How big is your gas tank on your hot rod?

chimp koose · May 03, 2018, 12:33:05 PM

How many gallons U.S. is your fuel tank in your hot rod ? If you had a chance to make it larger , would you ? I am asking because as I sit here staring at mine and wondering what to do , I think I can make a pair of 8.4 gallon U.S. saddle tanks that can be removed without taking the car apart . If I go any larger I would probably have to remove the running board apron , a wheel and a fender in order to work on a tank . I am hoping to make this car a regular use vehicle with longer trips in its future . Is 16.8 U.S or 14 Imperial gallons enough ? Small block 10:1 ,.474" solid , Eddy performer w/Qjet , patriot 187cc heads , headers , 2 1/2" exhaust ,T350, 3.98:1 8" locker , 285/70/15 rear tire (31" ) . Eventually I would like to do aftermarket TBI and 700R4 .

idrivejunk · May 03, 2018, 01:43:35 PM

In American passenger cars last half century or more, around 15 gallons. Everything will go 250 miles but few will go 400, on a tank. Your mileage may vary.

I don't have any idea about prewar cars.

Carnut · May 03, 2018, 02:45:02 PM

I ran a 20 gal US 62 Chevy tank in my Model A Coupe.

WZ JUNK · May 03, 2018, 05:03:47 PM

I have the 24.5 gallon Chevrolet Caprice tank in my 54 Chevy. Since the 54 with TBI gets more than 22 MPG, that gives me over 500 miles on a tank of gas. I built the car to be used for long distance trips.

I cut and removed the trunk floor from the Caprice and I welded that piece into the 54 chevy trunk floor. The tank mounts just like it did in the Caprice. I made the Caprice tank into a side fill so I could use the stock 54 gas filler door.

John

kb426 · May 03, 2018, 05:36:08 PM

The 32 has 16 gallon, the 51 has 15 gallon. Both have efi and a 5 speed and regularly make 20 mpg or better. I usually stop in between 200 and 250 miles. I would like a longer range but both trucks have space problems that I was't willing to compromise on. What I need is about 8 more mpg.

Probably not going to happen. With more modern drivetrain choices, there's no reason to not have hot rods above 25 mpg. C.K., hiding the tanks is what I perceive to be the problem.

UGLY OLDS · May 03, 2018, 07:51:27 PM

The Ugly Olds has the stock 17 Gallon tank...With a 3:42 axle & 0.76 OD with the convertor locked, the car has WAY more range than my bladder .... :oops: :oops:

I have gotten 18++ MPG in the past ....

The A is going to be geared lower , still using a 700R4 , it will get a 20 gallon tank...( Already in stock from another project ....IE--FREE)....

Bob...

Beck · May 03, 2018, 11:38:21 PM

I've never driven a hot rod as my daily driver. I have never had an issue with tank size. As others have said, the fuel tank is rarely my limiting factor on cross country drives.
On my daily driver I do like larger tanks. It allows me to fill up when I find cheap fuel and go for a while.

My daily is diesel. The variance of diesel prices is crazy. It changes as much as 30 cents a gal. in 3 blocks.

chimp koose · May 04, 2018, 02:10:24 AM

I think I may be able to get bigger with the tanks and remove them with only having to remove the rear tires . I am being a bit of a squirrel lately on the t jumping from one thing to another . I think I need a project I can finish quickly to get this thing rolling again . I jumped over and made a louver press for doing a stock size model T louver 10 1/4" long after seeing the pt cruiser thread . if I make the slit in the steel first , this press should do the rest . we have our yearly car show at the school in 3 weeks and I am looking for something I can accomplish before then .

butch27 · May 07, 2018, 03:32:51 PM

9 gal in the bucket and I don't want to drive any farther than that without a break.

rumrumm · May 08, 2018, 12:10:59 PM

I have a 16 gallon tank from Tanks, Inc. in my '32.

http://www.yogisinc.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=11666/category_id=-1/mode=prod/prd11666.htm

416Ford · May 10, 2018, 07:55:50 AM

I have a 17 gallon tank in mine and my leg gets sore before I need gas. I don't have the OD like most have and I get 14 miles to the gallon IF I keep my foot out of it.
I am wondering why you would need to worry about removing the tank? Safety and design would be my concerns. If it look good and keeps the weight distribution centered I would let that be the concern. I have only taken the tank back out of mine once and that was to fix one of my errors during the build :oops:

Just my .02
Dave

chimp koose · May 10, 2018, 04:33:50 PM

From a safety standpoint the saddle tank idea has merit over a trunk mounted tank . Its not riding in the car with me . The fuel tanks will be lower than the floor of the car and out side . I have made some running boards that have metal bracing equivalent to two 1x3's in them , mounted to running board mounts that are part of the K member of the frame . The body hangs over the frame enough to all but cover the tanks from above . I want to make the tanks removable without having to take a fender and apron off because I like designing something that is readily serviced . I may decide to change pumps and go to EFI and an overdrive in the future . As it is I am pretty sure I can make a set of tanks with a capacity over 16 gallons which is up there with what most of you seem to be using . Where I am from there are sections of highway that do not have a gas station open past 8 PM for as far as an hours drive .

UGLY OLDS · May 10, 2018, 06:47:53 PM

I think that I understand the direction you are going .....

Remember ....The common "Tanks" setup that you see for Model A's need :

A....To be filled from each side & require a "tank selector" valve and CANNOT be retro fitted to any EFI system....

B.... Take up ALL the room under the splash aprons....

C... Can sometimes be seen from under the front fender .....

D... Only hold about 7 gallons per side .....

I too had to make all these decisions when determining the tank placement on my "A".....

Here is a handy-dandy tank "figurer-outer thingie" I found ........

www.easycalculation.com/physics/classical-physics/rectangular-tank.php

Bob..

enjenjo · May 10, 2018, 08:36:51 PM

QuoteHere is a handy-dandy tank "figurer-outer thingie" I found ........

You mean you didn't remember from high school?

.

chimp koose · May 10, 2018, 09:33:07 PM

my t has a stock width frame 23" to outsides , MUCH narrower than the A frame. There is 11 1/2 " between the running boards and the vertical mounts for the running boards. The running boards are about 43" long . I have 9" from the running board mounts to the top of the frame . I can get 7 gallons with the tank ending at the front running board mount . I think 9x7x27" or so . If I put in a kickout I can get near 16 gallons for the two tanks .I have to make a cardboard mock up to see about easy removal first . There must be a way to go EFI with dual tanks , the EFI trucks come with them now don't they ? I was thinking I could try to use those pop up filler caps they use on motorcycles to sort of hide the filler caps if I use a sealed cap with a separate vent in the filler neck.