Gas tank safe?

six-two · Post by **six-two** » November 5, 2006, 1:28 pm

How safe are the gas tanks in our slicks, being behind the seat and all? Also, is it even safe to smoke in the truck?

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » November 5, 2006, 1:36 pm

big can of worms designed to cause arguments but yes they are completely safe unless they are leaking fuel inside and i have never had one leak.i smoke in my truck all the time, there are no gas fumes or leaks.only issue i have ever come across is parking on an angle with the drivers side low and the tank full.it is possible the cap may leak and gas run down the side.simple solution, dont park like that with a full tank.

now for the other side and those who have issues with the inside tank.....

Post by **Greg D** » November 5, 2006, 2:10 pm

Just as long as your truck isn't equiped with a "arming button" which would be located just above the ignition switch you will be fine.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » November 5, 2006, 2:55 pm

Only issue I ever had was a pin hole leak in my '72 Shorty. JB Weld took car of that.

Now I did relocate the tank in my '69 Longbed. I put it between the front of the bed and the toolbox. Only way it would fit right was to have the filler neck on the passenger side but it gave me plenty of room for some behind the seat speakers.

I've never heard of any safety issues with our tanks unless you get T-Boned in the side ofcourse.

Hell, look at the tanks in new cars, there're made of plastic and the one in my T-Bird is right under the back seat.

six-two · Post by **six-two** » November 5, 2006, 10:15 pm

So, just dont get on the side and it will be all good. Still safer than a geo I bet. I guess the tank would be safer between the frame rails but, then again that would be work! I reek of gas after I drive the truck, but I think that is another issue, the smell does'nt come from the tank. Thanks for all the replies by the way. _________________________six-two

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » November 6, 2006, 12:59 am

If you smell fumes inside, your rubber filler hose between the tank & filler neck could be dry & cracked. Mine never leaked gas, but it let out plenty-o-fumes. I replaced it & all was right with the world once again.

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » November 6, 2006, 1:23 am

the original cab on my 66 was hit hard on the drivers door and cab corner, gas tank had no damage . previous owner said no gas leaked out at the scene.
got to be a lot safer than the 70s chevy/gmc outboard of frame tanks, as they are long and a much bigger target due to the area.

65ford1 · Post by **65ford1** » November 6, 2006, 5:26 pm

Can tank be used for afuel injected engine? I have to fine a way to have a return line hooked up and the fuel pump may be a problem.Thanks,Gene

boss9 · Post by **boss9** » November 6, 2006, 5:51 pm

Summit Racing carries a filler neck adapter with a return bung on it. IIRC you have to remove a 2" section of the filler neck and the adapter clamps in. The fuel pump is the easy part. Use a inline and put a plate over the engine mounted one.

six-two · Post by **six-two** » November 6, 2006, 9:33 pm

Slick Fan and Iceman6166- thanks for the responses.

Slick Fan-I have noticed that the hose is dry and I will replace it. I bet that will fix the smell, thanks!

Iceman, it's funny I used to drive one of those chevies(it was free) and never even thought about the tank. Thanks for putting it in perspective.

__________________________________six-two

douglloyd · Post by **douglloyd** » November 7, 2006, 11:42 am

Slick Fan wrote:If you smell fumes inside, your rubber filler hose between the tank & filler neck could be dry & cracked. Mine never leaked gas, but it let out plenty-o-fumes. I replaced it & all was right with the world once again.

How right he is. I spent most of Sunday afternoon discovering just that.

My '66 longbed (freshly rebuilt 302/T18 4spd) would barely run and smelled like paint thinner when I first got it back last week. Thought it might have been crud coming out of the tank plugging up the filter or pump, so I pulled the fuel filter - clean as a whistle. Tested the fuel pump (using the starter with the coil disconnected and a piece of fuel line run off to a safe distance) and that was fine too. So I drained and pulled the tank for cleaning and testing.

Tank did have some oily crud in the bottom, but I flushed that out with a hose and some household grease cutter. My neighbors are used to loud noises and truck parts strewn around, but I don't think they'd ever seen someone doing what looks like the cha-cha hugging a gas tank full of soapy water and gravel<g>

No leaks, although how something so long and large that looks to be tack welded together from two metal shells is testimony to how well the tanks hold up. Cleaned up the scratches and used chemical rust block/converter where necessary, then painted the whole thing so it might last another 40 years. Installed back in place with a new piece of radiator hose to the filler neck - gotta get a new grommet for that<g>

Only then did I crawl underneath and notice the little 5/16" rubber fuel line connection between the metal feed from the tank and and the engine supply line running up the frame. Dry as a bone and cracked to boot. That explained the fumes smell. On my VW bug, a fuel line in that condition can set fire to the entire engine. Off to the FLAPS for more line (and all the other stuff one comes away with when you stay too long in the store<g>)

Anyway, it was a nice day outside to wrench and now I know the tank is clean.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » November 7, 2006, 1:00 pm

douglloyd wrote:Installed back in place with a new piece of radiator hose to the filler neck - gotta get a new grommet for that<g>

You may want to go hit up the local hose supply house for some neoprene hose. Radiator hoses aren't made of neoprene & will rot faster as a result. They're ok for a temporary fix, but will only last a couple years.
Fuel line & other fuel related rubber is made of neoprene to withstand gas & oil. I should have mentioned that in my earlier post.

The tank cleaning dance would have been a sight to see!

six-two · Post by **six-two** » November 10, 2006, 10:54 pm

thank you, thank you very much.......

will report back when changes are made.

___________________________six two

six-two · Post by **six-two** » November 19, 2006, 9:24 pm

Just thought this was kind of crazy, toyota FJ-40's have the gas tank in the interior directly under the passengers seat.

SCARY!

Of course I guess it would double as an "ejection" seat in case of an accident.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » November 20, 2006, 12:03 pm

six-two wrote:Just thought this was kind of crazy, toyota FJ-40's have the gas tank in the interior directly under the passengers seat.

SCARY!

Of course I guess it would double as an "ejection" seat in case of an accident.

The early CJ Jeeps had that same style too. I remember my friend's '68 had one. I guess the thinking was that it would have been harder to rupture the tank on a rock that way.

six-two · Post by **six-two** » November 23, 2006, 11:25 am

Slick Fan,

Yeah that makes sense. A rock is more likely to take you out when you are on a jeep trail.

Supposedly a gallon of gas equals 14 sticks of dynamite so I guees if it blows, no matter what you are screwed.

A few years this guy I know filled the radiator of a car with gas and they "drove" it (well, a rock on the gas pedal) off a cliff. Everybody was there to film it, etc. and it did not blow up or anything. Nothing!!! I still can't believe these idiots tried this.

_______________________________six-two

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » November 23, 2006, 1:31 pm

Wow, I guess they figured out that it's not like in the movies.

In terms of energy content the two may be equivalent (I think it's a lot more than 14 though) but that doesn't mean you're sitting in front of a bomb. Remember that gasoline burns much more slowly. Otherwise it'd be completely useless in an internal combustion engine.

The greatest danger with gasoline is the volatile fumes catching fire and enveloping the occupant of the vehicle. Not a bs Hollywood explosion.

Gas tank safe?

Gas tank safe?

gas tank

yes, check the rubber hose from the tank to the frame

Re: yes, check the rubber hose from the tank to the frame

thanks

keepin it safe

Re: keepin it safe

blowin it up