[n2ogpsj462]

I finally got my car out of storage after yrs of sitting ( house, kids etc) and was going over everything necessary to get it rolling again. Draining the gas and notice both front corners of the tank are leaking. It's the original tank so I'm thinking of grabbing a new aftermarket one like spectre or similar. I've always had issues under half tank even with my sump so I was thinking if I'm starting with a new slate, maybe there were a few mods to keep gas at the sump where it needs to be. I'm obviously going to sump it again and thought while it's cut open I can take advantage. Also on a side note, they don't sell the repro 21.5 gal my car came with but only the 17 for the goats etc. any issues fitting? Thinking the worst id have to do is make some straps?

[Boostedbird]

I modified the stock tank in my Trans Am. I used a very large sump, then cut both ends of the tank off right past the straps to keep more volume over the sump. It cut my capacity from 21 gallons to about 11 including the sump but that doesn't bother me.

[TimeWarp]

Holley has these things called Hydramat. Fairly new and not cheap, but will pick up from anywhere in the tank no matter how little of the mat sits in the fuel. Really kinda cool. Saves you from having to do a sump at all, and is good for EFI too. You have to see some of the race cars they used it in and the videos on it to believe it, and even then I sit there and shake my head wondering.

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/hydramat/

http://www.offroadxtreme.com/news/ho...betech-racing/

http://www.hotrod.com/features/1508-...wap-fuel-tank/

[n2ogpsj462]

I like the idea of trimming outside of the straps. That would eliminate some clearance issues with my exhaust, allow me to use my straps and im sure welding my factory tank would be easier than the likely thinner cheap repro and eliminate my problem areas of the tank! Id like to know what you used to box in the ends if you don't mind?

[TimeWarp]

Remember that if the tank is leaking in a couple of areas already...you may go to all the trouble and later find pinholes in other areas months or years down the road.

[Boostedbird]

I went to Lowe's and got the sheet metal. I forget what thickness that it was, but it was thicker than the tank. I wanted a larger sump than usual. My brother had a big block Chevy oil pan that a couple of rods went through, so I used that sump. I drilled fourteen 1/2" holes in the floor of my tank, fitted and welded the sump, then cut the ends off. I used the ends of the tanks as templates and made the sides. I did it this way to use the factory sending unit, factory mounts, keep the fuel above the sump, and to gain lots of room for my exhaust and eventually moving my leaf spring in without cutting my trunk floor. Not counting the weld bungs I think that I have $30 in it! Lol!

[Boostedbird]

Once you have the tank narrowed and the end pieces welded on you can cut the seems out and resheet them. I cut the front of my tank out and did this. Welded in return line bungs and made a new breather box that's recessed into the top of the tank. It was fairly easy really.

[TimeWarp]

Originally Posted by Boostedbird

Once you have the tank narrowed and the end pieces welded on you can cut the seems out and resheet them.

Very cool boostedbird, looks great. What did you weld with, mig or tig? Also what do you mean that after the ends were on you cut the seams out and re-sheeted them?

[Boostedbird]

Originally Posted by TimeWarp

Very cool boostedbird, looks great. What did you weld with, mig or tig? Also what do you mean that after the ends were on you cut the seams out and re-sheeted them?

Tig weld. I cut the front of the tank out and replaced it with new sheet metal to replace the factory seam where the tank was put together. Mine had a pinhole in the seam so I just did away with it.

[n2ogpsj462]

I like the thinking out of the box approach to the sump boosted bird. One issue I noticed right away was once the tank was installed my sump wasn't the lowest point because of the upward angle so I actually put a floor jack under the front and caved in in a little. The more I'm looking at yours and thinking about this, I may just pull the tank and do something completely custom like yours. I have a smoker, so checking all the pin holes would be easy.

[n2ogpsj462]

This is my current setup although difficult to see because it's all painted black

[er455]

I like that very nice job