Oh the joy! So last year my fuel pump failed during the Hot Rod Power Tour. We found a shop to replace it but I am not sure they had ever removed one so the filler neck on the tank likely took a beating until I told them to unhook the sway bar and get the axle down so the tank can be rotated to get the tank out (yes, I did it the year before). Anyway, I got the car back an occasionally smelled gas. Seeing nothing dripping, I did nothing but the other day I was working on replacing the power antennae and it was leaking presumably out the filler neck on the floor. So I decided that it needs resolved so down comes the tank again. I looked at Summit for a tank and theirs was 6-8wks out so I journeyed over to JEGs found one and ordered it. Now I did not notice it is recommended for 1982-1987 555-78030. That seems odd because I thought all were the same and someone else mentioned that there is likely only one manufacturer like every thing else in the world now. Now this tank is 14 gallons where the stock one is 15.5. So I am contemplating my next steps. Will this tank work? Do I want to sacrifice 1.5 gallons? Is the stock filler neck repairable (likely)?

 

Yes the filler neck leak can sometimes be repaired. Depends on exactly how it failed, and the technologies for repair at your disposal.

Best case, the solder joint is cracked. If so you can solder it back. Fill the tank with exhaust (loosen the fuel pump ring, hook up a car's exhaust to the filler neck with flex tubing, run it for a few minutes to flush out all the air, unhook, stop up the neck and tighten the ring quickly to keep ANY fresh air from getting in) before soldering.

If the metal itself is cracked it'll be ALOT tougher. Probably better in that case to replace it outright unless you have a way to make a new piece to cover it over, maybe out of copper or brass sheet to make it eeeeezy, that you can then solder on over the crack(s), as above.

 

Thanks Sofa! Do you know anything about a tank that fits an 1987 but not an 1988? I like others bet it’s off the same tools the Dorman is made out of 14 gallon

 

I know of no reason it wouldn't fit. No idea why there's a break at that particular year change.

 

So the mystery gets deeper, I see online the GM2721A (JEGs 78030) is a Spectra tank but I see one on eBay that says “not for EFI”. I guess the difference is a pan inside the tank. I guess GM2721B has the pan.

 

I got one of the TRQ tanks from 1a Auto and it seems quite nice. Looks identical to the tank I am replacing inside except the "pan" is metal instead of plastic. You will need a different gas cap, Stant 10826 is reported to work but I haven't gotten one yet to confirm.

They also had the tank on my door step in 2 days. Ordered on a sunday, delivered tuesday.

https://www.1aauto.com/1982-92-chevr...88/180495/1989

 

Bit the bullet and ordered the Spectra GM2721B off Amazon and going to send back the JEGs 78030- GM2721A. The JEGs was a good deal and doubt the lack of pan would have been an issue but not going to chance it as pulling the fuel tank is a real PIA.

 

I have the spectra tank in my 82. It was part of the aeromotive stealth kit. I had no issues w it. It has baffles like the nicer tanks and the paint is durable. My only issue was the filler neck needed to be bent back so it was centered in the filler hole. It was 1.5 inches too far forward. It took 10 seconds to bend.

if this tanks ever needs to come out again, I'm trap-dooring it. What a pain in the ***!

 

I remember when I was replacing mine the 2 options were Dorman or Spectra (if you look at the pictures there are some slight differences). I went with the Dorman as a local parts store could get it fast and I wasn't about to mess with Rockauto's non-existent customer service...the way they ship those tanks is lousy with the neck exposed so they can get damaged easily.

You should be all set with the Spectra, weird thing after mine was replaced the first year it would not take fuel as fast as before but now it seems to be better...I have heard that is a common thing with the re-production tanks.

Also, you said you had the fuel pump done pretty recently and it died after a year or so, what kind of pump was used? Seems like it didn't last long at all which sucks as that is a labor intensive job.

 

I got one of these to put in my car, made by a member here (Sorry, forgot your screen name ). Very nice piece.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176125591161

 

Hopefully its just a cracked solder joint, easy fix.

 

I installed a Spectra GM2721B in my 89' GTA. It fit just fine.

 

Just a follow up! Got the Spectra GM2721B tank and put it in. They tout “premium” quality but the filler neck was off about 1.5”. So for those that started with this thread, the reason I was replacing the tank was the shop that virtual destroyed the filler neck trying to get it out. I was worried about breaking the solder at the neck to tank joint but it seems fine.

Also for a “premium” tank, I spent some time filing and grinding sharp edges of the tank prior to install.