dent side gas tank fit a bump?

[Kurt Combs]

Any change a 77 F-150 factory side tank will fit a 72 F-250?

[forrestbump]

Kurt, no experience myself with such a swap. I'll have to assume that because Dent frames are wider in the rear half then Bumps (34" for a Bump versus 38" for a Dent) you may run into problems mounting a Dent under cab/bed tank in a Bump?

Taking another tack, have you considered using a Bump auxiliary under cab/bed tank? A true bolt in...well as long as you have a complete donor. Even the parking brake cable routing is different on this application so getting a complete donor is best. Did I mention getting a complete donor?

If you do go this route, look for a '70 through '72 version as '67 through '69's have different filler neck locations on the truck's bed side, plus the steel plate inside the bed floor (to protect the filler hose) is different in each of these year groupings.

Just a thought...

[Kurt Combs]

Hi Forrestbump and thanks for the post. I was hoping the tank off a 77 dent I am trying to buy for the engine and tranny would give me a complete donor. I currently have an after market or dealer installed side tank, but it has no gauge sending unit and it has a leak somewhere around the top of the tank. I'd really like to have a gauge on that tank so I don't have to run out of gas to know when it is empty, it is hard to switch tanks in traffic. It would also be a bummer to scrap the 77 and find out later I could have used the tank. I will start looking in wrecking yards for the correct OEM parts when I have finished my engine swap (or engine rebuild if deal falls through).

[forrestbump]

Well then thought Number Two: Adapt a gauge to your existing fuel tank. Many years ago I had an auxiliary fuel tank built for a 4WD Chevy pickup I owned.

This shop cut a round hole in the tank's top, used a fuel tank float from a Blazer that had electrical connectors on it for wiring it to my O.E.M. fuel gauge. I mounted the tank in the rear, ran fuel lines to a mechanical switching valve.

I then wired the sending unit up to an "A" "B" electrical switch I mounted under my dash so that at the flick of the electrical switch I could read either tank's fuel level.

What I'm trying to explain is that your existing fuel tank can probably be modified to do the very same thing my old Chevy truck did.

Call / check around for a shop that can do this for you, OR better yet, try doing it yourself. If an old fool like myself can do it, I know somebody with superior intellect, like yourself, can EASILY do it.

[Kurt Combs]

I have thought about adding a sending unit to my existing tank, even thought about adding an additional gauge in my stock panel. I would use the top two gauge locations for gas gauges and hang after market gauges under the dash for temperature, oil pressure and alternator. Not sure if the gauge cluster could be adapted to a second gas gauge in the top right position, but it seems possible. Probably one of those things I will think about, but never get around to...... Actually at this point I would be happy if the extra tank didn't leak.