Rear Gas Tank, Plastic or Steel?

[Mill KNOB]

I am in need of a new Rear main gas tank and was wanting to know which one is the best bank for the buck, Plastic or Steel tank?
I would like to know the good and bad of the plastic. I know that steel should last me the life of the Bronco, but would like to know which one you guys have on your rigs.

 

[slim811]

Plastic, figured there is some reason used on modern vehicles.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jmangi62]

Steel 23ga. Aero tank,can't beat it.

 

[bronconut73]

I went with a plastic tank.
It's Uber thick, so I don't worry about damage.

Only holds about 14 gallons though.

After fighting rust issues for years plastic just seemed right.

24 years
I do not regret it.

 

[Mill KNOB]

Great info guys! Keep the comments coming. Thanks!

 

[Juiceman]

Plastic on mine. It has straps holding it up. I have been reading some posts about the skid plate holder. Curious to see if others have plastic and straps?

 

[blubuckaroo]

My '77 had both plastic tanks. Both cracked right after warranty.
I replaced both with Aero tanks 38 years ago. No problems since. The sending units are still accurate.

 

[Slowleak]

Both tanks are plastic with skid plates on my '77 and are still holding up. If they were steel I would be concerned about rust and probably would have dropped them by now to check. I would go with plastic just because of issues with E10 and water.

 

[jmangi62]

I went steel because of EFI install, otherwise would've went plastic, is it possible to install EFI pump into a plastic tank?

 

[DirtDonk]

Plastic on mine. It has straps holding it up. I have been reading some posts about the skid plate holder. Curious to see if others have plastic and straps?

The factory '77 is the only one I'm aware of that has a skid plate actually holding it on. A standard plastic replacement for the earlier steel tanks would have straps and no skid plate unless your Bronco had one as an option from the factory, or was put on later. But the tank is retained by the strap and the skid plate is bolted to the frame. In either case.

I went steel because of EFI install, otherwise would've went plastic, is it possible to install EFI pump into a plastic tank?

I would think so. I'm not aware specifically of any of the pump retrofit kits that let you adapt a plastic tank, but they probably exist.

Paul

 

[73BRO]

I tried replacing the steel rear tank on my 1973 with a replacement plastic that was supposed to fit.dont know if it was a bad batch but fitment was terrible.
sent it back and got the steel one.fits just like it should.
the original one lasted 43 years .showed a little rust under the strap but didn't leak.
putting fuel injection in and wanted to start new.

 

[DirtDonk]

You going to run an external pump, or try to adapt an internal one to the stock type tank?

Paul

 

[73BRO]

I'm going with external fitech pump.
Made a bracket with a piece of flat steel bolted to frame and pump bolted to that