Plastic Fuel Tank?

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:15 am

Does anyone know if anyone makes a plastic replacement tank? Are the tanks in a civilian power wagon compatibale with the M37?

MSeriesRebuild · Post by **MSeriesRebuild** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:25 pm

No & No.

k8icu · Post by **k8icu** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:00 pm

Ok then....

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:19 pm

Anybody have a vacuum molding setup? Looks like an opportunity here for a little niche market in plastic M37 fuel tanks.

monkeymissile · Post by **monkeymissile** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:07 am

Lifer wrote:Anybody have a vacuum molding setup? Looks like an opportunity here for a little niche market in plastic M37 fuel tanks. :)

I am pretty sure plastic tanks are rotationally molded (big bucks for tooling). With vacuum forming you could only do half the tank at a a time and then would need to seal/weld them together to form a complete tank. I bet an aluminum fuel cell would be cheaper in the end. That's what I plan to do when my tank eventually dies.

MSeriesRebuild · Post by **MSeriesRebuild** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:29 am

We've custom built several out of steel, not exact replicas of course, but practical & have worked very well. As mentioned, tooling for various projects is very expensive & not at all practical to do unless you have a sure market for high enough sales to come out in the end. That is highly unlikely. Personally I wouldn't want a plastic tank because of damage vulnerability, but that's only my opinion.

NCmountainman · Post by **NCmountainman** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 5:26 pm

I have heard that the plastic gas tank in the older Chev S10 pick up (and probably the GMC) is very close to the correct size. Probably would have to adapt the filler neck and the fuel outlet. Might be worth a check!

Also, the gas tank from the generator trailers (I don't know what the model designation is) are basically the same as the M37 but will need to have one hole covered. I have one of these for a spare, but not interested in selling it right now.

pfrederi · Post by **pfrederi** » Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:22 am

NCmountainman wrote:I have heard that the plastic gas tank in the older Chev S10 pick up (and probably the GMC) is very close to the correct size.

I have an Sonoma (GMC version of S-10) pick up and that tank will not work. I believe the tank you are thinking of came from Blazers and Jimmys

mattveeder · Post by **mattveeder** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 4:27 pm

S-10 pickup tanks will not work. I know these well, but maby a s-10 blazer up to 1993 could be made to fit if you really wanted. But if you are willing to spend some money you can get a marine tank made to your specs. I know a few people who have done this for street rods with the best success.

peter e mark · Post by **peter e mark** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:29 pm

Success is a slipery word, as in offroading with a plastic tank that gets a pucture or ruptures ! Can you spell skid plates ?

mattveeder · Post by **mattveeder** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 5:07 pm

Thats very true plastic can rupture. But that metal tanks could use skid plates if you are wheeling one of these trucks for sure. One good hit and it is over with. As far as that blazer tank is metal but it would nott make much sense to modify it to fit.