Thread: petrol tank construction

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hello club hotrod im about to start construction of a petrol tank for my 38 chevy pu.its going behind the axle under the bed.making it out of stainless steel size approx 30 inches wide 22 inches long tapering from 4-9 inches deep.im looking for tips on its construction .what safety issues are there ,eg how close can i run the exhaust.if you have photos detailing your tank build that would be great thanx nunattax

baffles.

that is all.
Drew

Baffles or fuel cell foam blocks from speedway.

Place the pickup in the deep end.
OEM type straps are bulletproof.

i intend using baffles i am more concerned with the design and how to mount it thanx

Remember that gasoline weighs 6-7 lbs per gallon and with a 15-16 gal tank you will have close to 100 lbs to support. I had one made out of aluminum 1/8" thick and welded seams.

I keep about 4" minmum from the exhaust. I like to have a solid crossmember behind the tank with no protrusions going forward. Just plain ol 20 ga steel is my prefered material as it is easily repairable. Think solder the hole not weld it. The tank should be cradled not hung from side brackets. A drain is not a bad idea. Use a flush fit plug not an extended one. The fuel draw and filler must be on top of the tank. keep square corners and flat surfaces to a minimum to prevent flexing of the tank.

You have already heard about baffles and where to put the pick up. Now, as far as the tailpipe, as long as you leave a couple of inches plus have constant and clear air flow you should be just fine. Take a look at a photo of most '32 Fords and you will see that a rear running exhaust is fairly close to the tank.

This is my '32 tank hung off of the back of my '31 roadster - about 2" of clearance:

thanx IC2 GOOD PICTURE i am going to go over the axle cause i am using c3 corvette irs and there is a lot going on below the axle.i will keep the tank in the middle with the pipes either side.im allowing 3 inches side clearance and using heat wrap on the closest bit of exhaust to the tank.