bridgeguy
Registered Member
This is probably a stoopid question, but did the factory put the 30-gallon fuel tanks in a "box" of steel (kind of like a skidplate, but truly a complete cover of the fuel tank)?
I ask as I "discovered" during the teardown that a previous owner had "installed" (and I use that term VERY loosely) a homemade version of receiver hitch and this cover was integrated into this hitch. The hitch looks like they were learning how to weld and they were either a lot braver or dumber than me as there are incredible amounts of slaggy, nasty beads down both frame rails from their "installation" within an inch of the fuel tank and the way it is made, the tank could not be taken out without cutting the hitch off prior to pulling it.
I am still in the middle of trying to cut the mess of a hitch off as using bolts was apparently too difficult for them to work out and they had installed 3/16" thick steel plate, ~8" long on either frame rail as part of this hitch and there are 2-5 beads on either side of each plate. I'm crossing my fingers that there is enough frame rail left when I'm done that I won't have to try and patch that back together but I'm still trying to figure out if this cover is factory or something else they came up with.
It has 6-3/8" (9/16" head) NC tapered bolts with captured washers holding it on but there are 3 tabs across the rear that don't look up to factory quality and that's what has me wondering if this was a homebrewed idea of some type.
The glovebox sticker is saying that I should have the 30-gallon tank (VIN matches the K5) so I am keeping my fingers crossed but before I put this cover back on, I want to either upgrade or be sure that the factory "blessed" the concept.
I'm tired of burning up cutting discs on this thing as it is taking me FOREVER to cut all the junk out and it is truly amazing when you look at the amount of steel involved in what should have been a simple hitch. They must have used 20+ pounds of rod when they made this behemoth and upwards of 90 pounds of steel.
I guess it's proof that one should never let common sense stand in the way of "progress".
I ask as I "discovered" during the teardown that a previous owner had "installed" (and I use that term VERY loosely) a homemade version of receiver hitch and this cover was integrated into this hitch. The hitch looks like they were learning how to weld and they were either a lot braver or dumber than me as there are incredible amounts of slaggy, nasty beads down both frame rails from their "installation" within an inch of the fuel tank and the way it is made, the tank could not be taken out without cutting the hitch off prior to pulling it.
I am still in the middle of trying to cut the mess of a hitch off as using bolts was apparently too difficult for them to work out and they had installed 3/16" thick steel plate, ~8" long on either frame rail as part of this hitch and there are 2-5 beads on either side of each plate. I'm crossing my fingers that there is enough frame rail left when I'm done that I won't have to try and patch that back together but I'm still trying to figure out if this cover is factory or something else they came up with.
It has 6-3/8" (9/16" head) NC tapered bolts with captured washers holding it on but there are 3 tabs across the rear that don't look up to factory quality and that's what has me wondering if this was a homebrewed idea of some type.
The glovebox sticker is saying that I should have the 30-gallon tank (VIN matches the K5) so I am keeping my fingers crossed but before I put this cover back on, I want to either upgrade or be sure that the factory "blessed" the concept.
I'm tired of burning up cutting discs on this thing as it is taking me FOREVER to cut all the junk out and it is truly amazing when you look at the amount of steel involved in what should have been a simple hitch. They must have used 20+ pounds of rod when they made this behemoth and upwards of 90 pounds of steel.
I guess it's proof that one should never let common sense stand in the way of "progress".
