John,
I was working under my truck last weekend and found a ID tag for the custom
auxillary tank that was installed in lieu of the original. It has a 20-gal
capacity and is of stainless construction. It fits between the frame and
driveshaft on the drivers side.
I will get you the name of the manufacturer this weekend if you need.
Tom B. '57 Stepside 3200
-----Original Message-----
From: John Dorsey [SMTP:jrdorsey@strato.net]
Sent: Friday, June 25, 1999 5:32 AM
To: oletrucks@autox.team.net
Subject: [oletrucks] Re: Gas tanks and burning Pintos
Actually a rear mounted tank is not inherently unsafe, for years detroit
used it as a standard mounting place. I've been to some massive rear end
collisions on framed vehicles that did not rupture the tank.
The Pinto was a sepcial case in that it had several design flaws that
made it an extreme death trap.
A: When rear ended the quarter panels would be shoved against the doors
jamming them shut. (no frame)
B: The floor pan pinch welds above the rear axle would split open.
C: The gas tank would be crushed against protruding bolts on the rear
axle that would open it up like a can opener.(again, no frame)
D: All this allowing the gas from the squashed tank to be sprayed
through the split pinch welds into the passenger compartment that you
couldn't escape from because the doors were jammed shut.
On an oletruck truck you could mount a tank between the rear frame rails
as long as you left good clearance (6") away from the rear end, and away
from the rear bumper. Any collision that would collapse the frame rails
more than 12" would already have the bed up in the cab anyway.
I've seen some later model trucks that have a wide shallow tank mounted
above the spare tire.
You could have a tank custom made for the drivers side like the
panel-suburban tanks. They mount inside the frame just behind the cab.
I had to have a replacement made for my panel (out of 1/4" aluminum),
and it cost $350.00, but it had to be made to fit the original mounting
and that added to the price.
I would look at an S-10 tank from a junk yard. I looked at one for mine
and it looked like it could be made to work, but not on the passenger
side like I needed.
--
John "49-50-54-57-79-95" Chevy 3800 Panel
Keith wrote:
>
> I 'm having trouble deciding to where to put my gas tank. Some idiot
tried
> to braze up some pinholes and also slathered the bottom with Bondo. I
have
> to replace it anyway. There is no safe place for a gas tank. With it in
the
> cab, you have a bomb under the seat. In the rear, it will not survive
most
> rear collisions. Was it the Pinto that had the tank in the rear, and when
it
> from behind the tank would rupture and spray the vehicle with gasoline?
> Sounds nasty. I also don't want to deal with the filler hole in the side
> when the tank is relocated to the rear. Any body with suggestions? I
would
> bet a saddle tank is safer, but it is hard to fill and complicates the
> plumbing. If the tank is relocated to the rear, no room for a spare back
> there- but there is room behind the seat.
>
> Keith
> '56 3100 in many pieces
>
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
--
John "49-50-54-57-79-95" Chevy 3800 Panel
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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