36 gallon tank add on

[Rex T.]

A few years ago, I had a 63 coupe, Daytona Blue w/ saddle leather that was supposedly born as a 250 horse automatic car. Someone in Texas supposedly had added fuel injection, 63 Muncie 4 speed, J65 metallic brake shoes and a 36 gallon tank with the "over the counter" tank cover. The tale was that the car was club raced at several tracks around the country, but no documentation. Car had a front nose (from middle of wheelwells forward) added, and was very obvious.

I know it was possible to add several things like side exhaust, fuel injection, etc. But was it possible to go to a Chevy dealer in the mid to late 60s and buy a complete 36 gallon tank setup and have it installed? This is the tale that acompanied this car, that the owner took it back to a Chevy dealer and had them install the tank. It was actually a pretty neat installation with what appeared to be the correct and original parts, brackets, etc. If this was the case, how would someone know which parts to order, or was the tank assembly available as a "complete" package. I would have thought option NO3 was for a new car order only. How much would something like this have cost in the mid to late 60s as a dealer-installed package?

Just curious. Wish I had kept the car now, but it needed a lot of work and was not documented in any way.

Thanks in advance for your help and opinions.

Rex NCRS #8089

[Michael H.]

Re: 36 gallon tank add on

Bruce,

At one time, almost all of the parts needed to install the 36.5 tank were available from GM over the counter. All of the large components certainly were but many of the small misc fasteners, clamps and hoses etc were not.

Many owners of race cars from the era purchased these items and installed them for long distance events. The problem was, most parts men never found all of the misc parts in the parts book that were supposed to go with the tank and cover.

As far as I know, there was never a complete 36.5 gal tank "installation pkg" that was available to the general public, although a few of these did slip out the back door to chosen racers.

I believe most items were probably discontinued in the late 60's or very early 70's, although the 67 style tank cover remained available until about 1975.

[Joe L.]

Re: 36 gallon tank add on

Rex-----

The tank was GM #3840345 and this included the filler neck. It was available until June, 1970. At the time of its discontinuance, it carried a GM list price of $142.10.

[Michael H.]

Re: 36 gallon tank add on

Joe,

Wish I would have ordered several of these in the 60's. I ordered two around 1970 but they never showed up. I seemed to always be a few months too late on some of the juicy parts back then. Believe there was also an earlier part number during the 63 MY but I don't remember what the change was.

The description in the parts book is just a bit confusing. It may state that the tank includes the filler neck but this should not be confused with the "neck assy" that fastens to the body under the fuel filler door. That tube assy was a different part number.

[Joe L.]

Re: 36 gallon tank add on

Michael-----

GM #3828357 was the 63 tank. It was discontinued and replaced for SERVICE by the 3840345 in August, 1963. This implies that the change in PRODUCTION may have taken place prior to the end of the 63 model year, assuming that any big tank cars were actually built after about mid-1963.

Yes, the filler neck which was included with the tank was only the portion actually attached to the tank----not the rubber hose and attached extension (the part that attaches under the fuel filler door).

[Michael H.]

Re: 36 gallon tank add on

Joe,

Yes, I believe the tank changed in prod several months prior to the August AIM date. I don't remember what the change was though. I have all of the engineering paperwork on it but not here.

Lot of late 63 N03 cars. They weren't built in batches like the February run though. Believe McCagh has one in the 20,000 range and I had one in the 17,000 range.

[Mike M.]

Re: 36 gallon tank add on

63 vin 20301, built last week of july 63, is and always was a tanker. mike