Suburban Fuel Tank

[clueless 3,263]

I don't know if this is the right place, but on ebay under lawnmowers a guy is selling NOS Tanks that look to be the same as the tanks on the Suburbans and maybe the RJ's for less than $30 with shipping included. 

 

-Chris from Florida 

[AMC RULES 37,211]

Can't remember...I know it's based on the location of the fill port...

so, is this one pictured a "legit" RJ tank, or no?     

[Racinbob 11,989]

I really can't say Craig. That looks exactly like the one that came with my Suburban 400. The K91 that was on it wasn't the original and I believe that's the tank that was bolted on the replacement K91. Maybe Wheel Horse bought the engines with the tank then used the tank mounted under the hood

[clueless 3,263]

The ones on ebay look like the one on my surburban.(May not be original tank). Fill port starts 2" from front of tank,front strap is in front of fill port,fits fine.

[prondzy 3,889]

ive seen those tanks too thought about picking one up to see. I guess I cant argue with the price.

[Lane Ranger 11,445]

I  went out and measured and the NOS tank neck appears to be made back about two inches more on the tank but  there appears to be  enough clearance room for the new tank to go .   I just bought two of them !

[Molon_Labe 731]

I  went out and measured and the NOS tank neck appears to be made back about two inches more on the tank but  there appears to be  enough clearance room for the new tank to go .   I just bought two of them !

 

Lane let us know how they fit and thanks!

[Racinbob 11,989]

I was mistaken when I posted that my tank was exactly like the one Craig pictured. My filler neck is about 2" further back, just like the ones on Ebay. Mine has been sitting on a shelf primed and waiting for me to pick up a new filler neck to solder on and I forgot how far back it was until I just now got it down to measure the overall dimensions. It is identical to the Ebay tanks. There is room to accommodate the filler location in either location on a Suburban. I went ahead and bought one of them. I'm thinking the one I have was originally bolted on to motor.

Edited December 14, 2014 by Racinbob

[Racinbob 11,989]

I just ordered one of these. From the dimensions shown it's exactly like the one that was on my Suburban. The fit should be no problem. He's got a bunch of these. 96 sold already and that's about 68% of what he has.

[Lane Ranger 11,445]

P.S.   Clueless -I think you have a clue!  Thanks for posting this!

[305 380]

how are you guys finding this tank on eBay?  i've tried every search i could think of and came up with nothing.

[AMC RULES 37,211]

PM sent 305. 

[Racinbob 11,989]

Don't feel bad 305. I tried all sorts of searches and went through probably 100 pages of postings until I found the right search words then it was the first listing. It was definitely a moment. Craig has you fixed up. That's a great deal on those tanks.

[AMC RULES 37,211]

Post #1 here...   

Clueless supplied all the terms you need. 

[Racinbob 11,989]

That's why it was a moment for me Craig. And I do a lot on Ebay too.

[clueless 3,263]

Got the tank in today. Same size as my burbs, fuel outlet hole up front,damm,didn't show that on ebay! Need to make one in the back of tank or move front strap. Sorry guys. 

[Racinbob 11,989]

You're talking about the threaded outlet hole on the bottom, right? That would be a problem for me too. There's really no way to tell from the Ebay pictures.

[clueless 3,263]

Bob, I dug up an old hood and played with the tank. Looks like it will work, but if you're going for an original look maybe not. 

Attached are some pictures of the hood and tank.

 

-Chris

[Racinbob 11,989]

Thanks Chris. With the outlet hole so close to the front it likely will work with my straps. The outlet is about 1 3/4" forward of the rear of my old tank and I assumed it was that distance back from the front on the new tanks which wouldn't have worked. My straps are also narrower than yours. The new one is supposed to be delivered Thursday so I'll see then. Worse case I can still get a new filler neck and cap for the old one or transplant the filler neck from the new one. I'm not doing an original look resto on my Suburban.

[clueless 3,263]

Yes, original straps are narrower,I think it will work fine.

[305 380]

i have two of them coming and i have nothing to put them on...i'll have to find a project

[wallfish 18,242]

Can't remember...I know it's based on the location of the fill port...

so, is this one pictured a "legit" RJ tank, or no?     

That is the correct tank for an RJ, which are much more difficult to find. Suburban tanks fit in the RJ but the straps are the issue

[Racinbob 11,989]

Looking at the RJ pictures in the gallery I agree John. Of the ones where you can see the straps, filler and sediment bowl the straps are typically located where Craigs are with the filler close to the end. But there's a couple where the filler is set back more like the NOS and the front strap is forward of the filler. In all cases that I saw the fuel outlet was closer to the back. In any case the NOS tanks are a good deal and would work on RJ's and Suburbans with little modification.

[Racinbob 11,989]

The guy on Ebay has sold out of the tanks. He had 139 of them.

[Lane Ranger 11,445]

My Two NOS gas tanks came in the mail today! These will fit on RJ and Suburban! Made in 1971 by Chilton in Wisconsin and recently sold on Ebay!

 

I think I can make them work even with the relocated gas filler neck and other differences.   I am amazed at  NOS is real NOS condition!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The seller did post the outlet photo when selling this steel cap version.

 

Edited December 17, 2014 by Lane Ranger