I see several people wanting to move there tanks out of the cab! I haven't seen alot of roasted early Chevrolet trucks...is there really a good reason to move the tank? I had a 51 1/2 ton hot-rod pickup and don't remember ever smelling gasoline in the cab. I think I did hear sloshing, but thats it. What don't I know? Stuart Miller
We have a 1949 3/4 ton we bought new and used on the farm for many years. The tank is of course behind the seat and to this day we've never had a problem with it. Behind the seat is probably a safe enough place for it as Chevy moved the tank inside after the '48 model year. I am currently building a '48 1/2 ton as a street rod and the tank will be under the bed for the following reasons - in case of a fuel leak I don't want it near my new interior, really, I don't like the thought of 20 gallons of a very flammable liquid right behind me at highway speeds. Also, moving the tank can provide for more interior usable space. Maybe it is a matter of personal opinion. My thoughts for what they are worth.
All the trucks i've rode in and been around all 40 years and I have never heard of anybody exploding, or burning to death, because the tank was in the cab, I'm sure it is possible but so is a jet crashing into your house, what are the odds.
It's just me, but I feel safer moving 16 gallons of highly explosive liquid further away than 4 inches from me inside the small confines of a truck cab. The farthes it can be moved is coincidently between the frame rails behind the differential. If we shared the road with jet planes instead of pin-headed, two celled idiots I would say the odds were the same. But until we can get our trucks to fly I would guess that the odds were better of a fuel leakage inside the cab after a collission. One of the greatest threats to human survival in automobile collisions is fire. Ruptured fuel tanks, filler tubes, and fuel lines are predominant factors in crash fire situations. Once substantial fuel spillage has occurred, the probability that fuel will come into contact with an ignition source is high. "Due to the extreme temperatures encountered, perhaps not more than twenty seconds are available for escape from burning automobiles, even with a protective fire suit." In September, 1967, Fairchild Hiller submitted its final report to the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Bureau, a public document entitled Investigation of Motor Vehicle Performance Standards for Fuel Tank Protection, which concluded that the safest position for a gas tank in a passenger automobile was above the rear axle, between the rear wheels, "removed from the area of high probability of damage or repair." "One of the better methods for reducing the possibility of a failure of the tank during a crash would be to locate the tank in a well protected area:" Removing the tank from the area of high probability of damage and rupture represents the most cost-effective modification and "represents the minimum cost of tank protection." This study also concluded that the probability of fire was highest in side collisions [when comparing front engine cars, rear engine cars, conventional trucks and cab-over-engine trucks] for a conventional truck when struck in the side by a conventional car. The safest place to relocate a fuel tank is between the frame rails between the rear wheels. That is not really possible in pickup trucks unless you stop using them as trucks. Next best place is inside the rails behind the differential and protected by the frame and a bumper. But not, 4 inches away from me inside an enclosed cab!! I'll choose aldente as opposed to extra crispy every time....
Another advantage is better weight distribution with the rear of pickups being so light it helps to have more weight in the rear.
My '56 3100 is currently under restoration, and I too opted to re-locate the tank under the bed. I moved the tank for SAFETY, but also thought the space behind the seat would be a great place to carry the lawn chairs while going to and from cruise in's on Friday night! Sure keep that new oak bedwood from getting all scratched up!!;-)
[updated:LAST EDITED ON May-26-04 AT 08:00 PM (CST)]Most people leave the tank in the cab to keep the truck stock. That's what I'm doing!!!:7
This is a project that I just finished. After reading pros and cons for about a year I decided to move the tank out of the cab. Used a Mustang tank [ 65-68] was able to cut off my Chevy filler neck and weld to the new tank. Fill up is through a hinged door in the truck bed. You never think that you can smell gas in your cab with the tank behind the seat but after removing the tank, there is a definite cleaner smell in the cab. And as previously posted, these light trucks can use the extra weight in the rear also. Bob
I don't worry about the tank being right behind my seat but I have also seen the Gov't. test where they dyded the gasoline bright red and then caused collisions with the trucks , mostly side impacts , it is simply amazing to watch as the most minor impacts cause deformation of the cab and the filler neck is pulled off the tank at the very same instant the tank gets squeezed , this causes the gasoline to spary all over the interior of the truck , the most common cause of fire ignition is sparks from the various sheet metals grinding against each other ~ believe me , you haven't a chance to get out . Sadly , the tests used 4 old GM trucks to every 1 Ford . I have also been in the auto trade & scrap biz for over 40 years so I've seen more smashed pickups than most , few ever catch fire for what that's worth . All this being said , I've been riding 'round in old pickups for longer than most of the guys on these boards and so far so good , when my number comes up , I'll go , in my stock pickup if needs be . Just be aware of the hazzards then make your choice . Interesting thread , good topic . -Nate
