How to raise OBS gas tank(pics included)

[Sierra]

I just raised my gas tank and thought some others would like to know what is involved with this project. Also to show if this is worth doing or if it is better to buy the prefabbed raised crossmembers that are floating around out there.

First you will want to remove the bed to get to the gas tank crossmember. You will want to have the truck jacked up on jack stands as well. Now you will want to remove the straps from the front tank bracket and the rear crossmember to drop the tank out of the way.

To remove the crossmeber you can use whatever method you prefer to remove the factory rivets that hold it in. I prefer to use a grinder to remove the rivet head and then use a center punch to pop the rivets out. Once the rivets are you just remove the crossmember.

As far as the front bracket goes, just remove it and re-drill your holes an inch higher and then re-bolt the bracket back in.


I raised my an inch and a half. I will get into the problems with raising it more than an inch later.

Ok now for the crossmember. I chose to section my crossmember rather than cut out an inch and weld plates in. This way I would keep the factory angles and strap mounting points. So I cut the bottom piece out and then removed how much I wanted to raise the tank.


After I cut out what was needed I welded back in the bottom piece. Now keep in mind you don't have to use the factory piece. You can just plate in at this point and redrill the holes for the strap.

As you can see from the photo above, there is a gap that needs to be plated in. So here it is with the gap filled.

I know. My welding is not the greatest. It is welded on both sides. I should have welded another bead to fill in the groove the curve of the factory piece created but oh well. This will be under the bed unseen.

Before the tank is bolted in, You will have to cut the bottom edge of the back of the cab. That lip is about an inch from the bottom to the bottom of the cab. You can see where I cut in the next photo.


This photo also shows the crossmember bolted back in and everything else strapped and tightened up. Yes I know I should have plated in where I notched for the drive shaft but I drove it for years like that with no problems.

An thats it as far as raising the tank. Now for the problems I faced. I would recommend only raising the tank 1 inch. I raised mine 1.5 inches. Raising the tank more than 1 inch puts the tank sending unit lines above the crossmember.

The bed sits right on top of the crossmember. The humps in the tank will also be to high. The bed crossmembers will hit the tank. Here is a pic of what will need to be notched on the bed. This is a stepside bed so it may vary a little on a fleetside bed.

And that is it. Here is a photo of how far my tank sits off the ground with the back layed out and the front 2 inches off the ground.

[Marcos]

I usually just cut out an inch and then just weld in a 2x2 bar flush with the top to give it back some strength. Good right up though

EDIT: Here is a pic

[Nickleahy23]

looks good..def. have some clearance now

[chevysnbuicks]

Hmmmm, I hadn't really thought of doing that... I wonder how it would work with a square body?

[DRAGGIN95]

Good write up man!

[BHB]

Originally Posted by DRAGGIN95

Good write up man!

[gmctrucks]

What is the reason for doing this is it because something rubs when truck is lowered?

[Marcos]

Originally Posted by gmctrucks

What is the reason for doing this is it because something rubs when truck is lowered?

Its mostly for people that are bagged and want to lay frame.

The gas tank hangs lower than the frame so it needs to be raised or it will drag through...

[16vconversion]

Originally Posted by Marcos

Its mostly for people that are bagged and want to lay frame.

The gas tank hangs lower than the frame so it needs to be raised or it will drag through...

I would guess that rubbing a hole in the tank would be a No-no ?

[Sierra]

Originally Posted by 16vconversion

I would guess that rubbing a hole in the tank would be a No-no ?

Yeah, it's nice to throw sparks but not so good to become a flame thrower.

[phillipsjt27]

Its never good to turn your ride into a flame thrower