Anyone use one of those plastic ausiliary 22 gallon gas tanks with the aluminum skid plate? They were made by Downey off road. He sells them on ebay and I am thinking on getting one. Need some feedback on these.
FJ40 Plastic Aux Gas tank
- Thread starter LRChops
- Start date
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QuackAxel
SILVER Star
can you give a link for the ebay auction?
Is it similar to the one Mark's Off road sells...
http://www.marksoffroad.net/1specials/AuxTank2011.html
http://www.marksoffroad.net/1specials/AuxTank2011.html
I'm running one my '71 with no skid plate. The only issues I have had is it is slow filling, I have to take my time, gas goes in quicker than the air vents out and it burps for lack of a better way to put it. The other was that my tail pipe got pushed against it while wheeling and melted into the side of the tank. Fixed that. Other than that I like the set up. Using it for my only tank. Mine is actually from Marks Off Road
- Thread starter
- #5
Yeah it is the same one as Marks Off Road. How much are they?
Did you use an electric fuel pump inside the tank or stick wth the stock mech one?
- Thread starter
- #8
I just finished a installing the Downey aux tank. Took a lot longer than expected because as with nearly all 'kits' nothing ever fits right and many modifications are necessary.
If you do not have metal working tools or a welder, You may not want to install this kit in earlier FJ40's. It is designed for later model year 40's.
The skid plate front mounts do not align properly on a 70 Landcruiser, so minor modificaction fixed that problem. The kits front hangar brackets are too long and do not allow you to properly secure the tank and skid plate, so I cut 3/4" out of the brackets and TIG welded them back together. The front bolts are fairly long and need to have about 3" cut off each one. The tank does not fit flush on the bottom of the tub so aluminum or plastic spacers need to be secured to the top of the tank with JB Weld or heavy duty double stick tape.
One larger issue that cannot be fixed without some major cutting and re-welding is the fitment of the skid plate over the tank. The plate secures up just fine and holds the tank in with no problem, but it does not fit the contour of the tank.
I do like the Downey tank kit better than the thin metal tank sold by Specter and some other LC parts places. The Downey tank is thick plastic and will not rust. If you do heavy rock crawling, then you probably want to build your own 3/8" thick steel tank.
Really the best way to fit a tank under the rear tub is to build your own or have one custom made. These FJ40 tank kits are kinda weak. I definately do not care for the aftermarket steel tanks because they are thin and eventually rust.
The Downey is probably the best aftermarket FJ40 tank from what I have used and seen. On a scale fo 1-10 I give it a 7 overall. Installation was frusterating, but it is done!
If you do choose to use an aftermarket steel tank, I would coat the inside with POR-15 Tank liner or something similiar to keep it from rusting. I tossed my old metal tank.
Also I did not use a sending float unit. Closed off that port with a brass plug. No internal fuel pump as the stock fuel pump should do its job just fine. If you are intalling this kit without the aluminum skid plate, you should have no issues with a bolt in install without any modifications since it the kit uses two tank straps that are adjustable. I can't see using this tank without a skid plate if you are off road with your rig!
Next project is mounting two side by side rifle mounts/locks for my M4 carbine and a shotgun, just like in the cop cars!!
If you do not have metal working tools or a welder, You may not want to install this kit in earlier FJ40's. It is designed for later model year 40's.
The skid plate front mounts do not align properly on a 70 Landcruiser, so minor modificaction fixed that problem. The kits front hangar brackets are too long and do not allow you to properly secure the tank and skid plate, so I cut 3/4" out of the brackets and TIG welded them back together. The front bolts are fairly long and need to have about 3" cut off each one. The tank does not fit flush on the bottom of the tub so aluminum or plastic spacers need to be secured to the top of the tank with JB Weld or heavy duty double stick tape.
One larger issue that cannot be fixed without some major cutting and re-welding is the fitment of the skid plate over the tank. The plate secures up just fine and holds the tank in with no problem, but it does not fit the contour of the tank.
I do like the Downey tank kit better than the thin metal tank sold by Specter and some other LC parts places. The Downey tank is thick plastic and will not rust. If you do heavy rock crawling, then you probably want to build your own 3/8" thick steel tank.
Really the best way to fit a tank under the rear tub is to build your own or have one custom made. These FJ40 tank kits are kinda weak. I definately do not care for the aftermarket steel tanks because they are thin and eventually rust.
The Downey is probably the best aftermarket FJ40 tank from what I have used and seen. On a scale fo 1-10 I give it a 7 overall. Installation was frusterating, but it is done!
If you do choose to use an aftermarket steel tank, I would coat the inside with POR-15 Tank liner or something similiar to keep it from rusting. I tossed my old metal tank.
Also I did not use a sending float unit. Closed off that port with a brass plug. No internal fuel pump as the stock fuel pump should do its job just fine. If you are intalling this kit without the aluminum skid plate, you should have no issues with a bolt in install without any modifications since it the kit uses two tank straps that are adjustable. I can't see using this tank without a skid plate if you are off road with your rig!
Next project is mounting two side by side rifle mounts/locks for my M4 carbine and a shotgun, just like in the cop cars!!
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lrowe_csp
Too many cruisers, not enough time
My experience was a little different than LRChops. The Downey Tank, purchased from Jim C about 2005 when he was still managing Downey Off-Road, fit my Oct 74 with no modification at all. I purchased the tank, skid plate and dual tank adapter to feed two tanks into one fuel line. I did not have to cut anything and the tank and aluminum skid plate seem to be well matched to each other in shape and fit. I used a DPDT switch so that both tanks have sending units and both sending units read on the fuel gauge. The fuel tank filler hose came out of the tank on the passenger side of the vehicle, so I installed the filler there, but when IPOR installed their metal fender flares, we had to move the filler to the rear, near the the tailgate. The only thing that I am not keen on is the aux tank is in the way of running any kind of exhaust pipe inside the frame rails near the rear, and since it is a plastic tank, it would be too easy to have that pipe touch the tank like Thornton experienced (the skid plate covers front, bottom and rear, but not the sides of the tank).
I like the idea of the tactical shotgun/M4 mount on an FJ, but I thought CA politics were so anti-gun that you could not drive around anywhere with an uncased gun (I lived there many years and still have a home that I rent out there, but I always felt like my rights were abridged by the coastal city dwellers in SF and LA who were liberal on all of their views except anything they didn't like or want to do).
Anyway- good luck with your purchase decision.
I like the idea of the tactical shotgun/M4 mount on an FJ, but I thought CA politics were so anti-gun that you could not drive around anywhere with an uncased gun (I lived there many years and still have a home that I rent out there, but I always felt like my rights were abridged by the coastal city dwellers in SF and LA who were liberal on all of their views except anything they didn't like or want to do).
Anyway- good luck with your purchase decision.
Still using the stock mechanical one
- Thread starter
- #11
Yep California is anti-gun land!! But I live up in the Sierra Foothills, not in the city. A big plus is I am legal in carrying pretty much any type of gun I choose. No bullet buttons for me! Luck that way I guess! Doesn't mean I won't get checked by the man, but the man best not step on the constitution. It is bothersome that California law makers have no respect for the constitution due to thier far left wing socialist ideals. But I will fight them all the way. Can't stand those left wing rats that want to take my hard earned cash to support thier voting base of drug abusers, lazy pot heads, lawyers, multi generational welfare maggots, and so on!
HMMM,,,hooked up an old fuel tank switching valve and it does not work! Now I will go through the switch wiring, check all the fuses, and try and figure out the problem. Can't switch from tank to tank. Now I did not use a sending unit, but all the sending unit is for is fuel gauge reading and I don't need that for the aux tank. Figured I would fill and use the aux tank and when it runs out, switch to the main tank which has a fuel gauge. And I have a chevy 350 with nodern fuel pump, so that will pull fuel from the tanks no problem! Also, I had to run my exhaust out the sides under the driver/passenger seats. That is where the mufflers are located which kinda sucks for crawling over rough terrain and rocks because they will get banged, but they are also Flowmasters and too loud. Oh well, I did not know they would be so throaty loud, but it is a done deal! It is a solid exhaust system for sure!
I have an old Confer tank with the skid plat I am going to put in soon and go the route lrowe did.
I am running aftermarket gauges and want to have a single gauge for both tanks. My challenge will be finding a good sender that will fit in the stock tank to match the easy to find sender for the confer tank.
I am running aftermarket gauges and want to have a single gauge for both tanks. My challenge will be finding a good sender that will fit in the stock tank to match the easy to find sender for the confer tank.
to bad mark doesnt ship to canada.. thats a nice looking tank
You can use a stock sender in the Confer tank, the depth is very similar.
Check out...
https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/267066-where-put-fuel-sender-maf-aux-tank.html
Ship c/o Clipper shipping in Seattle.
yeah i know the seattle route.. seawings is better than the clipper
- Thread starter
- #17
Check out CENTROID PRODUCTS electronic programmable sending unit. Looks like a pretty clean set up. No float, just a tube with internal sensor.
I got my switching valve working. All I had to do was clean off the connectors. So I can switch from tank to tank no problem. I just opted out on the aux tank having a sending unit for fuel gauge. I will just run the aux tank first then switch to main tank which has a fuel gauge.
Not carrying gas cans on my rig anymore!!! Yippie!
I got my switching valve working. All I had to do was clean off the connectors. So I can switch from tank to tank no problem. I just opted out on the aux tank having a sending unit for fuel gauge. I will just run the aux tank first then switch to main tank which has a fuel gauge.
Not carrying gas cans on my rig anymore!!! Yippie!
Nice. I happen to have an extra.
Very interesting. I had seen programmable gauges but not sender. I book marked this for the adventure.
Just make sure the stock sender is compatible with the fuel guage you're using... I think there may be a coupe of options.
Look like 9/72 thru 1983 are the same...
Look like 9/72 thru 1983 are the same...
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I could use a little help in this department. I have just ordered the Marks offroad version for my 76 FJ as a replacement for the stock one. My question is, since Mark no longer sells sending units (sucks) I need to locate one that works in my application. It seems there are multiple choices and I dont know much about it, just that I need one... HELP
Thanks
Thanks
