Instead of hiring women of the night in an attempt to discredit Ralph Nader during his attack on General Motors and the purportedly less-than-safe Chevy Corvair, maybe the automaker should have taken the constructive criticism and been more proactive with future endeavors. Well, at least they were smart enough to finally realize that putting fuel tanks mere inches from the driver and passengers inside their pickup trucks wasn't the greatest idea of all time-but then the location they subsequently chose may not have been at the top of the list of "ideal locations for a fuel tank," either.
Thankfully, our industry is filled with forward-thinking companies-companies like Performance Online (POL)-continually bringing better and safer products to their consumers. With the recent rise in popularity of '73-87 Chevy/GMC 1/2-tons, POL decided to expand its line of rear-mount aluminum fuel tanks past the previous '72 cutoff. Now, C-10 owners can finally lose the worry of side-impact fuel tank explosion-and rid their bedsides of unsightly fuel fillers.
POL's new tank is a generous 19-gallon unit (fully baffled) heartily constructed from heavy-gauge aluminum-which also offers substantial weight savings-and is designed to fit nice and snug between the rear framerails (behind the rearend) with minimal labor efforts-of course, the minimal efforts are achieved "after" the bed is removed, though it's not mandatory to do so. Currently, the tank is offered with a bed-fill option, but the company is working on a few different varieties. All mounting hardware is included (you provide your own fuel line and appropriate fitting), and POL also has electronic sending units available.
 Don't get the wrong impression-GM's...  Don't get the wrong impression-GM's saddle tanks should not be confused with the old "Pinto syndrome," but nevertheless, moving the tank(s) to a more rearward location is ideal. |  Sometimes, safety's gain is...  Sometimes, safety's gain is capacity's loss-but losing the few added gallons provided by the reserve tank shouldn't be of much concern when you realize that the Performance Online rear-mount tank will hold 19 gallons of fuel. |  Modification-wise, about the...  Modification-wise, about the only chore you'll be faced with is removing the spare tire hanger bracket, which comes out easily. Labor-wise, it's a bit more involved, and it's highly recommended that you remove the bed, even if you're working with a lift. |