Should I move the gas tank on my 69?

[Red69stepside]

Here's another noob question: How important is it to move the gas tank out from behind the seat, and where do guys usually put it?

I was hoping to put a spare tire underneath the bed, but there might not be room for both, especially with the H-pipe exhaust on it.

Anyone got any opinions?

PSHere's what the PO did inside:

[crazy longhorn]

Moving the tank is more a matter of individual prefference.....I for 1 do not like the thought of that fuel riding with me in the cab! My longhorn has a 16 gal fuel cell under the bed, but that does away with the spare tire spot. A lot of guys are running a blazer conversion tank under the bed(21 gal). http://www.classicheartbeat.com/cata...tank%20kit.htm crazyL

[Fred T]

A lot of these trucks ran for many years with the tank behind the bed. If yours is leaking or if you want the space or if you feel it's unsafe, then move it. Otherwise, just leave it there. In an accident, the tank in the cab is less likely to rupture than anywhere else. You just need to maintain it so it doesn't leak and create fumes in the cab.

One option could be to use the tank setup from a 73 & on, with the tank outside the frame rail under the bed. Yes, there was an occasional fire, but probably no more than with the tank at the rear. As everyone knows, NBC had to use explosives to get one to blow up in a staged wreck.

[stickshift_or_walk]

Originally Posted by Fred T

One option could be to use the tank setup from a 73 & on, with the tank outside the frame rail under the bed. Yes, there was an occasional fire, but probably no more than with the tank at the rear. As everyone knows, NBC had to use explosives to get one to blow up in a staged wreck.

Fred T - I've always wondered about this swap. Does anyone have details and pics? If it fits, I'd prefer it to the Blazer tank/no spare option, and we sure could use the room in the cab.

Thanks...SSOW

[75-K5]

A fuel cell in the bed would be my preference, but then you lose quite a bit of hauling space.

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Fred T

One option could be to use the tank setup from a 73 & on, with the tank outside the frame rail under the bed.

I'm pretty sure there no easy way to make that work. Did you ever notice the hump in the floor board under the seat of a 73-87 truck? The cab has raised areas there for the fuel tank to nestle up into.

The 67-72, with it's flat under seat floorboard, would not lend itself well to those big old fuel tanks under there.

[gr8scott51]

I have to say that the blazer tank conversion lokks pretty bad from the rear in my opinion - hangs too low. You could have a custom tank built (fuelcellguy), but I don't have a problem with the cab tank.

[jcueckert13]

what about a saddle tank set-up?

[Red69stepside]

So if I put the tank in the spare tire spot, where would the spare go?

I've seen some stepsides wher the spare is mounted over the step and in a kind of cutout of the rear fender. I know this wouldn't be "stock," but with the mods already on this truck, it's not going to look pure anyway.

Anyone know if there's a way to put the spare on the side of the box?

[gr8scott51]

The side mount is stock. See my avatar. Most folks don't like them, they block the side mirror line of vision a little. They also had the inside the bed side mount for fleetsides.

[Red69stepside]

Originally Posted by gr8scott51

The side mount is stock. See my avatar. Most folks don't like them, they block the side mirror line of vision a little.

Scott:

That's great. I think the side mount looks cool--probably a dim memory from seeing the originals back in the day. Unfortunalely, some PO lost the cutout fender, and re-did the bed so there's no mount.

I'm already prety sure I need bigger-than-stock side mirrors, so If I need to make em a little bigger or farther out than stock, I can live with that.

Would it be a major deal/expense to set this up again?

BTW, I checked out The FuelCellGuy's site and his mod sounds like it might work, if my h-pipe exhaust doesn't take up too much space below the bed.

Thanks

[krue]

If you have the drivers side fender without the cutout you should have no problem swapping it for one with the cutout and the spare tire mount, in fact it's worth more to most people because it is harder to get than the fender with the cutout.

[Red69stepside]

Any idea what the cutout fender would cost if aI wanted to keep the uncut fender?

[gr8scott51]

Don't know about the fender, but to buy the mount and braces, I paid $50. The PO butchered the one that was on the truck when I bought it, don't know why. I bought the mount from pickmup, maybe he still has the fender. Send him an IM or email.

[gr8scott51]

of course, I think most folks don't bother carrying a spare.

[RED71CHEVY]

you can use a flush mtd tool box that is only about 15" or so wide and as deep as your sides are in side the bed, then use a fuel cell on the bottom with the filler running to the stock location, use good rubber groments to seal it all up.
then put a shelf above the fuel cell and use the tool box for extra storage!

[Red69stepside]

Now THAT's a good idea. Have you done this yourself? Sounds like you have the details down cold.

Now all I need is the fender with the cutout for the spare tire! (Yeah, right, as IF that wa all I need ;-} )

Thanks for all the education. The guys on this board are amazing.

[jcueckert13]

could someone post a pic of the origional side mount hardware? i have one on my 70 gmc long step and i want to know if its origional

[Red69stepside]

BTW, someone who's been around told me today that the side-mounted spare is not too popular, and maybe comes off as "too farmer".

I dunno. is it just stock vs. custom? I like to tend towards the stock lines, but not religiously. And a slick, chrome-rimmed spare on a nice wheel can look real street.

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

[CPNE]

Farmer? . This farmer has OE buckets, tach and 402BB ... and in cab tank.

Safety or fumes is not a good reason to relocate your tank, as in cab is safer under most real-world accident situations and fumes is simple maintenance as FredT points out. There are many more beneficial "upgrades" IMO, especially if your budget is limited.

A better reason is to relocate is to gain additional cab space if you're overly tall or need stowage/speaker space.

[Red69stepside]

Hey, CPNE. Thanks for saying what I was thinking AND for giving me the visual proof that it's right!

Gotta ask for a couple of noob clarifications, though. Hope you can help
1. To "air" is human, stock height is "divine" --Are you saying the blue beauty in the pic has not been lowered? I keep trying to figure out why guys lower their trucks, cause I really like th look of the stock height.
2. Where can I get a couple of external mirrors like yours there? Are they chrome?
3. What are OE buckets, and 402BB?
4. Can you tell me some of the "many more beneficial upgrades" you've done?

Thanks for the help

[Tx Firefighter]

Originally Posted by Red69stepside

Hey, CPNE. Thanks for saying what I was thinking AND for giving me the visual proof that it's right!

Gotta ask for a couple of noob clarifications, though. Hope you can help
1. To "air" is human, stock height is "divine" --Are you saying the blue beauty in the pic has not been lowered? I keep trying to figure out why guys lower their trucks, cause I really like th look of the stock height.
2. Where can I get a couple of external mirrors like yours there? Are they chrome?
3. What are OE buckets, and 402BB?
4. Can you tell me some of the "many more beneficial upgrades" you've done?

Thanks for the help

That blue truck appears to be stock height or real real close to it. The "air" CPNE talks about is air bags. He used to go back and forth with other truck guys over their customization choices.

Those mirrors are stock 71-72 pieces.

OE buckets means the truck has "o"riginal "e"quipment bucket seats, hence the OE thing

The 402BB means it's a factory 402 big block engine.

That truck is unusual because step sides were usually more basic trucks that didn't often get buckets or big blocks engines.

[CPNE]

Originally Posted by Red69stepside

Hey, CPNE. Thanks for saying what I was thinking AND for giving me the visual proof that it's right!

Gotta ask for a couple of noob clarifications, though. Hope you can help
1. To "air" is human, stock height is "divine" --Are you saying the blue beauty in the pic has not been lowered? I keep trying to figure out why guys lower their trucks, cause I really like th look of the stock height.
2. Where can I get a couple of external mirrors like yours there? Are they chrome?
3. What are OE buckets, and 402BB?
4. Can you tell me some of the "many more beneficial upgrades" you've done?

Thanks for the help

Thanks. Your questions have mostly been answered, but I'll confirm.

1. Yes stock height. My signature is a jab at a few guys who actually thought I was serious about how "wrong" lowering a truck is. I agree with your opinion, but in reality I don't care what one chooses to do with their vehicle. To this day they still despise me
2. Check out any of the vendors at www.67-72chevytrucks.com. They are stock 70-72 mirrors. The truck pictured is a 71.
3. Already been explained.
4. This truck started out as a $500 fleetside rustbucket from Maine. It had 250/3 speed and only factory option as built was a wood floor bed. It now has the 402/4 speed, tach, buckets and console, stepside bed, PS, PDB, swaybar. All original equipment that could be optioned when new. As for upgrades any truck can benefit from the following:

HEI ignition
Front sway bar
Power steering
Power brakes

All easy and relatively cheap upgrades. This was a father-son project and our first. We had no other experience with these trucks or any vehicle prior to this. If I can do it, anybody can.

[dtlilly]

Hey, I found this for sale on the parts board. Maybe you can make a deal with him just for the fender. Glad to have you here

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=110371

[1969 GMC]

I can add a little more here...trucks with the blazer/burb tank will have a slightly better weight ratio front to rear. But, I never really have liked the idea of the gas tank being under the vehicle because it could easily get punctured offroading (been there, done that, will never go mudding in a cornfield again!). Also, around Ohio we have this thing called "rust". I know you Kalifornians have never heard of it, but it does bad things to classic vehicles. I know its not a big issue, but I would be leery of a gas tank rusting and leaking. At the garage where I work, one of the buses accidentally did not receive undercoating and the OE gas tank had to be replaced after 2 years due to rust through.

Oh, and as to your #3....they are classic gm truck slang. its ok, hang around here long enough and you will be fluent in this language. OE buckets are Original Equipment bucket seats, which means factory optioned buckets, which are sought-after by many people. 402BB means 402 big block, which was offered from 1970-1972 as an option in all 2wd trucks. Welcome to the board!