gas tank covers and bump stops

[Blue Goose]

I own a 1984 silverado pickup. One of them big plastic shield/covering deals was off on one of the tanks on my pickup, so I just took the other one off. Are they really important? I supposed to protect against rocks and stuff maybe? but I don't really do any wheeling like you guys do, like hardcore stuff, the wheeling I do comes when I'm hunting and fishing, and I am usually pretty gentle.

also, when I put headers on my motor, I took off one of the bumpstops. Should I do some cutting and stuff and find a way to put it back on? are they that important?

thanks for the help, this is definetely the best automotive site i've been on.

 

[dyeager535]

Gas tank covers: I'd put one back on. Like you, I hunt/fish, very little if any of that would be called "hard core" by the folks forced to run Dana 60 fronts on this board.

Last year I hit a fairly good sized branch that had fallen on the logging road, and it kicked up and smacked my tank. Didn't do any damage luckily, but I've since reinstalled the factory skidplate. (K5) Plastic probably won't do much, but it's better than nothing IMO. Would only take one nasty hit to make a nice dent in the tank.

My front axle seems to love finding the bumpstops in my truck, so I'm a bit concerned that if I remove them, there might be too much travel and things start breaking. Guess I should ask, which bumpstop? There are 3 on the later K5's, one for the diff center section, one that hits the axle tube/spring plate, and then one that hits the rear of the spring about midway between the shackle and axle. I removed the diff bumpstop, but left the other two.

I plan on trimming a spare stop (already done) and testing suspension movement to make sure the front shaft doesn't compress too much. The stock shaft I've got has very little travel.

 

[Blue Goose]

the bumpstop I removed was on the passenger side, right above the front diff.

 

[dyeager535]

So it was the one that has the really long mount, and contacts the flat pad on the diff carrier housing?

I've had that one off for years, and as I recall, that was only on certain years. Never seen any problem without it.

 

[spearchucker]

I thought the plastic shield was sort of like a splash guard for the gas in case of a side impact. Isn't that the same kind of a shield that the recalled pintos got?

 

[WhiteBurb]

I also took that bumpstop off because of the headers. With the 4" lift and the aftermarket bumpstops I put on the front, I'm not too worried about the diff hitting anything.

 

[diesel4me]

Gas tank sheild..

I rip those plastic tank sheilds off!--they are great for holding mud ,leaves,and salt against the tank,rotting it out in record time...at least where I live!..I have a few out in the woods if anyone wants one!..

I read somewhere those sheilds were installed to reduce the chance of puncture in a side collision,and to help prevent the tank if the straps should break,and let it drop down and drag on the ground..dont know how true it is or not--I can see a dragging steel tank on asphalt at 65 mph COULD be a bit dangerous