Topic: Fuel Tank Capacity
in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems
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Heres a question I keep saying I'm going to research and I never do. What is the fuel tank size on 72 corvettes? Are they the same on all c3 vettes? Just wondering how far we can go on a full tank.
Rodney
Rodney

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Duncanville, TX - USA
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Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Should be around 20 gallons. How far you can go on a tank kinda depends on what kind of mileage you get on those 20 gallons. I usually only get around 200 miles on a tank in the '74, but it won't hold the full 20 gallons, due to the extended tube they added to the filler neck...it supposedly reduced the tank capacity to 18 gal.
Joel Adams
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thanks joel, that gives me the belief that as long as i fill up before i leave i should be able to go 175-200 miles before i have to get gas. doubt if I'll go that far away from home to many times.
Rodney

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Overland Park, KS - USA
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Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.
2023 Accelerate Yellow HTC Stingray
Specs list it at 20 gal.
1973 L-82 4 spd
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Oak Creek, WI - USA
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Vette(s): 1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!
According to the Corvette Black Book, the Fuel Capacity of the 1972 was 18 Gallons!!
|UPDATED|10/19/2012 9:11:29 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
My 81 is 23.7 gal!!
(^^^)
Dan 

|UPDATED|10/19/2012 9:11:29 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
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Overland Park, KS - USA
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Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.
2023 Accelerate Yellow HTC Stingray
1968 brochure lists 20 gal.
I'll check my 1973 FSM tomorrow.
|UPDATED|10/19/2012 10:18:46 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
I'll check my 1973 FSM tomorrow.
|UPDATED|10/19/2012 10:18:46 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
1973 L-82 4 spd

COPPERAS COVE, TX - USA
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Vette(s): 1972 corvette stingray convertible
2007 coupe
my 72, is 18 gal.
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Overland Park, KS - USA
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Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.
2023 Accelerate Yellow HTC Stingray
My '73 owner's manual says 18 gal. Now I wonder if they ever had a 20 gal. tank or maybe it was the later years after they went to the tank w/ a bladder or maybe in '78 w/ the fastback.
1973 L-82 4 spd

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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The problem with the tank capacity is the "slosh" tube on the filler neck. If you remove that, the tanks will hold a full 20 gal. You could also get a little more in if you push the car back/forth some while filling. Once the fuel gets to the bottom of the filler neck tube, it don't wanna take no mo...but there IS more room in the tank. So...technically, it is a 20 gal tank....it's just not a useful 20 gal.
also...lowering the fuel level in the tank prevents a lot of fuel overcoming the vent tube, and the vapor return tubes at the tops of the tanks.
|UPDATED|10/21/2012 6:53:03 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
also...lowering the fuel level in the tank prevents a lot of fuel overcoming the vent tube, and the vapor return tubes at the tops of the tanks.
|UPDATED|10/21/2012 6:53:03 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems
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