DIY Gas Tank?

[knoxville714]

I'm currently running octane fuel from a 10 gallon fuel cell mounted in the bed, and need more capacity. I like the idea of the extra capacity tanks but they're around $500 for the tank with all the fixings, and apparently none of the online stores have them in house, they order through an outside manufacturer, and they all have a 1-2 week wait before they actually ship. Just curious if anyone has fabbed one up, or know someone that does. Thanks

[broncomatt]

Yes, I built my first tank my eb had. I had worked with a short track team that also made there own tanks. Measure the size tank you want, have a
metal shop cut and fold two pieces of sheet metal in the shape of a C. In one of the two C's you now have to weld a slosh plate between the two c's.
Drill holes, ect to let fuel slosh threw the plate. Then weld the two C's together. Now you have a box. Weld your fittings you need ( I put a return
and a feed bung). For a filler neck I used a pipe nut welded to the side of the tank, then cut a short piece to thread into it after I mounted it.
For mounts I cut 2 pieces of angle iron, shaped to match the frame. Holes drilled to match the holes in the frame. I used nuts with square washer
welded to it so it would not spin in the frame. I got a universal sending unit and installed that.
I made mine 6" bigger than the stock tank on the top. I had to cut a hole in floor for the tank to come threw. I wanted the stock underside of the
tank but a larger tank. I ended up with a 32 gal tank. Filled it was too heavy so when I rebuilt the truck last year I went with bc tank instead. But I ran that tank for 20 years and
it was still good. I coated the inside with extend rust coverter to protect the welds, then I used tank liner to seal it. You have to be a good welder
to be sure your not going to have any problems. I also used 14g sheet metal.

[knoxville714]

did you tig or mig or does it really matter? and it doesn't sound like it would cost too much

[broncomatt]

I used a miller 230 mig, multiple passes on all seams. I think I had less than a hundred in the whole thing. I dont have any pics of the build (it was
20 years ago). I do have a pic of it built being painted. I'll look tonight.