'62 Gas tank question

[Edward Kenny]

Some time ago, I bought a gas tank as a replacement for the tank in my '62 CDV. When I put the tank on the car, however, I found that it was smaller than the 26 gallon tank that the car was delivered with. It made me wonder if indeed I was sold a tank from a Town Sedan or Park Avenue sedan.

When I measured the dimensions of the replacement tank, however, I found that the length of the tank (front to rear) matched the length of the 26 gallon tank, but the width was shorter than the 26 gallon tank width. Since the rear deck of the Town Sedan or Park Avenue was shorter than the standard Cadillac rear deck, I would figure that the length and not the width would be shorter. Can anyone tell me if the dimensions of a Town Sedan or Park Avenue sedan tank is of the same general dimensions as the smaller tank I mention here?

Thanks in advance for the due diligence.

[Glen]

This may only add to the confusion.  These are listings from the 1965 and 1974 parts books. 

I thought all the passenger cars came with 20 gal. tanks.  Maybe your original tank came from a commercial chassis? 

[Edward Kenny]

This may only add to the confusion.  These are listings from the 1965 and 1974 parts books. 

I thought all the passenger cars came with 20 gal. tanks.  Maybe your original tank came from a commercial chassis? 

The 1962 Cadillacs came standard with 26 gallon gas tanks except for the Town Sedan and Park Avenue sedans (model numbers 6289 and 6389, respectively). They came standard with 21 gallon tanks due to the shorter rear deck.

[paul]

you may have a 59 to 61 cadillac gas tank. That is the interchange on them i believe. Maybe the person you bought it from may have thought it would fit 62 seeing how the cars are so similar 61 and 62. Just a thought. If it fits and will give service  use it. beats a leaky tank.

[quadfins]

Hi Ed,
   Sorry for the delay in replying to your question.

   In 1961, Cadillacs changed over to single exhaust. Now, without the need for room for the exhaust pipe and resonator on the right (passenger) side, there was extra room in the space within the frame that the tank is mounted. I guess it took them a year to figure out that they could use that space, and so for 1962, the tanks were widened, and capacity increased. However, this did not apply to Town Sedans and park Avenues. I don't know why, or whether the dimensions within the frame were different. The diagrams and information in the 1962 shop manual indicate that the frames were the same for all of the sedan models.

   So, to answer your question, yes, if your new tank is from a '62, it would be from a PA orTS, or it might be from a '61.

Jim