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Tundra Fuel Tank Swap?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by mcclurej881, Apr 26, 2019.

  1. Apr 26, 2019 at 9:21 PM
    #1
    mcclurej881

    mcclurej881 [OP] Active Member

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    I've been looking at extended range fuel tanks, and am sort of at a loss. 2000-06 Tundras have a 26.4 gallon tank, which is far more than I have. With all my weight, and gearing I can't get too far. There are junkyards in my area with Tundras from that year range.

    Thoughts?
     
    t0nyvalenzuela likes this.
  2. Apr 26, 2019 at 9:52 PM
    #2
    tony2018

    tony2018 Well-Known Member

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    Would be an interesting retrofit.
     
    mcclurej881[OP] likes this.
  3. Apr 26, 2019 at 10:42 PM
    #3
    BartMaster1234

    BartMaster1234 Well-Known Member

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    For what it’s worth, most junkyards drill a 1-2” hole in the gas tank to drain it in the process of prepping a vehicle to go out in the yard. You’re going to have a hard time finding a car with an intact gas tank.
     
    Truckstop13 and Wyoming09 like this.
  4. Apr 26, 2019 at 10:49 PM
    #4
    tony2018

    tony2018 Well-Known Member

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    heard the same for the oil pan
     
  5. Apr 26, 2019 at 10:50 PM
    #5
    BartMaster1234

    BartMaster1234 Well-Known Member

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    Some yards do, some yards don’t. I noticed most oil pans are intact since they can be drained because the of the drain bolt.
     
  6. Apr 26, 2019 at 10:57 PM
    #6
    NYCTaco52

    NYCTaco52 Half man, half goat

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    Love to know more about this. My tank is like 4 ounces.
     
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  7. Apr 26, 2019 at 10:58 PM
    #7
    BartMaster1234

    BartMaster1234 Well-Known Member

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    Even if you did manage to find an unmolested Tundra tank, remember most if not all fuel tanks on the market are molded to the body and or frame of the vehicle. It’ll be difficult to get a bigger Tundra tank to fit where the stock Tacoma tank is.

    If you want an Auxiliary tank, I’ve seen people use a Ford Explorer tank under the bed where the spare tire carrier goes. Those are very flat and will fit with some modification.
     
  8. Apr 27, 2019 at 2:29 AM
    #8
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Just how many more gallons do you need to extend your range to what you want ??

    Figure out how much room you have then have a tank custom made to fit .

    the extra tank where the spare was is also a great idea

    A tank sitting across the bed in the front does not take all that much room and with the proper plumbing will not drain into the main tank .

    Any added tank the ease of filling should be considered and would you run a second fuel pump or just a simple transfer pump and fuel gauge as well
     
    chrslefty likes this.
  9. Apr 27, 2019 at 5:22 AM
    #9
    mcclurej881

    mcclurej881 [OP] Active Member

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    So I've seen folks dropping fuel tanks at the two yards by me. Maybe they didn't realize they had holey gas tanks until checkout, but hopefully not haha.

    I was hoping someone on here may own a Tundra and Tacoma and could let me know how the tanks compare, or even better hoping someone has done the swap. The info about the Explorer tank is very helpful though. Thank you.
     
  10. Apr 27, 2019 at 5:50 AM
    #10
    mcclurej881

    mcclurej881 [OP] Active Member

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    26.4 sounds like a good number to me. I don't need a specific amount, but on long trips I'd like to stop less and/or carry less fuel in Jerry cans. I can't fit an aux in the front of my bed because that's where my other spare goes and that's where I plan on putting my other battery and inverter.
     
  11. Apr 27, 2019 at 11:26 AM
    #11
    BartMaster1234

    BartMaster1234 Well-Known Member

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    People drop the tanks to have access to the fuel pump. I’ve done that before to grab a fuel pump for a Tacoma.
     
  12. Apr 27, 2019 at 12:44 PM
    #12
    mcclurej881

    mcclurej881 [OP] Active Member

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    Just checked one of my local pick a part places and they do sell fuel tanks (sans holes). They don't have any Tundras right now, but when they do I may go scout it out.
     
    Toyko Joe likes this.
  13. Jul 16, 2021 at 3:52 PM
    #13
    travis.diller

    travis.diller Well-Known Member

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    fully armored, 4.88, 33 skinnies, tundra brakes, a REAL cold air intake.
    Back from the dead.... what happened? did it work?
     
  14. Jul 22, 2021 at 1:08 PM
    #14
    explore4days

    explore4days Member

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    I recall seeing someone installing an early Isuzu trooper gas tank in place of the spare.
     
  15. Jul 22, 2021 at 1:13 PM
    #15
    sorevilo

    sorevilo Well-Known Member

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  16. Jul 22, 2021 at 4:40 PM
    #16
    Rhodes

    Rhodes Well-Known Member

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    Truckstop13 and sorevilo[QUOTED] like this.
  17. Jul 22, 2021 at 6:01 PM
    #17
    wesb1023

    wesb1023 Well-Known Member

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    I welded two 7 gallon air tanks together with a bracket and bolted them where the spare tire used to be. I then connected a siphon hose and vent hoses from the auxiliary tanks to the main tank using hydraulic hose as the transfer tube. I later added a fuel pump and vent block valve to help in the tank filling speed. The pump pulls a vacuum on the auxiliary tank so gasoline is drawn into the tank faster when it’s switched on and filling the main tank. Total 32 gallons, my fuel mileage is actually terrible because of my truck being supercharged, but I “feel” like it’s getting better gas mileage as I can go 500+ miles on a full tank of gas. It does take longer to fill, but I like it so far. Still only have one fill tube for the complete system.
    2CE0E91F-7A90-4B94-94F4-C808177989FD.jpg
    Not a good photo, especially for how I plumbed everything, but this is what it looks like.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2021
    btu44, otis24 and alarka like this.
  18. Jul 22, 2021 at 6:17 PM
    #18
    alarka

    alarka Well-Known Member

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    Sub’d…I actually was thinking of a 4th Gen T4R 23 gal tank, but a 26 would be even better.
     
  19. Jul 24, 2021 at 4:04 AM
    #19
    NSDON

    NSDON Well-Known Member

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    Look up Ford Pinto exploding gas tanks. Someone rear ends you and those tanks mounted where the spare is may explode, those air tanks may shoot forward like a missile. Add some protection behind them?
     
    MadNachos likes this.
  20. Jul 24, 2021 at 4:05 AM
    #20
    NSDON

    NSDON Well-Known Member

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    Old trucks used to have the gas tank behind the seat in the cab, bad idea in a collision.
     

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