[Russell]

Well, I got my tank mounted today -- I ended up discovering why most guys make their own front bracket, my tank sits about 2" above the framerails (dome on top of the tank and fuel inlet / outets included in that 2") so I'm gonna have to cut the two crossmembers under my bed by 2" for about 28" across, should be fairly easy work with my acetylene torch. I would have had to have done this regardless of if I intended to or not, I wanted / need to use the skid plate as I broke one of my tank hold up straps, so I don't trust the second one. While mounting the skid plate I discovered that it tightens the tank up against the crossmembers I installed just as tight as the straps ever could, so I tightened the one strap and mounted the skid plate. I also discovered upon my first attempt to lift the tank into place that I had my front crossmember back too far, so I ended up moving it forwards, but as I started drilling the second hole on each side, I broke my bit, so ended up only putting 4 bolts onto the front crossmember. Still more than the original and the skid plate helps move some of the weight to the back, so I feel it'll hold just fine, esspecially considering all the bolts I've used are 1/2. I also installed my return line and attached it to my factory return line under the cab. The fuel pump I have right now doesn't have a return line port, so no worries about my fuel pump filling my blazer tank while I drive it over the next couple weeks.

Tommmorow I need to plumb up my supply line / fuel pump, and finish hooking up the sending unit wire. After I get my fuel pump plumbed in, and my bed notched, I'll be ready to put my box back on, and start doing some of my first body work, putting my truck's third gas door on at the back. After much hmming and hawing, I decided I'll just try putting in the fuel door, If it works good, I'll do it to my new bed as well, if it doesn't, I'll get a body shop to help me out.

Its all getting there, I'll post a couple of pictures from tonight after I resize them here...