Difference between gas tanks?
#2743308
02/15/20 08:07 PM
02/15/20 08:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,222 ILLINOIS
volaredon
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,222
ILLINOIS
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My kid has an 80, D100 stepside. /6, A833OD. Pretty clean, he (overpaid) via EPay out of Mississippi. but one issue with it, is that its gas tank has a split in it, the PO put some kind of tar like goo on it to "get it down the road". The problem showed up just before the kid parked it for the Illinois road salt season, he started seeing a "drip" on the driveway. Anyways we have been looking for a gas tank for it since. this one has the longways tank, between frame and driveshaft. The only tank I have found within a sorta reasonable distance, from a 72-80 has been modified, someone modified it and put an aftermarket float/sender into it so I passed. Ive been able to find a few for (as the interchange at the junkyard says) '81-87 D/W series.
2 different optional capacities aside (in the 81+ trucks), a 20 and a 30 gallon, what is the difference between the "correct" tank for the '80 vs the '81-up? Is (are) the difference(s) enough to keep me from putting the '81-87 tank into the '80 frame? Filler neck location within tank, ohm differences in sender throwing the factory gauge off, shape/size of the straps,etc? If there was an ohm difference in the sender, would the original sender from the '80 fit right, in the newer tank?
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Re: Difference between gas tanks?
[Re: rbkt65]
#2743435
02/16/20 08:06 AM
02/16/20 08:06 AM
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RWG75
Unregistered
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RWG75
Unregistered
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The in frame tanks came in (2) sizes - 18 gal and 20 gal. If you're looking at a 30 gal it's gotta be the aux rear tank. The difference between the 18 and 20 is the shape of the nose. The 20 is square and the 18 has a big recess to clear the transfer case. With a short bed regular cab 4wd there is no way a square nose 20 gal will fit. My short bed reg cab 2wd LRE also has the 18 gal tank and I don't know that it has to have it. I will say that if the square nose fits it would be real tight against the cab floor.
The biggest difference with the early 80s tanks is the dome for the vent and roll over valve. Pretty sure the fuel fill is in the same spot vs 80/down. IF they're taller / wider to sneak a couple more gallons in, it can't be by much because there really isn't that much room under the bed / next to the drive shaft. It seems pretty unlikely that Chrysler would change the straps but can't say I ever really looked.
The easy way to crack a tank is to have it crooked when you're snugging up the straps. If you get the front wedged under the top flange of the frame rail, it will split somewhere when you tighten down the straps. You can melt a split shut with a soldering iron as a short term fix but the plastic is stupid thin in spots and the crack will often come back. It's very often worth the effort to take the bed off and swap the tank from the top. Part of that is the clearance between the tank, the axle and the xfer case. Part of that is about getting to the nuts where the straps attach to the frame cross member, especially the front one. Another option is cut the strap right where the threaded part begins, drill a hole in the strap and use a generic tank J bolt.
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Re: Difference between gas tanks?
[Re: ]
#2743474
02/16/20 10:15 AM
02/16/20 10:15 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,808 Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
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Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,808
Between Houston & Galveston TX
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Excellent response RWG75 ! While I no longer own one of these trucks, I just learned something from your post.
John
The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
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Re: Difference between gas tanks?
[Re: SattyNoCar]
#2743487
02/16/20 10:41 AM
02/16/20 10:41 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494 Western Colorado High Desert
moparmarks
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,494
Western Colorado High Desert
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72-80 long beds could have a 28 gal saddle tank. I have a few trucks with them. I don't think they will fit a short bed. Another option is the Ramcharger 36 gal rear tank.
Last edited by moparmarks; 02/16/20 06:18 PM.
72 Satellite Sebring Plus 440, 72 Dart 5.9 4-spd, 68 Valiant, 73 W200, 78 D100 sb, 78 D200, 98 DAKOTA, . Moparmarks Parts & Restorations Desert Mopar Metal Grand Jct. CO 970-261-7039 http://moparmark.com/motormangj@gmail.com
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Re: Difference between gas tanks?
[Re: stumpy]
#2785106
06/13/20 07:28 PM
06/13/20 07:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,222 ILLINOIS
volaredon
OP
top fuel
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OP
top fuel
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,222
ILLINOIS
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Have you checked around to see if there is shop that can plastic weld it. instead of trying to install the 84 tank I found him (81-87 seem pretty plentiful) he insists "it won't work" and has had the original tank in 3x for plastic welding attempts and it still leaks.... 1st 2 times as soon as he put 5 gallons of gas in, 3rd time he thought all was good for like a week.... I have done plastic welding (no, Im not the one who tried to fix his tank) and it's tough to master and different for various types of plastic. as an update I had to go to a funeral in Cape Girardeau MO a few days ago. Stayed down there a few days and checked every yard I could find heading east across extreme southern IL and into Paducah... not a dam Chevy so not a one to be found.....
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