Hey guys -

I'm getting rusty on some of my FC knowledge so I figured I'd see if you can help me out here.

Buddy has an '86 GXL that has sat up for about 6 years. Gas tank is in bad shape, we think the fuel pump is seized up, and I think he'd be ahead of the game with a good used tank and pump/float assembly.

I seem to remember there were different versions of the gas tanks, like convertibles had a different one, 89-91 had more capacity, etc. Anyone know for sure what tanks will work/bolt in? He has a line on an '87 turbo gas tank here locally but we're not sure what shape it's in.

Thanks!

Dale

 

if it's an '87 coupe it should fit fine. the S5 had higher capacity but also fit if you use the appropriate straps that came with the tank iirc.

 

pretty sure that's right.

 

Absolutley Karack is right.

And no difference between Coup and Vert tanks. S4 tanks are S4 tanks, S5 tanks are S5 tanks. And as Karack points out, the two mounting straps for S4's only work for S4 tanks. S5 tanks being bigger need the bigger S5 straps to mount.

Also know you need a S4 fuel pump assembly for a S4 tanks, and S5 assembly for S5. S5 tanks are simply deeper, so assembly is longer.

Also, the S5 assembly has a detachable pigtail at the assebly while the S4's isn't detachable at the assembly. So be sure and grab the pigtail if you go S5 tank into an S4. In a Vert at least, the other end of the pig tail connects behind the plastic panel. So you have to pull it to get to it.

 

right, i forgot about the sender unit being longer.

 

Thanks for all the input! That's exactly what I was looking for.

Any further input keep it comin'!

Dale

 

if you're going to to the trouble to replace the tanks, I highly recommend replacing with the S5. If only to make it easier to pull and detach the pump assembly to work on down the road. And that extra 2 gallons might bail you out one day. If you were closer, I have an S4 tank I'd give you for what I'd get from an aluminum recycler.

 

Um, the tanks are steel, which is why the're susceptible to corrosion. You might consider adding a liquid liner while the tank is out to prevent rust.

 

technically i hate the S5 and S6 connector on the top of the fuel tank. when using anything larger than a stock fuel pump the S4 pump housing is the most reliable of all. i actually put an S4 unit into an S5 tank and moved the pump down about an inch so it was at the right height before on an S5 with a kenny belle boost-a-pump pushing about 450wheel horsepower that killed that connector.

 

OK, for what I'd get from a steel recycler.

And, I agree no connector is better than having one from a durability standpoint. My position was simply from a maintenance standpoint. Not having to pull panels to get to that buried connector just so I can pull the assembly for bench work of the assembly is prefereable to having to.

 

the later model ones are better in that respect. but we both know for reliability, servicability takes a hit.