I have a 48 Chevy 3800 one ton 9’ bed truck. Back in the day a bunch of mods were done to it including dual matching saddle tanks. I’m now going through the truck and want to see if this is a cheap re-popped tank but am not sure what they are out of. This is the lead one that has had the neck modified to fill the other tank also. For all the non-AD truck experts, one ton long beds are rare and so are the 1948 model trucks that never used behind the cab tanks. There is very little info on a one year only one ton. Is this the original under the bed one ton only 1948 only tank and he happen to find another and added it? Or is this out of a more common later model truck? I also need new sending units but that’s easier with the universal ones now.
Who knows! but in real world, if you don't need the dual tanks many folks use a 60's mustang tank between the frame rails behind the diff. That, or I would use a plastic tank from any of the later pickups run along the drive shaft.
The parts book says it was the same from 1947-55 on 1 ton trucks. so probably it's original, and the filler was modified? Do the mountings on one of them look original?
inside the frame, which is under the bed. your truck is an FS, although it's kind of hard to read in this scan. I also looked in my 59 paper parts book, show the same thing.
The tank is original 48 1 ton and I believe 3/4 ton and 1 ton. The filler neck has been modified to feed the tank on the other side of the truck so both tanks fed off one filler neck. As big of a pain in the ass as it is to fill the stock tank on a 48 I can't imagine trying to fill the other tank through a pretty much level pipe. That pipe would have run across just above the frame rail. This is my stock 48 3100 1/2 ton tank with the original filler neck. This is a new one on me, This shot with creds to Street Side Classics shows that the gas filler neck on a 48 one ton indeed does come out through that notch at the front of the bed rather than a hole in the side of the bed like 1/2 tons do. My education for the day. No one that I know of sells replacement tanks for 3/4 or 1 ton 47/48 trucks. You might get away with running a 1/2 ton tank with some bracket and strap changes and just have a tank with two gallons less capacity than the stock tank and a few inches more clearance from the axle. No need for dual tanks unless you plan long trips in it where there are no gas stations. If you were in Wyoming or Nevada the extra capacity wouldn't be a crazy idea. The other options are put a tank under the rear of the bed (67/72 Burb/Blazer tanks fit pretty good) or find a tank that fits inside the rail that can be made to work. The bottom shot shows the difference in 48 gas tank capacities. found on this pfd 1948-Chevrolet-Truck.pdf That pfd was found here Vehicle Information Kits | GM Heritage Archive | General Motors That pfd has many of the stock specs and info for your 1 ton. It's normally where the answer is going to come from if you have a question about an original aspect of the truck.
Had a '53 Chevy one ton panel with two of those tanks. I believe one was factory and the other was added later.
Mr. 48, you just educated me big time. I've been messing with these trucks for almost 30 years. I have been trying to figure out where the PO filled in the hole in my bed side and was CERTAIN he cut that notch for the filler. I now agree after the streetside photo that it is factory. Thanks for all the help and info. I bet it is awful to fill both of those tanks with the level fuel filler. I will be checking out the inside of the tanks to asses condition today. Would any of you consider leaving BOTH tanks if they are in good condition?
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