Hi, I need some help; just bought a 1988 GMC G3500 dually / tilt flat bed. This truck has a Reading tilt flat bed with a 34 gallon gas tank behind the rear axle. I pulled the tank out because it was leaking. I looked everywhere and can't find this tank....looks like a custom tank? Anyone have any idea where I could find a new one? or good used on? I'm trying to avoid buying a fuel cell and fabricating it to fit.

 

It could’ve been custom built for GM at the time of production or installed by the company that installed the tilt bed.

How bad is the leak? If you’re not sure it can be repaired, Try searching for gas tank repair in your area to get some opinions/estimates.

 

May well be custom and may find something at ebay that could be close but I doubt it. Why can't you have the tank emptied, cleaned out and then reweld where the leak is?

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

 

It’s rarely that simple.

If you’ve ever tried (or witnessed) welding on an air compressor tank that’s corroding through, what usually happens is the steel melts away from the spot you’re trying to patch because the steel is so corroded and thin (no matter how low the voltage is set). The first spot to start leaking is where it corroded through first but the surrounding area is in just as bad of shape.

Leaks due to corrosion on gas tanks is usually the same type. It takes cutting out the corroded sections (or welding patch plates over the outside) to repair.