Looking for better fuel tank options

So I've got a problem.....17 gallons of gas isn't nearly enough. I've got two options I feel, and am trying to pick the road I go down. Its an '82 single cab short bed, 4x4 with no spare tire, and an aftermarket 17 gallon side tank.

A) put a 38 gallon rear tank on it and figure out how to plumb it using the existing fuel door
B) keep the side tank and add a 19 gallon rear tank for storage only. this would require figuring out how to transfer fuel efficiently in and out of rear tank, and preferably not burning up a xfer pump in the process.

Has anyone done something similar?

I haven't done anything like this, but have considered it.  And I think there might be another option - put a rear tank in, maybe the 38 gallon one, and put a filler in the inside of the bed rather than on the outside.  But that would obviously limit access to it when the bed was full, so might not be a good option if you haul frequently.

On the idea of using the front filler to get to a rear tank, you should be able to use marine filler hose.  But most of it that I've seen is rather inflexible so you'll need to shop around to find some that will take the bends.  And, you'll need to extend the vent that runs inside the filler hose.  But you may want to consider using the later style arrangement, which puts the fuel through the smaller hose in the center and the air up the outside.  That's supposed to allow you to fill faster, which can easily be a problem with the earlier tanks, and might be a serious problem with a much longer hose.

As for the transfer idea, I thought through that one and decided not to go that way as it got complex.

Gary Lewis wrote

  And I think there might be another option - put a rear tank in,

Food for thought?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1517456-1985-f250-38-gallon-rear-fuel-tank-project.html

I definitely agree that the fuel xfer idea seems the most complicated, I’m just drawn to it because I cAn use a 19 gallon rear tank and not have this huge monster hanging down underneath. So far in my researching I havent found a measurement of how far the 38 gallon hangs below the frame. I’d also really like to avoid cutting any part of the bed if possible, but I would definitely make things much easier!

So I just ordered the F26C 38 gallon tank, just to see what the measurements are and if I like it I'll keep it and go from there. One thing I couldn't get a concise answer on was what the difference between the different F26 tanks, A B C D.

-A & -B were for '70's trucks which have a different frame.
-D is for '85/'86 models with fuel injection (which have a larger bung)
-E appears to be for bricknose trucks like mine

I went on the Spectra website and looked up the applications after entering each part #.

Ahh, the frame difference makes sense. I've never looked at the 70's frame, so I figured they were different but hadn't looked in to it. Glad I picked up the right tank, and thanks for the info!

Keep us updated. I’m curious on what you think of the 38 gallon tank regarding fitment and gauge accuracy. I’m still trying to decide between the 38 gallon spectra (direct fit, but supposedly hard to get the gauge to read right and go-fish on a skid plate)... or a 33 gallon Bronco tank (no sender modification needed and skid plate available, but cross member modifications needed to mount it in a F series truck). Maybe a small hole 38 gallon spectra could use a Bronco sending unit?

Here's another source: https://www.fillernecksupply.com/1980-1981-1982-1983-1984-1985-1986-ford-f-series-stepside-outer-fuel-filler-hose-front-tank/

Did anything ever come of this?  I'm looking for more range on my single tank long box truck and don't want to add another fuel door nor run dual tanks.  I'm curious if they figured out a way to hook the filler neck to the stock location.

Dipstik86 wrote

Did anything ever come of this?  I'm looking for more range on my single tank long box truck and don't want to add another fuel door nor run dual tanks.  I'm curious if they figured out a way to hook the filler neck to the stock location.

I have a short wheel base flare side with the small 16 gallon fuel tank.  I honestly though about cutting the fuel tank in half on the front side and adding 3" of metal to extend the tank forward.  Based off my math it would take the tank from 16 gallons to nearly 25 gallons.  I havent done it yet as I havent bought the tank and I am wary of doing it as I am afraid that without the mounting straps being spread further apart the extra weight may be a problem.

I also was concerned with the extra weight of the extra fuel on one side may induce more of a lean to the truck that it wasnt designed for.

I thought about adding a rear tank in place of the spare that I dont use but no real good way to have it easily fillable without cutting into the fiberglass fender which I really dont want to do and I personally dont like the look of it even though it is cool to see.  I thought about for extending my range by building a trailer bed out of another flare side and put a fuel tank in it with a on board electric pump and a filler like the farm trucks have in the back of diesel trucks.  Only thing is youd need quite a bit of hose to reach from the back of the trailer to the middle of my truck.

I feel either way you go for enlarging the tank is going to be something that isnt easy and simple to do and will require some major changes.  Even if you go with a rear tank and have an electric pump to transfer fuel on the fly to the main saddle tank like I thought about doing it still requires a way to fill the tank and I just cant cut a high dollar wood bed I want to put in to pull a way to fill the fuel tank from the top.

I had an 86 sb 4x4 come in for a timing set and tune up. And they also had me replace the dry rotted fuel fillers. The rear was an “ after thought” tank and once i was done and they went to fill it up we found it leaked at the top. Anyway, the factory replacement is by far the best option and adding the fuel door from a salvaged truck is very do able but will add paint and body work to the job. Valve, switch and wiring also. Not to mention heater control panel if you want it “correct”

mat in tn wrote

I had an 86 sb 4x4 come in for a timing set and tune up. And they also had me replace the dry rotted fuel fillers. The rear was an “ after thought” tank and once i was done and they went to fill it up we found it leaked at the top. Anyway, the factory replacement is by far the best option and adding the fuel door from a salvaged truck is very do able but will add paint and body work to the job. Valve, switch and wiring also. Not to mention heater control panel if you want it “correct”

For me to stop using the troublesome diverter valve if I did install the rear tank as an auxiliary tank my plan was to have a simple toggle to activate a relay to turn on a in tank pump, high volume low pressure that would simply pump fuel from the auxiliary tank into primary saddle tank.  Draw back to this is you wouldnt really have a sender to know how much fuel is in the auxiliary since the diverter valve isnt being used.  It also doesnt stop having to have a way to fill the tank.

Well my daily ,” bubba” is a sb single mid tank and yes i have to fill up often. My second “ dolly” is a flare side with both tanks. Easily three times the range between fillups . Really appreciated. So i understand wanting that. How far to go towards doing it “right “ is really a personal choice. I would only do it as the factory would unless i were building an overlander where practical mods are just what you do to be self sufficient.  

Btw. Many trucks without a rear tank are also without the cross member which has the keyhole slots for the tank straps. That crossmember also has the brakehard line fitting/anchor point. Trucks without that cross member have a short( 4-5”) tab riveted to the driver side frame rail to hold the brake line anchor. If you chose to add that crossmember the tab is removed and hydraulics are switched over to the crossmember . These tank straps are over the topof the tank while hard corrugated braces go underneath to give a structure for the spare to be held against

mat in tn wrote

Well my daily ,” bubba” is a sb single mid tank and yes i have to fill up often. My second “ dolly” is a flare side with both tanks. Easily three times the range between fillups . Really appreciated. So i understand wanting that. How far to go towards doing it “right “ is really a personal choice. I would only do it as the factory would unless i were building an overlander where practical mods are just what you do to be self sufficient.

Yep it is a big reason why I decided to do my build with a holley sniper EFI system.  If I can just go from the 15 mpg highway I get to around 18 - 20 mpg that will increase my range from some 225 mile range to 270 - 300 mile range.  I will be doing mostly highway driving and once I move if I work the next town over that will be some 16 miles one way drive for me and working a 5 day work week would have me putting 160 miles on my truck a week.  If I was getting just 225 miles per tank that would leave me some 65 miles left of range roughly 4.3 gallons which means I would be filling my truck up once a week as I fill up at 1/4 tank and 4.3 gallons would be closer to 1/8 tank than 1/4 tank.  If I can get 20 mpg with the build that would give me a 300 mile range meaning at the end of one work week would leave me with a 140 mile range which would leave me with 7 gallons in my tank so I probably still will fill up every week but that 3 extra gallons means its less each fill up.

I have heard some people with tunes getting 24 - 26 mpg highway out of their engines with this holley system if it got me 25 mpg that would give me a 375 mile range which would be great but I will have to see it to believe it for my build.

That is why I personally have been thinking of ways to enlarge my tank so I wouldnt have to be filling up every week.  Right now I would fill up every 2 weeks on my truck just like I am doing on what I am driving daily now while I build my engine for my truck.  I also was reminded many new cars have small 14 - 16 gallon fuel tanks as it is and its only the trucks that end up with larger tanks.