Fuel Tank relocation

[BruceTS]

http://img41.imagevenue.com/loc614/th_03003_DSC07556_122_614lo.jpg (http://img41.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=03003_DSC07556_122_614lo.jpg) http://img210.imagevenue.com/loc389/th_03054_DSC07557_122_389lo.jpg (http://img210.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=03054_DSC07557_122_389lo.jpg) http://img11.imagevenue.com/loc1017/th_03107_DSC07558_122_1017lo.jpg (http://img11.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=03107_DSC07558_122_1017lo.jpg) http://img244.imagevenue.com/loc114/th_03168_DSC07559_122_114lo.jpg (http://img244.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=03168_DSC07559_122_114lo.jpg)

Finally got around to relocating my fuel tank.... I decided to go with a Ford F150 rear tank that has been used by many member of pirate4x4.... http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=484247

[Seanz0rz]

very nice! are you going to armor it?

[neliconcept]

22 gallons? hmmmm that might just help out with some longer distances.

a total of 80 miles maybe but still 80 miles.

[NakSuKow]

Is it 22 or 15?

[BruceTS]

The tank is only 18 gallons like the factory. JC Whitney sells a 38 gallon extended tank that is only 5" deeper... I may eventually get one of those for expedition type trips.

I do plan to build a skid plate, but I want to make sure there's no issues first. This will free up the space to go flat belly now.. 3" more of breakover clearance.

[Seanz0rz]

very nice bruce!!! im throughly impressed! makes me want to do it now!

[neliconcept]

is it a junkyard tank or new tank from a company?

[YotaFun]

I have been considering this as well.
I must read read read now :D

Sweet work Bruce!

[Ric]

Ive heard the Isuzu tanks fit also, but i dont know how many gallons they are.. whats the gallon size ?

[Ric]

waiting for the write-up, :tongueout:

[Nick]

Forgive my ignorance, please. I want to do the same thing, oh yes, more then you wager. When I have the work experience, it would be great to fit a tank that allows for long-range travel.

But one question - this doesn't introduce a Crown Victoria scenario when hit from behind, does it? I believe they burst into flames because of some bolts flying loose and contacting the tank, causing sparks or something similar. What about this set-up? I know Jeeps (YJ/TJ anyway) have the tank in the rear right behind the bumper, too.

PS. what I meant to say is that the Jeeps don't blow up :rofl:

[BruceTS]

The tank is from a 95 Ford F150 from a salvage yard...

As for safety issues, anytime a tank is behind the rear wheels, there is a chance that it can rupture in a rearend accident. To reduce this possibility, I'll be adding a skid plate. In my case most passenger car will simply go underneath my bumper since it's so high up, avoiding a direct impact with the tank. Now if a larger vehicle hits me, then the crumple zone comes into effect folding the back section of the frame, so I doubt the tank will rupture even then. It would take quite an impact for the tank to get damaged, considering the bumper is the first line of protection, besides how many Ford F-150's have you heard about bursting into flames from a rear impact?

[BruceTS]

Here's the new harness, I still may need to drop the tank to adjust the float, when I do I'll get a shot of the modified sending unit.
http://img213.imagevenue.com/loc196/th_67436_DSC07578_122_196lo.jpg (http://img213.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=67436_DSC07578_122_196lo.jpg)

I cut the hardline going to the old tank, then attached some fuel 5/16" injection hose to extend the new tank. I used 1/4" hoses for the return and emissions....
http://img18.imagevenue.com/loc1168/th_67446_DSC07579_122_1168lo.jpg (http://img18.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=67446_DSC07579_122_1168lo.jpg)

Got some 2" to fabricate the fuel filler tube.
http://img182.imagevenue.com/loc26/th_67462_DSC07582_122_26lo.jpg (http://img182.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=67462_DSC07582_122_26lo.jpg)


Now that I don't have the factory tank, it frees up the underside. Time to remove the crossmembers, clock the T-case and go flat belly......
http://img103.imagevenue.com/loc967/th_67477_DSC07584_122_967lo.jpg (http://img103.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=67477_DSC07584_122_967lo.jpg)

[YotaFun]

Oh so sweet!
I think there was someone on TTORA selling the adapter to clock the case (could be wrong)

Why is it that the tank on the 4Runners hand so much lower then the tacos?
I really should start looking for a tank to do this mod.

[04 Rocko Taco]

Will the stock tank not fit between the frame tails back there? I think it will on a first gen.

[neliconcept]

too narrow and tall i think, so it would still hang down a bit.

[Ric]

When I get ready fo this, Ill want to find a tank that holds a little more than the stock 14G. Ive always thought about going with something custom, strong enough to rest the vehicle weigh on a rock, when I looked into it, the build would be about $500, but remember, I have NO skills, and no equipment.
This looks like it would cost a lot less :thumbup:

[YotaFun]

When I get ready fo this, Ill want to find a tank that holds a little more than the stock 14G. Ive always thought about going with something custom, strong enough to rest the vehicle weigh on a rock, when I looked into it, the build would be about $500, but remember, I have NO skills, and no equipment.
This looks like it would cost a lot less :thumbup:


Your stock tank is 14 Gallons?

[neliconcept]

When I get ready fo this, Ill want to find a tank that holds a little more than the stock 14G. Ive always thought about going with something custom, strong enough to rest the vehicle weigh on a rock, when I looked into it, the build would be about $500, but remember, I have NO skills, and no equipment.
This looks like it would cost a lot less :thumbup:


Your stock tank is 14 Gallons?



it does now

[YotaFun]

Ill want to find a tank that holds a little more than the stock 14G.

Your stock tank is 14 Gallons?

it does now


I sense a story about a dented gas tank? LOL!
I was just looking at mine, and man things do hang very low under our Runners!

[BruceTS]

I think there was someone on TTORA selling the adapter to clock the case (could be wrong)


I already have a Budbuilt clocking ring, was just waiting to do the tank mod before clocking. Now that Marlin sells adapter plates that are clocked, I might go a different route.



Will the stock tank not fit between the frame tails back there?

The tank ia a reall weird shape, being very long an skinny, with one section quite deep, there is no way to fit it in the back...

[97kurt]

Looks good Bruce, were there any other potential donor candidates for the tank? Also any issues with the fuel pump and that tank?

[BruceTS]

Looks good Bruce, were there any other potential donor candidates for the tank? Also any issues with the fuel pump and that tank?


Any Ford F-series with dual tanks that is EFI will work....no issues with the Ford pumps .....

[Ric]

any new updates on this ? IM tired of my so called "high clearance" tank, lol

[20005spd]

im with you ric. my biggest concern is keeping the fuel guage working, wiring, and how complicated all the hoses will be. i can see myself occasionally hitting the f150 tank where bruce put it. i was thinkn about cutting the floor in the back over the rear axle, putting in the f150 tank, or something else that works, and welding it in with the floor above all the stock crossmembers, or even cutting those crossmembers out and making new ones out of the way. that way the tank is half in the truck half out, no skid required.

[4x4mike]

But then you've got a big hole in the floor and reduced storage space in the vehicle. I think that if you brace and skid the F150 tank you should be good. You'd have to determine if the cost, weight and fab time is worth the mod though.

[20005spd]

:lol: im not going to leave a hole in the floor.

[troyboy162]

bruce you dont have a body lift right?. i looked under my truck tonight. thers a few tin sopports built into the body for the cargo area...did you cut those out to mount higher?

[97kurt]

I believe Bruce does have a body lift so I'm not sure if he had to trim out those supports. I did some measuring a while back and I am pretty sure I would have to do a lot of trimming to keep the tank from hanging to low.

But... Scott from Addicted offroad just did a SAS on his truck and is running this same tank with no body lift and it looks fine from what I can see.

[MaK92-4Rnr]

Damn I would love to do this. How hard was it? basically just wiring and fabricating brackets ?

[YotaFun]

And running new fuel lines and relocating the fill tube.

[Crinale]

looking at the different threads about this, it appears rerouting the fill tube is the most difficult part, as there is no good place to put it..

[Scuba]

bruce you dont have a body lift right?. i looked under my truck tonight. thers a few tin sopports built into the body for the cargo area...did you cut those out to mount higher?


Still wondering why we haven't done this to your truck yet...

[troyboy162]

bruce you dont have a body lift right?. i looked under my truck tonight. thers a few tin sopports built into the body for the cargo area...did you cut those out to mount higher?


Still wondering why we haven't done this to your truck yet...

time and tools...i need a welder and i need a couple weekends. i actually have come to hate working on the truck because those are down days from wheeling

[Scuba]

Well. I guess thats a good excuse.

[Seanz0rz]

afaik, bruce has a 1.5" body lift.

[ScottyC]

Here is mine. Its from a 94' F-150 4x4. My 4runner is a 2000 so the fuel gauge still doesn't work, but I run it off of my Scan Gauge II and its been pretty accurate. To be honest, its probably more accurate than the stupid gauges on these 4runners anyway.

It hangs about an inch below the frame rails. I did cut out the spare tire crossmember to make room. It works great. I have landed on it HARD when wheeling with no issues. I also run a Gen II Supercharger on mine and the F-150 pump is a 190gph pump. So, it works great. I should be able to add a URD 7th injector without modifying the pump at all.

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/files/Scotty/20100628175147_009.JPG

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/files/Scotty/20100711061048_002.JPG

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/files/Scotty/20100711061108_003.JPG

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/files/Scotty/20100711061200_005.JPG

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/files/Scotty/20100726110827_007.JPG

http://www.toyotaholics.com/support/files/Scotty/20100712210245_006.JPG

[troyboy162]

any pictures of the actual brackets that hold the tank to the frame? im starting a game plan but want to keep the tank as high as possible. i understand the basics of it with some sort of tube spanning the frame rails and then flat bar formed as a cradle, but hope you have more info?

[ScottyC]

any pictures of the actual brackets that hold the tank to the frame? im starting a game plan but want to keep the tank as high as possible. i understand the basics of it with some sort of tube spanning the frame rails and then flat bar formed as a cradle, but hope you have more info?


I just used the old towing hitch brackets that I cut off. I turned them around and flopped sides. FWIW, its not possible to get it any higher than mine without a body lift as mine already rides on the body a little anyway.

[troyboy162]

im having a hard time visualizing that. where does the metal straps on top of the tank attach to?

[ScottyC]

im having a hard time visualizing that. where does the metal straps on top of the tank attach to?


The skid. The tank isn't strapped to the body. I strapped it to the skid so I can drop it easily if needed by undoing one hose clamp and four bolts.

[troyboy162]

thanks for the reply. i found another good set up with pictures
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249316