Gas tank swap?

[Speedwagon]

'87 Ranger standard cab, long bed, 4x4 2.3L... the gas tank hangs down below the frame rails, which is not so good since I've banged it on some rocks because of this. Do the B2 tanks go in the back, between the frame rails? And if so, would it swap into the same space on my ranger? Assuming it will, which fuel pump setup would I need to use, or are they the same?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the BII tank will hang down considerably as well. the floor of the BII is higher than the frame rails, so the tank is higher between the frame rails than it would be installed in a ranger. plus theres the matter of fabbing up a filler neck.

if you could find the rear tank from a dual tank ranger you would gain quite a bit of ground clearence...but i dont know what the capacity of those tanks are.

why not just fab up an in-tank fuel cell or a skid plate for the factory tank?

 

[Speedwagon]

the BII tank will hang down considerably as well. the floor of the BII is higher than the frame rails, so the tank is higher between the frame rails than it would be installed in a ranger. plus theres the matter of fabbing up a filler neck.

if you could find the rear tank from a dual tank ranger you would gain quite a bit of ground clearence...but i dont know what the capacity of those tanks are.

why not just fab up an in-tank fuel cell or a skid plate for the factory tank?

Well, having it hang down between the bumper and rear axle is less of a problem, because I usually smack the bumper rather than the frame in that area. I'll have to look into the rear tank for a ranger though, wasn't aware that the dual tank was available in this style ranger. Capacity isn't a big issue either, as I can carry a jerry can in the bed. And I've thought about doing a fuel cell in the bed, but I don't necessarily want to give up that much bed space, when I have all that room between the frame rails going unused.

As for a skid plate... that'd be great, but it would still hang down quite a bit, in an area that I frequently get close to rocks because of the wheelbase on the truck. And I don't have mad fabbing skills yet either.

 

[metalmacguyver]

Another option that has been floating around in my head is to build a tank out of 1/8 with lots of baffling inside to support the tank when the wieght of the truck is on it. Also a 1/4" or 3/16" bottom would be a good idea too.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

then youd just end up high centered on it with both axles spinning...doesnt sound very helpful to me

 

[metalmacguyver]

Yeah but you could spin those tires all day long cause you wouldnt have to worry about loosing any fuel!



I havent actually high centered on my gas tank yet. Typically if it high centers it is just forward of the gas tank on the frame rails (which the gas tank happens to be close to even with.)


Speedwagon, The gas tank is pretty much flush with the frame rails until the frame rails bend upwards to clear the rear axle. As such only the back half of the tank hangs below. It is more protected because its closer to the axle.

Have most of the hits been on the skidplate? If so I would not be too concerned for the time being. How hard do you wheel?

 

[Speedwagon]

Have most of the hits been on the skidplate? If so I would not be too concerned for the time being. How hard do you wheel?

There's no skidplate. I wish there was, but it's just the tank hanging down there.

And I wheel it about as hard as I think it can take(and however far I think my abilities can take me, since I'm still new to it). Toughest I've been on is a www.traildamage.com rating of 7, and I made it through ok. Worst case was hitting a rock and twisting the rear driveshaft. But as I do it more, I'm obviously going to wheel harder. Still need to lift it more and whatnot though.