Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

I have a '74 C20 LWB with stock dual side tanks. It's really hard filling with gas without leaking on side of bed. Even when I'm really careful when full it will puck out a gulp all over the bed side... )-;
Anybody have this problem? Cures? It drives me nuts and it's a 454 so I'm putting in gas FREQUENTLY!! 9 miles to the gallon....

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

Are you cranking the nozzle handle around up near the 2 o’clock position or keeping it straight on?
I’ve always cranked them.
Had no spills at all.
Try it.

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

In OK we don't have any vapor collection stuff on the gas nozzles so your results may vary.

Getting the truck nose down on a slope helps a lot. Doesn't have to be a steep slope. A few degrees helps.

Listen for the pitch/sound change that happens a few seconds before it is full. If your gauges are consistent, you should have a decent idea of how much gas each tank will need and be close when it should be nearing full. You have to be fast on the click off as that pipe/hose fills fast.

With the nose down a bit, I can often get a gallon or more of gas into the tank after the first click off if I slow fill it.

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

I've tried every angle. If I hold it in at about 1:00 or 2:00 and get just the right angle it works "ok" but without warning (or sound) when full it spits out a gulp. Maybe it's a CAlifornia nozzle thing....?!

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

Does it still have the baffle in it?

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

My 73 was at 12 o'clock and pull the boot back.

Ended up with a newer tank with a bigger fill neck and the filler in the bed floor

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

I'm thinking bed floor too if I can't figure it out. I'm going to repaint her someday and I don't want gas stains on new paint

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

Is there a baffle in the filler tube? '74? If so-would taking it out help?

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

I can’t recall for sure.
I was thinking you could look.
See what you got.
There are check valves made which might help.

https://www.fillernecksupply.com/blo...n-pump-nozzle/

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

I don't know if 74 had a vent or not. It's either not working or it didn't come with one. My 76's have vents and can fill the tank fast

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

I have the same problem as you with both the tanks in my 74. The CA nozzles don’t help.

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

My 75 would dump about half of it onto the ground at the gas station. Made me nervous as hell. I could never get it to work. They make a nozzle adapter I have seen but I cant seem to find it online right now.

I am switching to a Blazer tank and a newer style filler tube mounted on the bed floor. Hopefully that solve my problem.

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

It happens every so often to me on my '74 but only if I don't catch it in time before the auto shutoff in the nozzle kicks out. I usually have to listen closely by the fill neck while filling to hear if its getting close to full and then slow the nozzle flow down or just fill at a slower rate.

Re: Hard to fill '74 side tank
 

The key is to take your time, especially with California-compliant gas nozzles. It helped when I switched to a Blazer tank, too, Like yourself, filling up a square with a 454 is time consuming.