Planning ahead in my future carb to TPI conversion and saw on RockAuto that there are different part numbers for gas tanks based on how the car is setup. Does anyone known the difference between the two versions? Additional baffles in the FI tank?

I have a complete 88 parts car that had the TPI setup, now stowed in my attic. I hadn't planned on dropping the tank, but certainly will if that is the correct one to use in the future.

Thanks for any guidance!

 

FI tanks have a plastic tray the pickup sock sits in-purpose is to prevent fuel from sloshing away from pick up and causing momentary loss of fuel pressure.

 

Where are you looking on Rock Auto? Got a screen shot of the listings in question?

To the best of my knowledge, all the replacement tanks are the same. You have the choice of with or without the filler neck, and that's it. If you're seeing choices beyond that, you may be seeing tanks with different pumps installed for different applications. But without seeing what you're seeing, it's hard for anyone else to tell you why one is different from another.

GM used a few different tanks. They're all the same physical size, but the sending unit is different depending on application. The best baffled tanks showed up toward the end of the 80's and were standard in nearly everything by 91-92. You might not be able to replicate that setup with an aftermarket tank, but it's not too hard to find a 91-92 V6 or TPI car to salvage the tank. The 'dual' late TPI/V6 style pickup is available from Rock Auto, it's the long sock with the pump connection in the middle, AC Delco and Delphi both offer them.

If you've got a TPI parts car, and you're planning a TPI swap, it's not a bad idea to salvage the tank. At the very least you might want the sending unit. Not that there's anything wrong with a new sending unit, but why buy parts that you've already got? From past experience, you'll think of at least a half dozen parts you needed from the parts car in the weeks or months after you send the parts car to the junkyard.

 

Sorry to interrupt, but can the FI tank be used with the carb setup, with the same goal of keeping the fuel around the pickup? Or would it interfere? Thanks.

 

You are sure right on the parts car! I have it stripped almost totally bare. All that will be left when I have it hauled away is the 305 block, trans, windshield, rear quarter and glass, and doors (rusty).

Here is a screenshot of the RA page showing carb and FI tanks with and without filled necks.

 

Re.#4-could use the FI tank with carb,but not really needed since fuel in the float bowl will get past the momentary fuel interruption

 

OK, If you click the "INFO" button on the carb and FI tanks, and compare the charts, the difference is the FI tanks have an "attached sump", whatever they mean by that.