1994 Ranger gas tank availability?

[Mike1968oh]

Hello everyone! I was a member a long time ago but haven't logged in for quite a while and couldn't remember my username or password so now I have new ones.

My issue is that I need to replace the gas tank on my 94 Ranger reg. cab short bed. I accidently drilled a hole in it while trying to rig a strap since the factory strap rusted and broke off. The repair kit that's supposedly made for plastic gas tanks that I bought at my local NAPA store didn't work. I don't want to buy one out of a junkyard because they're plastic and you can't have them boiled out to clean the inside like you can steel tanks. I also don't want to spend a bunch of money at a dealer since the truck will be getting a 302 swap and also a fuel cell. I can't use the fuel cell until I do the swap since it wouldn't be compatible with the stock fuel pump. I've searched all the usual online sources, including LMC Truck, as well as my local auto parts stores with no luck, they all seem to stop after 1988 then pick up again about 1996. Do any of you know where I can find a tank to get me through until I tear the lil fella down for his engine swap?

 

[RonD]

I remember someone else looking for similar years and couldn't find anything.
I think they pulled the tank and used a Plastic Welder, you can rent them

 

[chvlfrk]

>>>>

Wherebouts are you located?

I've cut up 3 of them over the years, ain't worth nothing since they are plastic.

Shouldn't be hard to find one in a boneyard in your area, just will need to be cleaned/flushed out from sittin there for however long.

 

[tomw]

A plastic tank does not need to be 'boiled' as much as metal tanks. There's no corrosion, no rust, nothing more than sediment which will generally not stick to the internal surfaces. A good blast with soapy water, a hose, a nozzle, and inverted and shaken to drain. Let it sit in the sunlight until good and hot, and then take a look inside. They just don't corrode, and should wash up fine.
If you have no faith, get a Y-fitting, and put another 'sock and pickup' on so you have two inlets and twice the area to get plugged with 'stuff'.
Hot-air welding also works, and you could even try hot glue after preparing the surface to make it adhere. There's not a lot of pressure, so it might work, but I think I'd go boneyard if possible.
The reason there's no aftermarket, such as LMK, is there's no demand. Now you know why. They don't rust, they just hold fuel. Yours would have lasted had you not punctured it, I suspect.
tom

 

[Mark_88]

Unfortunately, junkyards are required to drain and cut them open so they don't explode...in Canada anyways...we've already had our fireworks display though...

In some cases you can buy an entire donor truck for what it costs to buy a single part new and have it installed...my first tank was purchased and installed for about $400...after that I was able to do it myself without blowing too many things up...like me...just keep the sending unit installed and plug up the fuel line asap once you remove the tank from the hanging straps...

 

[4EyedTurd]

If you look on YouTube enough you'll find plenty of videos of people fixing plastic tanks. I had one that was split from the junkyard so I went to town with a large flat soldering iron and some left over oil quart jug as filler.