Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Ok, I made a challenge to start working on my truck again this year. I've been on my "five minute a day plan." Though I am retired so often I will put three or four hours into it. The only problem is I am retired, meaning I am an old man and man does it kick my butt! Blows my mind that I used to stay up till 1 in the morning painting a car when I had my shop 35 years ago. Now, I work those 3 hours on my truck and it feels like I have mowed every lawn in my neighborhood! Wow, it will kick my butt. And I go to sleep like my parents told me at 9 o'clock every night.

Soooooooo, I searched through our 4 "local" (a couple are about 20-30 miles away) and I looked at mostly van rear seats. Being my truck is chopped and sectioned I needed a very thin seat. I went with the measurements I needed and took notes of all the seats I found that were kinda close.

No kidding, this was crazy, I thought I would need to make a plywood bottom with holes on drivers and passenger sides with elastic straps across them. I had given up on finding the "right" thing so I figured I would just use the foam and set it on that plywood piece.

I gave up, then did the search again a few weeks later. And WHAMO at the closest wrecking yard to my house just a couple of miles away (I pass it often out shopping) and I found this amazing treasure!

Not kidding, I had the diagram of the measurements of my seat that I needed in the truck and this thing matched it PERFECTLY! We are talking within a quarter of an inch! The thing was custom made! I bought it and when I pulled it apart it was obvious that it was custom made for that van for some reason. It was much wider than all over van rear seats so somehow the owner who wanted a custom van had it made (or made it).

Not kidding, I got home with the seat and set it in the truck and got a little verclemp, it was PERFECT! The mounting would be easy, it was crazy, it's like it was made for me!

I went and bought a few large boxes of sodas and went and gave it to the guys at the wrecking yard. :metal:

The seat is all done and I have moved on to the next project, the gas door in the bed.

Hope you put up with my long posts.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

My first project as the year started was modifying the headlamp buckets setting the lights back a few inches so I could put the headlight grilles like a 53-55 Corvette had.

That is done and I will be having the bucket assemblies powder coated.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Which wrecking yard? Just curious.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

The Jalopy Jungle in Boise on State.

I went to all four of the Jalopy Jungles. So funny, I just came across my notes with measurements from all the ones I found.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

The last step I am on is the gas door. I got the door assembly from a 49 Oldsmobile at the wrecking yard. I know, some of you may want to punch me for cutting it out of that Olds but it's been in the yard over a year and it's pretty stripped so I will get what I need (Ricky, Nampa Jalopy Jungle, they have a bunch of vintage cars.)

I had to section it to fit in the tiny area where the original gas filler stuck out of.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

great to see you back posting here again and also back to work on your truck. keep posting up thosepics and other info. awesome.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Martin: Glad to see you are back with us. And doing some work on the pickup.
Being retired, I understand not having as much energy as we did when we were young.
With the weather over here in Yakima, I've driven the truck more than when I lived on the "other side" Also got involved in a local car club which is great fun.
Anyway welcome back & look forward to following along on your build.
Bruce.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

I've been following you on FB but it is great to see you back here.

I'm gong to stand way back and watch when you go to fill that tank with that setup though.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

LOLOL I hear yeah, thanks for your concern. I have spent a LOT of time on the filler, thinking about it, not working on it. I have spoke with my brother who is a seriously experienced builder I think all is good. I am using a filler I got off a 70 Impala and no kidding, looking at that gas tank it looks very similar to what I am doing.

This is me, I lowered the gas tank all that I could to get the filler up above it. That amount, 3/4" LOLOL

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

if you find it burps back when filling you could fab up an elbow riser extension pretty easily that would seal against the filler neck in place and could be used like a no spill funnel, stored in the filler area behind the door. sometimes things just work out that way but it's not the end of the world. I would put the filler and door as high as possible and then deal with the aftermath unless you want to cut the box floor and fab a part to cover the "inside the box" part to make it higher.
it's gonna be a one of a kind. it'll be great to see it finished with a side view that shows the whole area better

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

I figured it was that one. Glad to see you are back at it.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Believe me, this wasn't a whamo do it kinda thing. I have spent 348 hours with my head spinning figuring out what to do. This doesn't mean I'm right, LOL But that's what it's taken.

I didn't want to go up into the inside of the bed. The stock one came out of the bed right where I have this door. It bent up a few inches. I know this is way better, but I just didn't want that. Soooooooo, I lowered the tank a little, I have a 70 Impala filler tube that is bent up a little. No kidding, looking at it in the stock tank on that Impala, it's not much up from how I have it!
Anyway, so I will use a non vented cap. And, I am adding a vent from the stock filler on a 50 truck which is on the side of the cab with the tank behind the seat. I am putting that vent tube on this filler and running a hose down to the bottom of the tank.

When I fill it up I will be careful to not overfill it.

I know I am pushing my boundaries but I am thinking I will be able to pull it off. If you feel I am wrong, let me know, I am here to learn.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

welcome back, missed you and your truck!
where did you get the headlight grills?

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

For regular 7 inch round headlights they sell "rock guards" that are chrome or stainless that we used to see a lot of and were a necessity for guys in Alaska.


I had a pair of chrome ones sold for VW bugs on my 48 until they rusted.

These aren't quite like what Martin has though.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

I made them out of a stainless steel mesh.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

good innovative thinking there with the stailess screen shaping idea, Brian.
gas tank may be a slow filler but, again, if you find it slow there is a work around with a removeable filler extension tube that would go on like a gas cap, with a gasket and a slight twist.
I was also thinking that possibly a one way flap inside the filler tube, one that the filler nozzle pushes out of the way when it is inserted to fill, may be a help if you find the fuel cap wants to leak with a full tank.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm thanks

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

WOW does this place have a lot of options! https://www.fillernecksupply.com/


Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

I'm thinking the kind of flapper that a newer vehicle has. Where there is a metal plate across the inside of the filler tube and it has a spring loaded door where the filler nozzle pushes through when filling. It helps with the burp back when filling too. Less fuel is able to get past the filler nozzle. Most also incorporate a small vent tube that goes down into the top area of the tank to help air vent as you fill.
Just a thought.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Hmmmmmmmm You have me thinking.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

The trouble with a 48 tank is that it has no other vent and gas going in pushes air out though the neck.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/c5e8...720&fit=bounds

Add in that the filler neck is horizontal for several inches and yours would have no drop from the nozzle.

Tanks inc. has a sealed gas cap that is supposed to seal around a standard nozzle but you would have to add a vent tube of pretty good size that you could run a vent hose over to and up in the right front stanchion post of the bed to let the air out when you filled it and vent the tank. Here is the link to that cap https://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/p...n8TqPLhKWfehbY They also have a length of tube to hook it up with but that is 44 dollars and you still need a a piece of hose .

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

nice, would you mind if i tried that on mine?

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

So using a stock tank and a 70's impala filler neck modified with a stock tank filler vent from a 50 AD truck filler tube. Am I getting this right?

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

He is just using a few inches of the filler neck with the 48 tank. . It has a little bit of curve in it.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

So funny how something so small can kick my butt. This thing finally got tacked together. I was going to work until it was fully done and welded in the bed. But nope, this old dude is proud that I got it as far as I did before I ran in to fall on the couch.

Understand, the hinge was moved from the top to the front. So it had to be sectioned, the mounts had to be remade on the pocket and on the hinge. Crazy how much work this was.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

That is correct, I haven't jumped into the filler yet, I may modify the one on the tank too. We will see.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Welcome back!! Keep it up. FWIW i feel your pain!!

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

It's great to see you posting again!

Incorporating a vent is the key to preventing fuel blowback. If there's room on the sending unit you could install a 1/2" hose barb. Many new fuel filler necks vent back to the filler by incorporating an inner tube for fuel and an outer tube for vapor. If you want an older looking filler cap, maybe a Jeep YJ filler neck will work?
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EAAAA...fC/s-l1200.jpg

I'm OK with getting tired, but it seems to take so long to recover. It's normal to hurt after mowing every yard in the neighborhood. It's not normal to still be sore three days later!

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Thanks for the advice, I spent a long time last night with my brother (a master mechanic and artist of cars and motorcycles) on the subject and yeah, I will be working on that whole thing, it will be fine.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Cool! Great to see the updates and progress.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Honestly, thanks for the advice!

I went to the wrecking yard yesterday and got another filler with a "flapping door" off a seventies Maverick and a breather tube that goes down below the tank off a 60's Dart.

I will plan this out after I get the door on bed. Think I got this!

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Yep, that is what I am looking at doing.

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Yup, you got this.
Some newer vehicles have the vent tube INSIDE the filler tube. But then you may need a reciever at the tank end to keep that vent tube at the top where the air is.
You could also try a marine filler neck if your idea doesn't work out. AFTER the truck is done. Lol.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

It is CRAZY how different all the cars are! What really cracks me up is the late 60's early 70's GM cars have an almost straight filler off the tank going behind the license plate that honestly aren't very different than what I have going and there is no vent tube, no inner tube, no flapping door, nothing! No kidding, don't remember the exact car but the filler tube went up to literally an inch above the top of the tank!

Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Here is one of the vents I got. I will decide what to use. Check it out, a 1/4" tube going from the filler up then down and exiting at the gas tank into the air.
This was on a Dodge Dart, late 60's early 70's.


Brian

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

I remember working in a filling station back in the late '70's and eraly '80's. some of the old impalas and caprices, etc, had yhose behind the rear lic plate fillers. they had to be babysat all the time cuz they would either click the fillar off due to back splash or else dump a load of gas on the ground when they burped. sometimes both. they were ok but slow to fill when past 1/2 a tank.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Those behind license plate tanks were never easy to fill but part of the problem with them today is modern gas nozzles are shaped differently, they bend right after the handle / old ones were longer before the bend. New ones have big bump just above where you hold it / old ones were more streamlined.

I have to slow fill my fender mounted filler neck, it's got a flat section in the run that makes it burp and no vent right at the tank. These will get fixed eventually, but I got used to it taking about 3 minutes longer to fill my tank.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

yeah. what else you gonna do? something pressing?
retired and not worried about that extra 3 minutes. as long as my shoes stay dry and my hands don't smell like gasoline after a fill. lol.
now my boat on the other hand, it always pukes a little when it gets nearly full. all over the fresh wax job usually. grrr

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

That looks like an A body. Chevelle, Grand Prix, Cutlass...

Agreed! They are definitely a pain to fill. The fuel cap gasket had failed on my '67 Chevelle and every time I accelerated gasoline would leak out around the cap. It took me a couple of tanks worth of fuel to figure out why my mileage had dropped so much.

Re: Hey you all, how the heck you doing? I'm working on my truck again!!!
 

Ok, after spending a few weeks on replacing my air compressor and putting in "shop piping" like a "real" auto body shop LOL I am back to my truck yesterday! :metal: :metal: :metal:

I got the gas door "holder" welded into the bed. Please don't judge my crappy welds, I am just getting back to actual auto body stuff after working in the office for a decade.

All I know is this baby is getting done! WHOOO HOOOO!

Brian