saddlebag tanks

drewis · August 18, 2004

Does anyone know of a conversion for a 1986 k10 4x4 with saddlebag tanks? I would like to move it inside the frame preferably to the rear. Will the tank from a blazer work?

2500HD4X · August 19, 2004

Some of the 73-87 3/4 tons and up had rear mounted gas tanks(and the K5 Blazers had them too) you could probably convert one of these over to your truck without too much trouble if you are handy with a welder and such for the bracketry and find a good place to put the filler neck. I would think it would just be a matter of running the hoses longer and mounting it up there especially on a pre-FI truck. I have found all the stuff that goes on the center mounted gas tanks on these year models to be really expensive, I never replaced the sending unit on my 87 K5 because the center tank (31 gallon) stuff was rare and costly ..... Why are you going away from the saddlebags? I thought that 20/20 special on exploding saddle tanks was proven to be staged....Besides what would you do with your spare?

mbryson · August 24, 2004

..... Why are you going away from the saddlebags? I thought that 20/20 special on exploding saddle tanks was proven to be staged....Besides what would you do with your spare?

The whole controversy was created by 20/20 by their own admission. I spent 10 years in a body shop in the early part of my career, and I've never noticed a significant number of 'burn' '73-'87 Chev/GMC trucks. Pinto's, yes, poorly installed stereo systems in '82-'92 F-cars, yes, but nothing more significant than that.

That said, Blazer and Suburban tanks could mount up fairly easily (as most GM things swap nicely), but I've never done it. I'd get a donor Sub or K5 and go from there if you're committed to the project.

c502cid · September 23, 2004

I'd measure the frame width before you buy anything. If they are the same then just get everything from a Blazer, everything including hangers, straps, filler tubes, etc. It still won't be a bolt in, but you'll be on your way.