C2 gas tank (hold-down) straps; 20 gal vs. 36.5 gal

[Wayne M.]

I was previously under the impression that GM never produced straps to service the small tanks; strictly a factory installed production item, part # 3819930. This # shows in my '65 AIM. And the Chevrolet P&A30 parts catalogs that I have, ['65, '66,'67 '68 '69 and '70] show only a line item for 36 gal tanks, Gr 3.022, part # 3828315; (ie. nothing for the small tanks), and reads as follows:

63-67 Corvette w/36 gal. tank ____ 3828315 ____ .75 (price) ___(44 53/64" dev. length) (Note 1)

NOTE 1 _Necessary to trim 9 3/4" from hook end and rework.

Does this mean that the service & production strap was longer for the big tanks, and to service the small tanks you have to shorten and bend the cut end to re-form the hook ? That's what I used to believe, but the catalog NOTE 1 does not specifically say why you should shorten the 36 gal strap; ie. to use on a big tank or a small tank.

[Joe L.]

Re: C2 gas tank (hold-down) straps; 20 gal vs. 36.5 gal

NOTE 1 does not specifically say why you should shorten the 36 gal strap;

Wayne------

The notes never do say why something needs to be done.

As far as the GM #3819930 goes, all I can tell you is that it was never available in SERVICE.

However, as far as the GM #3828315 goes, it's like this: the AIM's show that the GM #3828315 strap was used for the N-03 tank. So, that tells us that the 3828315 could be used as-is for the N-03 application since there's no way the factory would have "cut and reworked" the straps (and there's no note to that effect in the AIM's anyway). That pretty much means that the note to "cut and rework" in the P&A catalogs applies to the use of the 3828315 for standard tank applications. In that case, the notation "w/36 gallon tank" is an error in the P&A catalogs.

So, why did this occur? My guess is that "way-back-when" some genius in GMSPO came upon the bright idea that the 36 gallon tank strap could be used for the standard tank if they were "cut and reworked" and that would save the need to inventory another part number. VERY dumb idea that some higher up went along with. Cutting and reworking these straps is a bogus idea for a part like these straps, especially related to fuel system safety. It would NEVER happen today.

By the way, 1963-74 fuel tank set-ups, and especially the 63-67 N-03 tank, are an EXTREMELY dangerous configuration at their best. Things got a little better for the 1975-82 period with the tank bladders but not really all that much better.

[Wayne M.]

Re: C2 gas tank (hold-down) straps; 20 gal vs. 36.5 gal

By the way, 1963-74 fuel tank set-ups, and especially the 63-67 N-03 tank, are an EXTREMELY dangerous configuration at their best.

Yes, a fireball waiting to happen. I think this pic is one of Kevin McKay's see-through masterpieces, and gives an idea of how close the gasoline is to the driver & passenger backside. You can hear it sloshing back and forth for a few seconds once you kill the engine and release the clutch as you roll to a stop.

Kevin McKay.jpg

[Jim S.]

Re: C2 gas tank (hold-down) straps; 20 gal vs. 36.5 gal

Is that picture a true representation of the 36 Gallon set up ?