Options for larger fuel tank in a '73?

[Jim Williams]

After trying the install of an SC fuel tank in my '73 (without inquiring first if this was possible), it seems the SC tank has the same footprint, but is blocked just before sliding into place by the front anti-roll bar. Anyone else been there, done that? I've seen some larger tanks (either expensive racing style or copies) installed in some early cars posted here. What options are available?

[RSTarga]

Well the factory just re-released the large RS plastic tanks. That would be my first choice , you'll have to go with a space saver. When I was younger I used to crave a larger tank, now my bladder can't last even the 15 gallon tank.

[edmayo]

The anti roll bar shouldn't be blocking the tank, plenty of S C's have, or have been converted, to the early style anti-roll bar. Is this an original tank from an SC or a repro?

[advtracing]

The anti roll bar shouldn't be blocking the tank, plenty of S C's have, or have been converted, to the early style anti-roll bar. Is this an original tank from an SC or a repro?

agreed , i have a later 83 tank in my 72 st build with a 19mm front through body sway bar with out issue

[Todsimpson]

+1 on the SC tank fitting an earlier car...even with a through the body sway bar.

It's a nice upgrade in capacity AND no more fuel starvation in LH turns.

[Jim Williams]

Thanks for all the positive responses, guys. I decided because of what's been posted,to have another go at it. The thing that was actually holding up the tank fitting into place was not the bar as I thought. It was part of the chassis.


Interfering sheet metal removed. Tank finally in place, and I didn't waste money on the space saver I had already bought!


Yes, some rust treatment is in order!

[andyjboy]

You shouldn't have had to remove that section - I had a later tank (converted to centre-fill) - & a 22mm Weltmeister front antiroll bar - installed in my '72 model without any fitment problems.

[Jim Williams]

You shouldn't have had to remove that section - I had a later tank (converted to centre-fill) - & a 22mm Weltmeister front antiroll bar - installed in my '72 model without any fitment problems.

Andy,

All I know is, that as I initially tried to maneuver the SC tank into it's new home, paint was being scraped off the tank by that lip. Further forcing would have simply scraped more paint off, so I assumed it was not meant to fit in the spot vacated by the original tank. It was also not obvious that the tank was going to clear the anti-roll bar even if it was forced past the lip, so I stopped, removed the SC tank, and placed it side by side to the original tank to compare the profiles. The original tank had an obvious indentation in the area of the roll bar (to clear the bar?), and the SC tank had none. So I further assumed that the SC tank was not intended to go there.

But as several before you had stated that the tank would (should?) fit, I tried again to place the SC tank in the car with the same result I had initially. I even called my son into the garage to observe and he also had misgivings that it was going to fit even with the sheet metal trimmed, and suggested that I work on the tank with a hammer if I insisted I was going to make it fit. Since I was determined at this point to move ahead, I trimmed the sheet metal. And lo and behold, the tank eased by the trimmed area and in to place.

So maybe others didn't have this problem, and I shouldn't have had to remove that bit of metal, but I did. The '73 was already a bit of a bastard at this point, so it didn't bother me to make yet another small modification.

[javadog]

Well the factory just re-released the large RS plastic tanks.

Do you happen to have any more information on this? I checked the Porsche Classic Parts web page for price and availability and there was no listing for the fuel tank.

Thanks,
Jeff

[platas]

Also if possible a ref number on this new item, or ref on the old item.

thanks