Tankgirl

[Raven]

Thought that might bring ppl into the thread.😂

 

97+ conversion. Is there a best year for using the Dakota fuel tank, sending unit, and fuel pump? 

[watchamakalit]

 

 

 

I have no knowledge as to best year.

[Dzimm]

1 hour ago, Raven said:

Thought that might bring ppl into the thread.😂

 

97+ conversion. Is there a best year for using the Dakota fuel tank, sending unit, and fuel pump? 

For the 22gal, the early 90s tank and later 90s fuel pump (96ish+ IIRC) is the best combo but a later 90s tank will work.  The early tank has the corner near the diff angled to offer a ton of clearance, the later tank does not have this and sits within 1"-2" of the diff housing but still clears fine, just closer.  You can fit the 22gal tank under a swb MJ, just need to modify a corner of the tank to clear the frame brace (I'm not sure if this is required on the lwb or not) and be sure it's got spacers to keep the top of the fuel pump off the bed.

 

The 97+ thread in my signature has the info on how I did it.  I cannot answer definitively for the 16gal tank but I believe it'll fit any MJ without modifications.

 

 

Below are the wiring diagrams you'll need.  XJ side is the actual picture, Dakota side is the diagram.  I bought a Mopar repair pigtail online and made an adapter to make it easily replaceable.  Wired correctly it'll function like it's supposed to with the 97+ gauge cluster.

[AZJeff]

I followed Dzimm's advice when I put the Dakota tank on my SWB MJ, and he is pretty much spot on.

 

I will add, though, that you cannot directly use the tank mounting that the original MJ steel tanks used.  

 

You will need to devise a mounting to make sure you avoid any potential interference between the new tank and the propeller shaft and rear axle.  In this mounting method, make sure your mounting system pulls the tank towards the "frame" rail as well as upward, and you won't have any issues.

[Dzimm]

17 hours ago, AZJeff said:

I followed Dzimm's advice when I put the Dakota tank on my SWB MJ, and he is pretty much spot on.

 

I will add, though, that you cannot directly use the tank mounting that the original MJ steel tanks used.  

 

You will need to devise a mounting to make sure you avoid any potential interference between the new tank and the propeller shaft and rear axle.  In this mounting method, make sure your mounting system pulls the tank towards the "frame" rail as well as upward, and you won't have any issues.

Very good point!  I always forget to mention the fuel tank mounting. 

 

In my opinion the easiest method and what I did for my truck it to use some 97+ XJ fuel tank straps and bend them straight, then hooked them in the factory MJ strap locations and bend around the tank to meet up where the J-bolt notches are.  This method reuses the MJ strap mount locations but you absolutely have to be certain to make some kind of spacer on top of the tank to keep the top of the fuel pump away from the bed.  For mine, I used the pink panther insulation foam as the spacer as it won't really deteriorate and provides some cushion between the tank and bed.

 

This method does not however help to pull the tank towards the frame rail, it rather pulls it upwards only.  This leads to the tank sitting closer to the diff, my solution was to slightly tilt the tank in the rear away from the diff.  This leads to the tank sitting a little bit crooked but doesn't have any affects to how it functions.  Having a lift on the truck helps greatly with the clearance issue.

 

If at all possible I would recommend taking to time to do as AZJeff mentioned and devise a way to pull it towards the frame rail in the rear if at all possible.  I've seen some very nice mounts people have fabricated to mount these tanks.

[Raven]

Thanks guys 👌it’s the info I wanted to clarify.