Drawings/designs fj45 fuel tank between t eframe rails
- Thread starter Hoosier 45
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I've thought about it a lot, and other than when you have fume leaks from aging hoses, there is probably no safer, more protected place to have a gas tank in your vehicle. But there's a strong instinctive opposition to it, I'll admit.
Anyone ever heard of an accident stemming from the underseat location of the tank?
Anyone ever heard of an accident stemming from the underseat location of the tank?
- Thread starter
- #4
I though GM had some real problems with fuel tanks that were mounted outside the frame rails and they were not even in the cab. It seems like a relatively minor impact to the passanger side could be a big fire ball.
yes GM had some issues, but these were saddle tanks between the frame and sheetmetal of the bed. which to me is different than what your 45 has. the cab is a lot stronger IMOP than the sheetmetal bed of a GM pickup. Dateline added big time to the situation, and they had to pay for it.
Get with me here for a minute: If the gas tank is under your seat, then it's where the most important item in the vehicle is located--YOU. If you feel safe where you're sitting, then the tank will be safe too. If you think the tank is in jeopardy, then so are you. The passenger compartment is meant to be the safest part of the vehicle. Admittedly, there are newer, safer cabs out there; however, if you choose to drive a 45, then I submit that the tanks just fine where Mr. Toyoda placed it. If an accident should happen that serves to destroy the tank and impinge on the passenger area, then you are probably dead already anyway, capisce?
get an LV tank 
I'll second the LV tank...It is the same frame but has the tank under the rig 
I don't know any delicate way to say this but I once looked at a j**p zj tank for my 45LWB. It looked like it would fit right behind the cab, between the rails. It was plastic, had its own fuel pump and sender and was cheap at the wrecker. Would have been a early 90s model. I figured driving a gasser was bad enouogh karma, I wasn't sure I could risk angering the Cruiser gods with a J**p tank so I reserved the spot for a central mounted PTO winch instead and decided to sit on the tank.
I took one of the 22 gallon auxiliary tanks that are made for the FJ40 and mounted it under the bed of my 45lwb. Welded two pieces of angle iron to the front of the tank to bolt it to the tire carrier hinge mounts in the shock tube,and welded a strap across the back to bolt up to one of the bed support crossbraces. It fits well.
Note. I added this tank as a suppliment to the in cab one. I do not worry about the tank in the truck.
Note. I added this tank as a suppliment to the in cab one. I do not worry about the tank in the truck.
I have been lurking for months and enjoy this forum daily. I finally have a question. How do you plan to plumb your aux. tank. Specifically the filler tube. My deilema has been that I do not want to cut a hole in either the bed sides or the bed itself. One option I have been contemplating is to put a hinge on the passenger side access plate that is at the front corner of the bed. I don't have an aux. tank yet but my plan was to go to a wrecker and get a plastic one from some other type of pick-up.
Another option is a custom fuel cell. I think Cabellas the fishing place will do custom cells for around $300. They are for boats, but it'll work fine.
45Kevin said:
Welcome Kevin, and a good question too. My buddy Matt bought his swb with the aux tank plumbed up thru the bed by the PO. They also welded a 1/4" walled 6" pipe around the filler neck to protect it from the other junk in the bed [place barfing emoticon here]
I struggled long and hard with this dilemma before resolving to cut a hole in the side of the bed. I took a lot of measurements, and using the filler neck cutout from a 71 and older FJ40, installed a 'factory' looking fill neck in the side of the bed as the best option I could come up with.
It's really not that hard to weld the missing metal back in if I come up with a better idea down the road, and done is good.
I used a Holley dragster fuel pump to pump fuel from
the main tank into my LV tank mounted under the
bed (where the spare mounts on the long bed).
Using 2 check valves and wiring the pump with a
DPDT switch, you are able to reverse the pump and
either fill the sub tank from the main tank or pump back
into the main tank from the sub tank!
the main tank into my LV tank mounted under the
bed (where the spare mounts on the long bed).
Using 2 check valves and wiring the pump with a
DPDT switch, you are able to reverse the pump and
either fill the sub tank from the main tank or pump back
into the main tank from the sub tank!
foxfab said:
You sure about that foxfab? I just called them and they said they had no clue about this.
My LWB has a storage box/ fuel tank combo in the bed that I'd like to replace (see below).
I'd like to replace it by putting a tank between the frame rails but still use the original filler location. Think it's do-able?
I'll rephrase, they DID when I was looking but that was 2 years ago.
Hey All-
I have been thinking about the best fuel tank replacement for a 45LV as well, so far this is what I have found. Marine gas tank manufacturers will build stainless tanks to your design, I found one in Or. and a few in Fla. They seem to avg around 10$/gal, add price for more complex designs, but you can simply send them measurements or cad file if you have access.
I have been thinking about the best fuel tank replacement for a 45LV as well, so far this is what I have found. Marine gas tank manufacturers will build stainless tanks to your design, I found one in Or. and a few in Fla. They seem to avg around 10$/gal, add price for more complex designs, but you can simply send them measurements or cad file if you have access.