I have a line on a NOS GM gas tank. The seller says it was bought for an 84. Are these tanks the same regardless of the year/engine/fuel system 82-92?

 

tanks meant for fuel injection have a plastic tray the fuel pickup sock sits in to keep fuel from sloshing away and losing fuel pressure-carb tanks don't need the tray since float bowl holds enough reserve fuel.

 

So............. I have an 84 Trans Am. Are you still going to buy that tank?
My car has been sitting for 20+ years, so I probably NEED it.

 

I have used two of the $110 aftermarket tanks at this point with no issues. They are better made than the original GM units as the baffling is steel instead of sh1tty plastic. I just pulled the original tank from my 91 Formula and the plastic baffle "container" is warped and cracked. I would have used it as it wasn't really that bad inside, but at some point someone cut the filler neck and had also cracked and attempted to epoxy the neck to tank joint besides needing cleaning and having that cracked, warped plastic baffle.....

For $110 shipped it just makes no real sense to bother with old junk or pay a premium for NOS junk. It's just a steel container no one will ever see and the design improvements are worth it also.

GD

 

Post the link to the $110. tank please GD. Thanks.

 

I have a feeling all the aftermarket tanks are the same manufacturer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuel-Gas-Ta....c100935.m2460

GD

 

I'm going to pick it up today. I'm not necessarily going to use it. My car is a 91Z G92 code car with no tank issues that I know if. So assuming it's a baffled tank in good shape on the inside, I'll just put it back up in there. I need to drop my rear end so anyway, so I was going to pull the tank to put in a new pump (preventative due to mine being original) and I figured for the price this guy wants to the NOS tank, I may just swap it out in-case I find anything sketchy in there. .So maybe I'd move it on to somebody. Guy said it's the 'tank kit" with new sender/pump/wiring assembly. He's also throwing in a brand new NOS speedo for an early car that shows 000000 on the odo. (again mine is 91 so not much use to me) Being never used NOS GM stuff it seems like a no-brainer to just pick it up and move it along though.

 

1984 fuel pump is worthless. No one wants to deal with that headache. Loud, and failure prone. Much better options out there.

GD

 

No argument from me. But it's the entire assembly new in the box. The pump can easily be upgraded to something with more reliability.

 

That sending unit, pickup assembly might be worth the whole deal. Though I have aftermarket of those also and haven't had an issue.

GD

 

I think I have read that before. When I first got my car out of 20 year storage I handed it over to my trusted BMW mechanic to get it running. Told him to save all parts. First thing he did was change tank and toss old one. Needless to say I was pissed. He was concerned about old fuel gunk, I'd have restored it. Then he told me what am I worried about, car would never be worth anything. Like I care about money. Its the car dummy. Needless to say he was taken off this job shortly there after. I've learned that if you want work done on a third gen, best to do it yourself.

Bottom line, I hate the new tank. Fuel gauge reading is wrong, and I can't fill it up very fast or gas comes splashing back at me. I want my old tank back!

 

First time I've hard this explanation. Its the simplest explanation I've ever heard, so it seems like it may be the correct one. I've heard a lot of stuff, like developed for 1LE cars and found way into main stream production, etc, etc.....

 

Well - he was probably right. But he didn't hook it up right and the sending unit wasn't adjusted properly. My aftermarket tank takes fuel no problem and the level sender is correct.

The original tanks had a plastic "well" that the pump pickup sat in - you can imagine what this plastic looks like and the condition it's in after 30 years. It can't be replaced. And then there's the gunk and contamination - cleaning may be somewhat possible but those chemicals will only further damage the plastic components inside.

I have done two cars now that sat for 10+ years, I'm a professional mechanic and have had tanks cut open, repaired, and welded back up, and also epoxy lined. That's really not an option with the third gen tank due to construction and if you want a reliable fuel system you NEED a clean tank. Especially with today's E10, and E15 fuels.

I think in this case your mechanic did absolutely the right thing. He just did a poor job.

The plastic slosh tray in the OE tank has been redesigned in the new tanks and is now welded-in steel. I'll post some comparison pictures for you guys.

GD

 

while your at it, let us know how to hook it up right and adjust the sending unit. I'm all ears!

 

You hook it up like stock. I didn't do anything special - I just put it back the way it came out.

As for the sending unit - I compared the old one and new one and had to bend the float arm a bit to get the angle right so it would sit in the same location (at empty) as the old unit. These things are thrown together by Chinese school girls and then shipped a dozen times around the world. They are pretty delicate. So you have to carefully inspect and adjust if necessary.

GD

 

He reused my original sending unit/float everything except tank. It reads fuel level changes, I just don't think it is accurate. And taking fuel, what is the deal with that? I've read others having same issue.