Dual gas tank ranger?

[silnthntr]

I have an 85' 2.8l v6 with dual tanks, it would have been easy to fill up when gas was a $1 or so, now its just filling up one tank.

 

[link040188]

so does any one want to post some more pics of their rangers

 

[AllanD]

IF you guys need selector valves they are available

Some late '80's early 90's Econolines with dual tanks used the same valve

on an '88? that gets tricky, because from what I've seen the '88 uses the
same valve mechanically, but the electrical connector on it is different.

The problems I've had with the valves are that they were either electrically dead
(the motor didn't work)
internal O-ring failure

OR the retainer that holds the three way valve assembly in the housing slips.

Mind you, I've dismantled my valves by taking a moto-tool to the
rivets and replaced the rivets with #6 Machine screws to facilitate
subsequent repairs.

on my own valve I'm using doubled up valve retainers, because
I'm not running the valve to switch the output of low pressure
in tan pumps to feed a frame mounted high pressure pump.

HOW the six port valve actually works...
Inside are TWO "three way" valves.
The valves are actuated by either pushing or pulling on the valve stems
The pushing and pulling is done by a single "Crossbar yoke" that is moved one way or the other by a motor driven leadscrew.

If you have or can get a dead valve I strongly recommend taking one apart, it's a fascinating bit of engineering....

I'm running high pressure pumps inside both tanks and I deleted
the frame mounted pump, so if I don't replace my fuel filter before
it gets clogged my valve will "sneeze" internal parts, usually either
the valve stem O-ring on the high pressure side, but I blew the valve
body retainer once before I switched to doubled up retainers...

EVENTUALLY I'm going to re-plumb things so that the valve
is only switching the return side of the fuel system.
I can do that by using a Tee fitting fed by a pair of check valves

Only one high pressure pump at a time is going to run...

The contacts inside the valve only actually switch which tank unit
fuel level sensor is connected to the guage, the power to the different
in-tank pumps is actually controlled by the tank switch.

As I've said before in other discussions on dual tanks the important thing is not making the pumps work, it's not making the guages work, it's not making the selector valve work.


THE thing is control of the low pressure return fuel...

Imagine driving with two full tanks and having the system directing the return fuel to the "other tank" that's already full..

In technical terms this is called an "uncommanded crossfeed."
and it's literally the most dangerous thing that can happen.

AD

 

[racsan]

makes you miss the "old school" setup like in dads '74 3/4 ton with just the mechanical engine fuel pump. you had a valve on the floor to switch from front/rear tank and a dash switch to change the sending unit for the gas guage. i never considered the return aspect of efi systems, guess i wont be building my own anytime soon.

 

[simonsays]

IF you guys need selector valves they are available

available... but EXPENSIVE!

 

[87Rangerdude]

ill take some detail pics of whats left of my duel tank setup when i get my cam back

 

[leserz]

just bought a 83 ranger today 2.3 auto dual tanks i seen them and said to my self dual tanks???? on a 2.3 . i think only my front tank gas gauge works. i can switch to rear tank and it reads the same as front. not sure if it's the electric switch on dash is bad or the selector valve but for now the front tank works for me . not going to lose any sleep over it. was not sure what tank was working so i put $15.00 in front tank and $5.00 in the rear to find out . it was about on empty when i got it . just in case i have a full 2 gal gas can in the back. i used that gas can for my f150 the gauge did not work at all used that can a few times

 

[Daily Driver]

Just wanted to subscribe. I was looking to add a tank...

 

[odie1969]

I was thinking about doing a Dual tank ranger but I heard alot of issues with the swtichs going bad. So my thought was to place a second tank with a auxil. then when my reg tank was low I would flip the switch and watch the gas gauge fill and shut the switch off when full.

 

[ryanford97]

The switch or the selector valve?

have spare tank selector switches I'm willing to part with,
I DO NOT part with selector valves.

I have dual tanks in my truck but it wasn't stock on my truck.

I'm not even running the original fuel tanks.
the original "main" tank on my supercab (a 1987) was a 14.5gallon tank, I through great effrt retrofitted forst a 17.0gallon tank from an '89 supercab into it then later a 22gallon tank from a '92.

when I was doing my 4.0 conversion I completely redid the entire fuel system and using a stock elector valve I added a behind the axle tank.

Though I had a rust free facotry aux tank the proper sender unit for it was apparrently made of unobtanium because I couldn't get one. so I improvised, after attempting and discarding the idea of a 23gallon bronco2 fuel tank I discovered the plastic 21gallon tank in the '90-95 F-350-/450 trucks would fit between the ranger frame rails, could be mounted lower and had a more conveniend filler tube location.

So I have a dual tank ranger with plastic tanks in both positions
with a combined capacity of 44gallons when topped up.

AD


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Do you still have any of the switches?

 

[longbedGTs]

Heres an 87 supercab dual tank Ranger I had. I believe the midship was 15 gal and the aux tank was 13. It was great on long trips! It had a 2.9 and 5speed.

 

[Rifleman]

about a year ago I saw a red wire hanging down by the pedals. It was just a piece of wire and I pulled it out.

Rule of thumb #1. Wires typically go somewhere. You should have traced what the other end connected to. It can be some work to do, but is typically worth it in the long run.

 

[Shran]

My 86 standard cab, long bed had dual tanks when I got it but I removed the saddle tank. All three fuel pumps were bad. I just bypassed the selector valve and all that crap.

 

[F84R]

my 87 has dual tanks. 17 in front 13 in rear and if any of my sending units worked I would certainly use the rear tank. I replaced both front pumps and my switch and valve both work but I jut don't know how much gas is in them. I don't feel like dropping the tank again but if i do im gonna remove the bed. so much easier.

 

[F84R]

Here is a link to the pics for my ranger. I just primed it so it is a lil tuf to see the tank doors. I took parts from my first ranger to make my second ranger better. http://s716.photobucket.com/albums/ww169/ddanj1/