84 Crew Cab - Project - "The Tank"

[BADB0Y]

Love the progress!

 

[Matman2010]

So today I bought one of these.

And did this to it.

And it makes a shape like this.

and that is all you get till the next update.

 

[Matman2010]

Well today I finally was able to start messing with the tank. I got it all tacked up and test fitted it. But now the tip on my welder is warn out so I cant weld it anymore till I go pick up more tips.

Seeing if the baffles fit, still have to cut holes in them.

Also had the front clip on to check for tire clearance and took a pic of it.

 

[Matman2010]

I have gotten the baffles and the sump put into the tank today. I am working on getting this bottom half all welded up so that I can check the bottom half for leaks.

Need to then start mounting the tank before I go about adding the sending unit, filler and all of the fittings needed for the fuel tank.

 

[magik235]

Looks good.

 

[Matman2010]

Looks good.

Thanks man!

 

[Matman2010]

I did get the tank all welded up yesterday, but stopped there cause I think this changing weather is starting to make me sick.

Waiting on a bunch of parts to come in for the tank. Pretty sure I have everything figured out but going to wait to put the fittings in the tank after it is installed so that I can make sure I have clearance for everything. I have also decided to put the filler in the bed. I dont haul to much stuff and we bought a 16 foot trailer a couple months ago so i should be good to go with that. Plus me and sheet metal are not friends so there is no way I could move a fuel door to the back and make it look good.

 

[Matman2010]

Got some parts in.

Got the sending unit, 3/4" pipe thread plug with weld in fitting for a drain in the bottom of the tank, also got some 1/2" T-bolts for the fuel tank straps (Yeah probably over kill, but this thing is called "The Tank" haha), also got a vent for the tank, but thinking about using a different setup already because with this vent just mounted on the tank I could easily overfill the tank and this vent wouldnt work. Thinking about putting an AN fitting in the tank and get some hose and mount a filter up higher on the bed or something like that because a buddy gave me a couple more different ideas for filling the tank that I plan on looking at today.

 

[Matman2010]

Test fitted the tank. Gotta cut the rear cross member out and weld it in and then get some angle iron for the front of the tank for its mount. Not sure what to run as a buffer between the tank and the cross member mounts.

 

[Matman2010]

Today I started messing around with the cross members for the tank. Need to get it basically mounted so I can figure out where to best put all the fittings for my tank.

Rear cross member

Front cross member

over view of how the tank sets in the frame

Kinda what my mount situation will look like

You can see the steel plate i have at the back of the tank, that will be cut in half and welded to the top of the rear cross member. It will be where the tank pushes up on when the straps are tightened down. The front cross member is a piece of angle iron so the tank will push up against that.

I am also looking at ways to fill the tank. Right now I am looking at using the stock filler and mount it in under the drivers side bed rail kinda like so.

I then plan on making a box that looks like this for housing the stock filler.

 

[y5mgisi]

Tank came out awesome and I like the filler mount!

 

[Matman2010]

Tank came out awesome and I like the filler mount!

Thanks man!

Messed around with the tank some more today. got the front cross member tacked in and then started working on the tank straps.

Front mounts started for straps.

Rear mounts have yet to be finished.

 

[Matman2010]

Well today I got the rear tank strap mounts made and tacked on and the tank is now supported by the straps!

Also rolled the frame out of the shop to clean the shop up, snapped some pictures so you can see the whole frame.

Only got half of my shop cleaned, its starting to look like its going to rain and didnt want the drivetrain to get rained on.

Now I just need to make sure I know what size I need for all my fittings and know how many I need. Then weld those in and weld the top on and I will pressure test it then.

 

[chevysmithz71]

Please test the tank before you go filling it to the top. Those are some knarly welds

 

[Matman2010]

Please test the tank before you go filling it to the top. Those are some knarly welds

Yeah I know, Ive planned on testing it before I even started making it. The tank has been welded inside and out on the bottom half. I need to grind those down, the outside welds did not turn out that great but I know I got good penetration with the welds.

 

[Matman2010]

Well i got some more stuff done on the truck today and managed to spend my whole last pay check on some more parts.

Ground down the ugly ass welds that I had on the outside of the tank.


I then moved on to make the rear sway bar work again.




I order new brake lines tonight as well and I needed to get the shocks mounted where I wanted them before I got the brake lines and started running them so I also got the shocks tacked up today.




Should be getting some parts in next week and be able to finish up the fuel tank and then I will probably be broke and have nothing to do for a while haha

 

[fabjunkie]

What thickness material did You use For The Tank? what Are The Dimensions?

 

[Matman2010]

The tank is made out of 1/8" steel. Dimensions are 26"x32"x12" with a 4"x4"x2" sump on the bottom. I cut all the peices 1/4" inch smaller so I could have good edge to weld. Should hold about 43 gallon so a safe 40 gallon tank.

 

[Matman2010]

Well today was kind of exciting, I had been waiting on a box to show up.

Its getting twins!

 

[swettysblazer]

burnout