no "rubber" strips....
would some plain old "Home Depot" tar paper work for the straps and top of the tank ????
I used some HVAC tape I found at Lowes, ran it along both straps and put a couple pieces on top of the tank.
rampage
3/4 ton status
would some plain old "Home Depot" tar paper work for the straps and top of the tank ????
Yes, as long as it's 30# and not 15#. I don't know why LMC is selling these for $10. I used some leftover PVC shower pan liner that I cut into strips.
The webbing from an old lawn chair makes a decent strap liner..I have used bicycle tubes before too,or tarpaper..at the junkyard my co-worker used some old black seat belts on one of the boss's caddy restorations!.
as long as you have the new straps,,,, a 25 should go right into the same top brackets as a 31..... correct ?
would some plain old "Home Depot" tar paper work for the straps and top of the tank ????
Yes, top brackets are the same I'm sure. I used tar paper on mine, had no issues yet. I did paint the tank where the straps go, first.
magik235
Still Alive
I removed the gas tank today. My transmission jack made the process much easier. I ordered a new tank, straps and sender unit with fuel pump made by SPECTRA from rockauto.com.
The webbing from an old lawn chair makes a decent strap liner..I have used bicycle tubes before too,or tarpaper..at the junkyard my co-worker used some old black seat belts on one of the boss's caddy restorations!.
I would recommend against bicycle tubes I have pulled two that looked good except right under the straps. Unless you cut the tubes in half. Still I just grabbed some roofing stuff from a buddy. Took a week or so of asking but I found some tarpaper for free
For longevity you are probably right. Roofing felt/whatever GM used is probably not VERY permeable in regards to water, but rubber isn't at all. If water worked up under plastic/rubber it will just stay there, speeding up the rusting process. With the felt or whatever, probably breathes enough to keep moisture from just staying against the metal.
Not a lot of work to paint the area the straps/felt goes, I'd recommend it if you plan to keep the rig for a long time. In the east, probably not a bad idea to paint the whole thing anyways, get another barrier in between the tank and rust.
Not a lot of work to paint the area the straps/felt goes, I'd recommend it if you plan to keep the rig for a long time. In the east, probably not a bad idea to paint the whole thing anyways, get another barrier in between the tank and rust.
Yeah,the rubber might encourage rust,seeing many body mounts on my trucks have retained water and made the cab mounts rot away where they sit against them..
Maybe a good use for "Plasti-Dip" stuff on the tank?...
I painted a good used tank I was given by a member here with a thick coat of black gloss Rustoleum with a brush..might stave rust off for a few months around here--salt eats everything quickly here..
I stupidly installed it on the drivers side though,I should have just yanked the leaky passenger side one out and put it there instead,I was not thinking..--now I still have to re-plumb the hoses and sending unit wiring over to the drivers side (someone butchered the OEM wiring ,removed the switchover valve,and meesed with the gas gauge wiring,it took me awhile to just get the gauge working on the passenger side when I first got the truck)...
I always seem to make more work for myself--I should have just put the "good used" tank right in place of the passenger side one,then it would have been plug & play..and "deleted" the drivers side one,I'll never have enough money to fill one tank full of diesel,never mind two..it would have reduced my chances of being incinerated if I get hit on the drivers side too...
My friend installs a lot of Spectra gas tanks,hasn't had any issues with them really..same with their fuel pumps and sending units..
Their radiators dont have a great track record though,he's had quite a few either fail within a year,or develop leaks upon installation--more than one came with a busted off plastic nipple for the expansion tank or return hose too,he now takes them out of the box right away while the delivery guy is standing there BEFORE writing a check and letting him leave!..
Maybe a good use for "Plasti-Dip" stuff on the tank?...
I painted a good used tank I was given by a member here with a thick coat of black gloss Rustoleum with a brush..might stave rust off for a few months around here--salt eats everything quickly here..
I stupidly installed it on the drivers side though,I should have just yanked the leaky passenger side one out and put it there instead,I was not thinking..--now I still have to re-plumb the hoses and sending unit wiring over to the drivers side (someone butchered the OEM wiring ,removed the switchover valve,and meesed with the gas gauge wiring,it took me awhile to just get the gauge working on the passenger side when I first got the truck)...
I always seem to make more work for myself--I should have just put the "good used" tank right in place of the passenger side one,then it would have been plug & play..and "deleted" the drivers side one,I'll never have enough money to fill one tank full of diesel,never mind two..it would have reduced my chances of being incinerated if I get hit on the drivers side too...
My friend installs a lot of Spectra gas tanks,hasn't had any issues with them really..same with their fuel pumps and sending units..
Their radiators dont have a great track record though,he's had quite a few either fail within a year,or develop leaks upon installation--more than one came with a busted off plastic nipple for the expansion tank or return hose too,he now takes them out of the box right away while the delivery guy is standing there BEFORE writing a check and letting him leave!..
chicken joe
1/2 ton status
i bought the straps and insulators from lmc truck as well, but ended up using 10 speed bicycle inner tube on the straps and all the contact points. i also used silicon sealent in between all rubber and metal contact points, at the time it was just to hold it all in place, but after reading this im kinda glad i did for water issues.
from my experience the straps that i had from the 25 gal which i removed, were the same as the 31 gal straps i got from lmc.
from my experience the straps that i had from the 25 gal which i removed, were the same as the 31 gal straps i got from lmc.
wasted wages
1 ton status
I'm gonna coat the tank with some roll in bedliner crap I have laying around,,,
I have a half gallon of the stuff and I need to get rid of it before it hardens in the can...
then use some heavy roofing felt on the straps and upper mounts...
what about the filler neck hoses and vent hose ?
I cut the old ones off.... does autozone / napa carry cut to fit gas hose ??
or did i screw up and cut some dealer only hoses ???
I have a half gallon of the stuff and I need to get rid of it before it hardens in the can...
then use some heavy roofing felt on the straps and upper mounts...
what about the filler neck hoses and vent hose ?
I cut the old ones off.... does autozone / napa carry cut to fit gas hose ??
or did i screw up and cut some dealer only hoses ???
Gas filler hose is expensive,most jobber stores sell it or truck supply stores,only comes in straight lengths--last time I sold the Gates green stripe stuff by the foot,it was around 20+ bucks per foot,that was in the 90's!..
If its a curved or molded hose,then its a dealer only part ,or a salvage yard item..
Though its not reccomended,I used radiator hoses on a gas tank I put under a flatbed that happened to fit the neck,and had the right shape I needed,old ones I took off my dad;s K-car!..they turned hard as rock after a few months,but never leaked or cracked--I dont think I'd have been so lucky if we had the ethanol laced gas of today back then though..
If its a curved or molded hose,then its a dealer only part ,or a salvage yard item..
Though its not reccomended,I used radiator hoses on a gas tank I put under a flatbed that happened to fit the neck,and had the right shape I needed,old ones I took off my dad;s K-car!..they turned hard as rock after a few months,but never leaked or cracked--I dont think I'd have been so lucky if we had the ethanol laced gas of today back then though..
Got my filler hose from napa few years back, 1 1/2 ID
