70 Jimmy--Rusty Rebuild

[toomany]

Sort of got the gas tank in tonight. Started cleaning the straps but discovered they were too far gone for my liking. Hung it up anyway with to get an idea of where I could stick the fuel pump. Around this time a friend of mine showed up and we decided that I'd try sticking a later style K5 tank in. A few of the benefits would be the intank pump/baffels, larger capacity and the ability to run a skid plate easier. I've got one kicking around somewhere, just need to dig it out and see what I'll need to do to get it in.

Here's what the factory tank looks like in the frame.




Once I get the tank situation straightend out, I'm going to put the rear bumper back on and see what I can do about a trailer hitch. The monster that was on there isn't going back in, that's for sure.

 

[toomany]

Mounted the newer K5 tank. Had to move the rear crossmember back to the end of the frame, make a new front crossmember and a set of straps. Nothing is painted yet and I need to trim a little bit off of one spacer and some off the tank flange to get that strap tight.

Tank is from a TBI truck so it has the baffle in it. Need to buy a sending unit and pump. This one shouldn't take too long to clean/paint since it isn't rusty at all.




Never paid much attetion to how low the stock one hung, but I'm sure this one is lower. Might even end up with a well placed dent to clear the axle. It looks like it'll clear....but will be very close.

 

[Lieferson]

I plan on running a 25 gal tank from an 87-91 in my 72, If that is the 30 gal tank and its hangs too low for your liking, the 25 is the same dimensions just not as deep.

 

[toomany]

I plan on running a 25 gal tank from an 87-91 in my 72, If that is the 30 gal tank and its hangs too low for your liking, the 25 is the same dimensions just not as deep.

I'm not sure if it's a 25 or 31, haven't measured. I put a 31 in my 76 K5, trying to remeber if it was taller than this one or not.

It looks like it would clear, but as the axle moves up, it also moves back. I think a small dent would be a good idea. I'll see if i can get a picture from above it showing the clearance.

 

[UpnAdam]

Looking good man, keep it up!

 

[toomany]

After measuring, I've got a 31gallon tank. It's just over 12" deep. The smaller 25 gallon tank would give me 2 more inches of room.

If I would have left the axle in the stock location (it's 1" further back now), I would have all the room I need.

 

[toomany]

Cleaned the new gas tank up, painted it and the straps/crossmember, then installed it. Also pulled my front brakes apart and knocked a little more off the hubs. That solved the problem of the rotors hitting the calipers.


Wire wheeled the tank to get what little rust was on there off. Someone put some kind of undercoating on it in the past. Most of that came off. Put some foam on all the places that make contact with the frame/straps so hopefully it stays quiet.








While I was waiting for the paint to dry, I put the rear bumper back on to get an idea of what I could do for a trailer hitch back there. As much as I don't want to....I'll probably use the one that came off of it. It hung down lower than I liked, but the new tank also hangs down low, so it might work out okay. There just isn't anything real solid back there to attatch to without reworking some of the frame. Not that I plan on towing a lot with this, but having something that won't rip off is a priority.

 

[toomany]

Back to the top!

Been a little while since I've worked on this. When I last stopped I had some things in life change that kept me away from the Jimmy. Now, I'm even buiser at work and am burried with side work, but I have been able to find a little bit of time.

Not really much of an update, as not much (if anything) has changed recently. I did get my new fuel pump (one from a Vortec truck) and sending unit. I've decided how I'm going to route the brake/fuel lines and will do that shortly.

One benefit of stepping away from this for a bit was it gave me a chance to decide on a few things I was uncertain about and stock pile a decent budget.

When I get some time I'll try going back through and fixing the pictures. Photobucket won't be getting any money from me, I'll just upload them directly.

 

[toomany]

Cleaned out the barn some (had trailer w/car on it where frame usually sits) and stuck the sending unit in the tank.

Used a combination of the parts I bought. Decided to use the filter sock for the Vortec pump vs. the one that came with the K5 sending unit. It was a plastic like material where the K5 one was kind of a fabric. The plastic one was a finer mesh and slightly bigger.

Put together a list of the fittings I'll need for most of the fuel system and will try ordering them sometime this week.

First picture is completed sending unit w/pump, rubber damper, sock.

Second pic is unit in the tank. Tank is flipped around from the normal direction it would be installed in (filler is on drivers side on first gens). Don't think I'm going to mess around with trying to bend the lines forward, shouldn't be any problem with how I plan on running the lines.

 

[toomany]

Because photobucket sucks, I'm going at attatch some of the earlier pictures here. Some for my own referance.

 

[toomany]

More....

 

[toomany]

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[toomany]

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[toomany]

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[toomany]

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[toomany]

That isn't all of them, but it gives a quick run down of some of the progess. Any questions about something in particular....I've probably got a picture of it.

 

[toomany]

Fuel system parts arived today.

Got the adapters to go from the metric o-ring fittings on the sending unit to -6 AN. From the braided line, feed will have a filter then an adapter to go to 3/8" hardline. Hardline will run along the frame rail up to around the bellhousing area. From there it will go back to -6 braided and up to the throttle body. I haven't bought those two lines yet because I'm not exactly sure how long they will need to be.

I wanted to stick with one brand, but none of the companys offered all of the pieces I needed. So I ended up with a mix of Russel and Fragola. I bought preasembled hoses mainly so I wouldn't have to mess with that. By the time you add up the fittings/hose/time it's almost a wash cost wise. Hose is P.T.F.E. (teflon) lined so it shouldn't let fumes seep through, which is a problem with cheaper hose.

First picture is all the fittings/parts.

Second is how the feed line will look coming from sending unit before it attatches to the hardline.

Third/fourth is lines on the tank. I will put something over them so they don't rub. Still need to pick up some clamps and the hardlines.

 

[toomany]

Ran the fuel lines this morning.

Started off by putting some heat shrink over the braided lines where they pass by the frame/tank. Was still a little tight in that area so I put a stratigic dent in the tank for more clearance then slipped a piece of hose over the lines for even more protection.

Picked up some clamps for the filter and hardlines. Everything is rubber coated and keeps the lines secure/off the bolts coming through the frame.

Had to make a bracket to hold the lines where they pass by the upper rear front spring bushing. This is about where the hard lines end and will go back to braided up to the throttle body...so I needed some support there anyway.

And I don't know how I did it, but I managed to forget a fitting with my last order. For some reason I was thinking I only needed 3 of the adapters from -6 to 5/8 inverted flare. Will add that next time I place an order.

Up next is run some brake lines then I can pull motor/trans out and drop body back on to start sheetmetal work.

 

[Tony Vickers]

Looking good!

 

[toomany]

Not a real big update, but still an update.

Ordered some stuff for a job I'm doing later this week and decided to toss my front brake pads onto the order as well. They're nothing special, OE replacements.