Super Duty fuel tank?

[redpitbull44]

I've been looking for a 38 gallon fuel tank for a 1999-04 RCLB Super Duty (250 or 350). None of the big name parts stores show them online (Napa, Car Quest, Advance, O'Reilly, AZ, Rock Auto, JBG, Google shopping). I don't even know IF I want one yet. I wanna look at it and test fit it first. I'd like to look at/ test fit a short bed ~26 gallon tank too. Anybody know a good source? Ford only part? Wanna lay under your truck and take some pictures for me? Thanks in advance.

[gavan]

It will not fit in your new Excursion. You would have to slice up the floor.

[cyclegrip]

I saw in a magazine a little bit ago some company makes like 50+ gal tanks to sit in place of your stock one. That is all

Sent from my go go gadget phone

[gavan]

Couple random aftermarket companies have made midships tanks for EXs through the years, but they are hard to find because the EX has been out of production of 7 years. Superduty tanks are plastic, but Ford E-350 tanks are metal, fit between the frame and the driveshaft, and are made to go under a flat floor. I would look there first.

[redpitbull44]

Good info. I had thought about the van tanks. I actually would prefer a plastic tank over steel. I would really like to increase my fuel capacity to 100 gal. There is still one company making aftermarket midship tanks. I can't remember who, but I'll find it eventually. My thought was to reroute the exhaust to outside the passenger frame rail and installing tanks on either side of the drive shaft. Custom fab'd aluminum isn't outside the realm of possibility. There is room for what would be two 28 gal tanks there. I am a long way from most of my mods, but this idea is on the list. I have to start working again first. It was sheer luck that brought this to me. That and a 98 Expedition I had for trade.

[dieselboy740]

Wait.... I see nothing about a excursion in the first post. Iirc you can put a excursion tank in a superduty though.

The second post is confusing the hell out of me.

[jeep937]

My '99 RCLB has a 38 gal.. Sucks to fill..

[FbOmRxD]

Long bed tank won't fit in the short bed. There are abunch of companies that make big tanks, but hey all cost like a grand or more.

But the 44 gallon excursion tank will fit where the spare tire goes on a superduty. I actually have one, haven't had a chance to put it in yet though. I'm going to add it to my stock system witha transfer pump for extra capacity on those long trips....the thing is MASSIVE

[redpitbull44]

As gavin alluded to, I am working on an Excursion, not a Super Duty. Looking to install tanks in the dead space on either side of the drive shaft.

[gavan]

One thing to remember is the Excursion is a heavy bitch, and the GVWR does not leave much wiggle room, if you care about that. Another 500 pounds of fuel and tanks will not help, especially if you are towing. I go by axle ratings and tire ratings and don't worry much about the factory GVWR, just sayin

[redpitbull44]

Won't be towing much. This is a people and gear hauler. I can always upgrade the axles. I already plan on a D60 front. How cool would a Super 60 front and D80, 110 or 135 rear be? That being said, I think I will be fine weightwise.

[gavan]

Originally Posted by redpitbull44

Won't be towing much. This is a people and gear hauler. I can always upgrade the axles. I already plan on a D60 front. How cool would a Super 60 front and D80, 110 or 135 rear be? That being said, I think I will be fine weightwise.

I looked into slapping in some F450/550 axles but did not find a set and ended up going a different direction.

Still does not change the "factory gvwr"

But I run 19.5s anyways, and I don't really care about the factory rating

I can get 700+ miles out of the factory tank running without a trailer, though. Another 50+ gallons would be a little crazy for my setup...

[Cooter!]

The aftermarket companies are:

Transferflow, very nice but metal. They do come with engineering diagrams, so it's possible to go online for measurements?
and
TitanTanks. Blow molded "Plastic", and very nice guys to know. They would be my first call as they are a small enough company to possibly make something for you, in plastic. I have one on my TowMater and 1000+ range is longer than my wifes bladders is, for sure!

Have you thought about a pre-made fuel cell like Jaz? Even a square 15 gallon on each side would be a great range improver and probably the cheapest option.

[redpitbull44]

No, the Excursion aftermarket tank isn't either one of those. It is this: http://biofuelstechnologies.mybigcom...ion-underbody/
But even that sits below the frame.

linked because pic is huge http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/...-installed.jpg
The problem with pre-made race cells is there aren't any that will fit right. I have a 60"x 10" x 6-10" area to fit these tanks (give or take an inch here or there). Back in the hump above the axle I can actually build a high area in the tank for the fill hole. That area will sit almost a foot above the highest point of the lower section of the tank.

[micky_blue]

was it aero tanks? I have heard of them but also read about some questionable quality.

[redpitbull44]

Originally Posted by micky_blue

was it aero tanks? I have heard of them but also read about some questionable quality.

No. I linked it in the post above. They are known as Vegistroke. That is by all accounts the best "ready to buy" option. Tanks are $925-$975, while the WVO conversion including tank is over $3000.

[Cooter!]

You should build it yourself, the engineering diagrams from Transferflow would certainly help you do that.

or talk to Titan tanks and see if they will make you one.

Since it will cost you about $1000 to make it, perhaps buy the veggie one and just section the bottom of it. It sucks to chop up a new tank, but you would get what apparently no one makes.

[redpitbull44]

I would be better off making them, which is my intent. I will build them from aluminum, and then shield them with a steel skid plate. I've been taking measurements and eyeballing things. Making sketches and figuring capacity. It will be a long while before I actually get a chance to build them though. When I do, I will do a build thread.

[redpitbull44]

Did some more measuring, and a tank 67" long x 14" wide x 8" tall (7504 in^3) yields 32.48 gallons. 95% of that is 30.856 gallons. That is the size of tank that will fit on the driver side and clear everything, while still being higher than the lowest (tranny) cross member. By rerouting the exhaust to the outside of the passenger side frame rail, you could fit a 9"x9"x67" (5427in^3/ 23.49 gal) tank on the passenger side, plus another bit forward above the tranny cross member, and rearward up in the axle hump. I'd say it's more than do-able to get 100 gal fuel capacity out of an Excursion, all inside the frame rails, and all able to be safely tucked up inside a belly pan or skid plate. If you installed a body lift, things would become even easier. If you did reroute the exhaust, it would have to dump in front of the rear tire.

[redpitbull44]

One thing that could/would become a pain in the butt is plumbing. You can't plumb all three tanks to feed at the same time and have it be reliable. If one tank sits a little bit higher and runs dry it will screw up everything. A factory sender/ in tank pump in each, controlled by a 3 position switch (or 3 individual switches) would work well, as would equipping each tank with a slight sump, suction tube, and external pump. I could use the external electromechanical tank shuttle valve that the 87/88 trucks used also. For that matter, I could build a manifold utilizing ball valves and change them manually. The two downsides to this whole thing is getting the factory "miles to empty" and "mpg" display to work with the setup. Probably won't happen. One other option: plumb the two aux tanks to feed into the factory tank, and let it do all the work. That would require accurate gauges and babysitting it while it fills, but it could be filled on the move. This option could make life easier considering the fuel tank is part of the emissions system on this truck.