Custom 35 gallon gas tank for '09 Tacoma

[cwvandy]

Thanks Jeff. I will send PM.
RE: your question, yes, we are internally linking the two high points to vent out air and allow the tank to fill at the top end. I think others may have asked this question and I misunderstood what they were asking.
Hey, Downhill, I completely understand what you are suggesting and will recommend this to make the end welds stronger. The final welds haven't been done and this is great input. Thanks again everyone.

 

[cwvandy]

PS: Commercial Powdercoating is where I have had all of my various projects completed. They do great work and will be seeing this tank in a few days!

 

[steve103]

oh boy. i want one. thanks for your hard work.

 

[TheJosh]

:lurk:

 

[zolo]

cwvandy,
Not sure if you are aware this so I'll mention it anyway. The newer Taco has a pretty elaborate emission test system in fuel tank. From what I remember reading on the forum and the technical doc from Toyota. The system uses vacuum to detect leaks in the fuel tank. The system will create a vacuum in the fuel tank and it'll compare the pressure difference in the tank and ambiance. The pressure difference has to fall in certain range and the negative pressure in the tank has to reach in certain level and a predefined time limit. If this test failed the system will retry 3 times (I might be wrong). If it still fails, the check engine light will come on. This has been an issue with the FJ aux tank from Man-a-fre several years ago don't know if they have got it fixed. Not sure if with a 35gal tank at close to empty will have too much space for the system to reach that predetermined negative pressure in time. Just FYI, in case if you did see check engine light come on this might be one of the possibility cause. :sombrero:

Again, this is an awesome project! Thanks for posting it.

This sytem is actually not in the tank its under the bed right in front of the factory spare tire bolted to a croos member. The valves, canister, and pump are all together. But good call.

However most higher-end Scanner's have a EVAP test for the Tacoma and you can run the test manually and or in an auto test mode through the scanner to test the tank and the system.
So if you have access to a Snap -On... say Verus. You could test the new tank and then make any adjustments or changes if needed.
I have been through this on my truck and the scanner will actually tell you what part of the system is not working if it indeed doesnt.
But I bet it will. The system will run the pump till it see's the pressue it wants then let it hold and if it senses changes then it notes the issue. So it will run the pump for as long as is takes no matter the tank volume in theory.
The truck test's itself mostly after driving from what I could tell. Ive looked at the freeze frame data and it usually does it at night after the truck had been off for a while also during other conditions I suppose.
Hope that helps.

Slooowr6 is right though the system might end up being senitive. (funny Ive never seen a SLOW R6)

Cheers guys. Once again cool project....

 

[cwvandy]

Thanks, again, everyone for the great feedback and ideas. I am meeting with fabricator this AM, passing along the feedback and updating photos. Stay tuned.

 

[cwvandy]

Tank build update

Good progress is being made to tack together the tank and double/triple check the fit in the final position. Before the final welds are done some top pieces will be pulled off to final-weld the baffles.

A number of decisions were made today.
-Vent the three high points of the tank externally (three fittings can be seen in the photos) It was originally thought that we would do this internally, but after some discussion we decided it best to put the fittings and hoses where they could, if necessary, be maintained. A loose fitting inside the tank could later be quite the hassle and doing this externally will keep the hoses high enough to move all the air out.
-We are going with four internal baffles. The baffles are not only in natural and pretty evenly spaced "breaks" in the shape, but they also correspond to where the straps will hold the tank in place. This will provide some vertical rigidity where the tank is being pulled against the truck

The large hole in the tank is where the somewhat elaborate, circular factory pickup device is located. It is a piece about the size and shape of an old round oatmeal box (dating myself here). As noted earlier, all the stock hoses are being put back into place at, or very near, where they attached on the original tank. Care has been taken to not cut or attempt to lengthen any of the wires, hoses, etc. and to use the factory fittings.

Once the final welds are done we will pressure test the tank for at least 24 hours and then its off to the powerdercoater. Stay tuned.

 

[trump]

Looking great!

Don't forget to test your skills on a first gen tank.

 

[4x4x4doors]

Really? Oatmeal came in round boxes?

 

[slooowr6]

Slooowr6 is right though the system might end up being senitive. (funny Ive never seen a SLOW R6)

OT,
Slooowr6 = Slow rider on a R6........:bike_rider:

The tank looks very nicely build, looks like it's going to be $$$.
Does anyone in California know do they look at the tank when doing smog?

 

[downhill]

Lookin great! Once you prove this thing in, you need to take orders for a group buy! Amortise your development and build costs into the price and at the very least get yours for free. Nobody else is going to offer something like this so I think people will jump on it!

 

[J-man]

anything they cant see they wont question - a nicely built skid will keep wandering eyes away.....

 

[J-man]

great build man. Your making me want to do this to my 3rd gen 4runner, now i have to go drop my tank and see how much extra space is there. Id be happy with just another 5 gals capacity in there.

 

[LBPtaco]

great build man. Id be happy with just another 5 gals capacity in there.

X2! But the extra 15 would be REALLY nice!

 

[cwvandy]

Photo update

Today welding was continuing. Also found solid way to mount the factory fuel level device (aka the oatmeal box). Looks like powdercoater will see tank tomorrow.