I have narrowed down my only dislike on this 83 FLH of mine has got to be the gas tank. I am sure all of you here know the tank I am talking about, and no offense to those of you that like this style, but I can't get past the look of the flat-sided body and "Gold Wing-like" center panel. I would love to switch out the tank for a regular looking fat bob tank with the center strip that includes the gas filler cap only. The speedo and tach, etc are within the faring so I don't have to worry about those items. I just want to change out the tank, but will a fat bob style fit onto my bike without considerable fabricating? Will the stock seat still fit? Can't seem to find the answers anywhere and hope you guys can help me....
Thanks in advance....

So Butcher... you have the instrument cluster on the forks and the headlight nacelle isalso different.Thelarge framed FLs all take theFat Bobs, which fit anythingbut the FXST, so wiring changed will be called for. The other problem that may bug ya is the instrument cluster on the forks... you can change the head light nacelle also... to get the FLH look ratherthan the FLHT look. You will also notice your side panels are also different, but most people will not notice that as much as the tank and instrument cluster.

Good Luck

Hogback,

PS: After '84 the Fat Bobs do not fit the FLs....just pre 84s if I am correct...

Later

HogBack....thanks for the reply...
I think I can live with the instrument panel (for now), and those side panels, too. But that tank really bothers me. In your post you said "so wiring changed will be called for" I hope you meant to type "NO wiring change will be called for" ( I hate re-wiring anything, let alone bike electrics). If I wont have to worry about the wiring aspect and the tanks pop right on, I may go that route and leave the instrument panel and headlight nacellealone for now. I take it the present seat will also be able to get re-used instead of having to buy a new seat?
Thanks again in advance.......

Butcher...sorryy that was very poor spelling. "changes" rather than "changed":.... if the tank is the only thing...you are okay.

Ride on brother

If it is an FLHT from 1983, many newer tanks should fit. I have a custom 1980 FLT and like you, did not like the tank. I bought a tank on ebay from a 2005 FLTR. It has the center strip gas filler that you mentioned which works well because my instument cluster is also not tank mounted like an FLH. I am fairly certain that a tank from any 5 speed rubber mount frame should fit just fine. Hope this helps. Check out the pic.

Good Luck!

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git guy....
thanks for the reply....you just made my day. I will start looking for a later model gas tank if you say it should fit. I wasn't sure if the mounts would line up or not, but you say you had no problems with that?
Thanks again and let me know if there was any modification needed to make the tank fit....also, I see in the pic you're using the original seat, too?

All I did was look at other bikes that were newer models that have essentially the same frame as the older 5 speed rubber mount frames. I took a few measurements and then compared those to my bike and it seemed to fit. You might even try going to a Harley dealer and look and new and used bikes they have on display. That may give you a better idea. I did have to weld a couple of small spacers on to the frame where the front bolt mounts through the frame. Other than that, it was pretty much a bolt on affair that looks fine. The seat is actually an after Mustang seat but it works well with this tank.

Good luck!