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33 gallon tank upgrade
#754296 November 20th 2019 7:15 pm
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 19
stranger
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I'm looking for more range out of my van and was wondering what vans had the 33 gallon tank? Was it a stock feature or an option? I saw an '86 shorty that the owner put one in, so it should fit my '85 fine.

Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
Malatrix #754298 November 20th 2019 8:03 pm
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Chevy, Ford, Dodge? My 87 B250 has a 33 gallon plastic tank


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
Malatrix #754300 November 20th 2019 8:10 pm
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My 86 b150 also has a 33 gallon plastic tank, it has a hump on the passenger side unlike my 85 b150.straps are different but the mounting points are the same.


When in doubt..get the sawzall out..
Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
Malatrix #754305 November 20th 2019 8:47 pm
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crazy as it may sound...i dont know what size tank ive got in my 87 dodge b150.....i just read in the factory shop manual for 87 and it said 22 gal standard or optional 36 gal.....

Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
Malatrix #754359 November 22nd 2019 9:03 am
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Yes, Dodge B vans had both tank options. My 92 shorty has the 35 gallon tank. Like Astrocreep66 said...mounting points are the same for both. When you locate the bigger tank, get everything. Get the filler neck, and vent line that runs up to the gas door, anything attached, keepers, bolts, etc. Your local salvage yards in some cases, punch holes in the tanks, as they usually drain all fluids, and if there is no drain plug, they cut or punch a hole. So check with them first. When pulling the tanks, be methodical, I use ziploc baggies for the bolts and small parts. The hoses will take some "persuading" and patience to get them loose. They've been on there for years and aren't likely to easily pull loose! Don't cut them unless you are 100% sure you have a replacement ! A new one is hard to find. The vent hose on mine was kinked and cracked, But I managed to find another one in useable shape. My 92 is a fuel injection model, but tanks can vary from year to year, carburated and EFI. They may be metal or plastic depending on the year model. You can check online or call your favorite parts store, get all the part numbers that pertain to your van, then maybe a year older and a year newer.

There always basics that you SHOULD do when swapping tanks. CLEAN IT OUT!!!!!!! First drain your tank as much as possible. Gasoline weighs 6 or 7 pounds per gallon, so do the math. Get a hand pump or electric pump to drain the tank. Or if yours is an electric pump, with a friend's help, disconnect the fuel line between the tank and motor, maybe where the fuel filter is, and let the pump do the work with the disconnected end going into a large gas can. In my case I had to use the hand pump, because I was dropping mine to replace the pump. On my year model, the fuel pump is the SAME part number for both the 26 or the 35. But the pump part number may vary by year. The difference in the tanks is more about the width than the depth.

Before you swap in this bigger tank..now is the time to clean the inside of the tank. Don't even THINK about skipping this part!!! Unless it's a brand new tank in the box, Clean the one you will use. Think of all the years of gas varnish on the walls, and loose stuff at the bottom. On mine, the pump comes out at the top and leaves a hole big enough for your arm inside and reach all corners of the tank. After draining, I did a quick rinse with the hose. ( don't do this in your grass, even that little bit of gas will kill it.). Then I went back in with Dawn dish soap, and a hand brush to scrub the inside. Rinsed it till the water came out clear. Then I wiped down the inside with paper towels, and the towels came out clean. Then I put in the fuel pump. Installing wasn't hard. With the tank on the ground I hooked up all the lines. Since I was doing it solo, I used the floor jack to raise it up in place. The center strap went on first if I remember right, then the 2 cross straps. Run the nuts up finger tight as far as you can. Then, If you have an air ratchet and the sockets, extensions and maybe the swivel adapter, it goes on quicker. with a hand ratchet, it will take a bit longer. Hooked up the filler tube and vent tubes. Once it's all in, just a couple gallons to test fire the van and make sure there are no leaks.

By the way, anyone near San Antonio that needs a 35 gallon tank, WITH working fuel pump, let me know. I have a 1992 parts van I am almost done stripping off what I need before the rolling shell goes to the local Pick N Pull or for metal salvage. I'll make someone a sweet deal.

Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
mlarky #754374 November 22nd 2019 8:17 pm
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Originally Posted by mlarky

There always basics that you SHOULD do when swapping tanks. CLEAN IT OUT!!!!!!! First drain your tank as much as possible.


Dirty/or OLD gas wreaks havoc on any tune up after changing tank …. you will spend more money chasing things that could have been avoided by just dumping the old or dirty gas....


DO IT RIGHT OR DO IT TWICE ! ! !


Last edited by frscke1; November 22nd 2019 8:19 pm.

SUNSHINE VANS-VAN DIEGO
ADRENALIN BY THE GALLON & CHASIN RACIN
ONE FOR THE DIRT & ONE FOR THE STREETS
'93 CHEVY G30 454 4X4 SPORTVAN EXT 146" WB
'92 CHEVY G30 454 BEAUVILLE EXT 146" WB
Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
Malatrix #754382 November 22nd 2019 10:08 pm
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The way to really tell if you have the big or small tank is if you can go more than 270-ish miles. I thought for the first 8 months I owned my B250 I had the small 24 gallon tank. Then one day I filled up at 260 miles on the tripometer. I put 25 gallons of fuel in. OH I exclaimed in excitement! I have since usually gone 35-400+ on a tank, thank you big gas tank. Haha!

I agree with all these guys about getting all the straps and such from a donor van. You might be able to source a new big tank if needed. They have sporadic availability at the parts houses I think. Rockauto.com could be your friend for this one.

- Rich


1991 Dodge B250 Zephyr Conversion. "Bi-frost" 89,000-ish original miles and counting.
- 318TBI; has headwork and other bolt on upgrades. Runs strong and smooth!
- Powertrax locker
- 3" aluminum radiator.
- Rear air springs, rebuilt suspension, steering stabilizer.
Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
Malatrix #754406 November 24th 2019 8:45 am
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Let's skip this 30+- gallon tank stuff and put a 200 gallon in the back like the plumbing van in GumballRally.😁


When in doubt..get the sawzall out..
Re: 33 gallon tank upgrade
Malatrix #754412 November 24th 2019 11:32 am
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Did a little more research on the tank issue. Metal tanks up to 1987 when the vans still used mechanical pumps. In 1988 when Dodge switched to the EFI and TBI systems, they put electric fuel pumps in plastic tanks. Still options from 19 gallon to 35 gallon available from the aftermarket. Easiest to hunt the salvage yards, as I said earlier, just get ALL the parts. Metal or plastic, clean the tank as thoroughly as possible before you install it. Also include a new fuel filter just because, and they are inexpensive insurance against junk in the carburetor in your case. I get around 400 to 450 miles out of my 35 gallon tank on daily driving. On an open road trip have gotten as much as 600 miles between fill ups.

Last edited by mlarky; November 24th 2019 11:36 am. Reason: add info at the end.
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