37 Studebaker Dictator gas tank

[Guest dkstud37d]

Does anyone have or know where I may find a "new" gas tank? I can probably repair the one I have but thought I would look for a new one first.

Part number is 189252.

It would have to be shipped so I believe it would need to be a reproduction or NOS.

[SMB]

On my 37 I ended up using a new tank from Tanks in Minnesota. It was made for a 41 to 48 Chevy I believe. It was a close out with the sending unit included which fit nicely in the space for the original. The sending unit was the correct one for the gas gauge also. I did have to make a hole in the cross piece of the frame to make connection to the tube into the tank.

I cut the included filler tube short and used a bendable rubber connector from Bob Drake to fasten to the original fill tube which I fastened to the inner fender with brackets. The tank with sending unit was about $160 shipped IIRC..

I can send pictures if you wish and provide your email address. But then maybe you're looking for an original - if so, if so good luck.

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Edited February 12, 2010 by SMB (see edit history)

[drdon]

Hey SMB,

Would you put the pics on this thread for us to see, as I am dealing with the same problem. My tank is rough, and I have despaired about how to try to fix it so it would stay healthy. I am mostly dealing with holes along the top of the tank where the trunk must have leaked on the parts car sedan I took the tank from. (A preposition is to never end a sentence with!) If that doesn't work, I can send email to you, but that won't help anyone else.

[SMB]

Hi Don,

My tank had the same problem and I did not want to deal with rust, etc. in the fuel. However, I screwed up about having pictures.

I will just copy the reply I sent to the other Don:

<style></style>Hi Don,

I am embarassed - I don't have pictures. I was sure I had taken some but apparently not. The car is about 3.5 hours away getting upholstery done and I may have it back in a week or 3 weeks at the latest with cooperation of the weather. I can get pictures taken then.

However, it was an easy swap. I used the original top mounting straps and the lower ones which were provided with the tank. I centered the tank between the frame rails. I shortened the pickup tube and made a hole in the crossmember so I could hook up to the fuel line with a rubber line and clamps by going through the hole. The filler tube can be mounted at several angles so I used the position which would allow it to clear the frame rail and the floor of the trunk and shortened it. My filler tube still is held to the frame with the original bracket. I built a support bracket which attaches to the inner stone guard (?) and holds the upper part of the tube in the proper location . Bob Drake (a parts vendor) sells a flexible gas filler tube made just for applications like this for about $25 I think. It can be cut to length. That and a couple clamps and it was done.

The tank does have a vent which I routed up under the fender. If you use a vented cap it may be unnecessary.

The tank I used is found in the "bargain room" at the Tanks Inc. website. It is #48RCG-BR-S and is $125 = shipping and their shipping was fast.

I will get pictures as soon as I can and I apolgize for not having them.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Steve

I have your email and will have pictures as soon as I am able to get to the car. I may have a chance to do it this next weekend if winter ever ends. These new tanks fit right in the available space and hold 16 gallon vs the 18 gallon of the original.

Steve Brown

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[SMB]

OK, I now have some pictures of the 41-48 Chevy tank in a 37 Studebaker.

I already emailed these to the two interested parties but will post them here also. If anyone has questions just email me.

Steve

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