a few questions on my '77 resto/custom job

[chevysnbuicks]

Ok, hopefully some of you glanced at my new member thread post, so you'll have an idea of what I'm doing.

Ok, my stock gas tank on the passenger side hangs too low for what I'm doing (air bags, hopefully laying frame) so [someone] at FSC suggested a fuel cell, which I had considered. The problem, I need it to fit UNDER the bed, it needs to be at LEAST 15 gallons, it can't sit below the bottom of the frame rails, and I still have to have room for air tanks and compressors somewhere. What would y'all suggest me doing?

I've been told that it won't lay frame without either raising the cross member or z-ing the frame. Honestly, z-ing the frame sounds a little too difficult/complex for me, and I've heard it looks kind of tacky after it's done. does anyone have any good (lots of pictures, and a good step by step to go along with it) tutorials for raising the cross member?

Also, do I really need to get new A-arms built for bags, or will 2" or 2 1/2" drop spindles with stock arms allow it to drop enough?

and one last question that I can think of right now. I am not sure of what size rim I want to use. I know I'll have to tub the firewall to tuck 20s in the front, and I'll have to tub the rear anyway. What about 18s? are they that hard to fit with a decent amount of rubber? I've conisdered 17s with lots of rubber, but I don't know if it'll look that good with the style I'm doing (gothic/sinister style... gotta love it).

Anyway, thanks in advance, I'm sure I'll have more questions later. Actually I promise I'll have some later. I want to be as prepared for this as possible before I even start.

[87 STEPPER]

There's several guys on here that have done a blazer tank at the rear between the frame rails. CaptKaos is one and Bigblock73 has done a fuel tank of some sort.

Yeah i'd stay away from Z-ing the frame too unless your a very good welder/fabricator.

As for the A-arms and wheels im not sure on those.

Your project sounds kool tho

[bigblock73]

Welcome to the board from MN.

As Bruce mentioned, I put a 16 gallon fuel cell in my 73, here is the article I wrote for it.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/chas...ellinstall.htm

[chevysnbuicks]

Well, I like that install, it looks really clean, but I am trying to lay frame, so wouldn't it hanging down that much get in the way of the frame touching the ground? I guess I might as well plan on the fuel cell sitting in the bed a little. Well, wait, is it possible to raise the section of the bed behind the wheel wells up a few inches (maybe 4?) to allow the fuel cell to sit under the bed? I don't want to be crawling back to sit in the rear seats and have to worry about bending breaking something.

thanks guys!

[bigblock73]

The fuel cell doesn't hang below the body...neither does the main frame...so unless you plan on cutting your body...the center of the frame and the fuel cell will not physically hit the ground. At least this is my understanding.

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by bigblock73

The fuel cell doesn't hang below the body...neither does the main frame...so unless you plan on cutting your body...the center of the frame and the fuel cell will not physically hit the ground. At least this is my understanding.

Oh, ok, I guess I wasn't thinking. Thank you, that helps.

[Captkaos]

This was my Blazer tank alternative:
http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/blazertank.html

Ditto on the hitting the ground. Unless get the section under the cab chopped down, the rear will never see the ground, it kicks up too high.

As for laying frame, you are going to have to cut and weld something to make it happen, and it most likely will be the Z'ing the front 4".

Another alternative to getting it low is a chopped crossmember, but you won't be able to set the cab section of the frame on the ground. The link above is the ones I make.

Another alternative is Porterbuilts Droppmember

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

This was my Blazer tank alternative:
http://www.captkaoscustoms.com/blazertank.html

Ditto on the hitting the ground. Unless get the section under the cab chopped down, the rear will never see the ground, it kicks up too high.

As for laying frame, you are going to have to cut and weld something to make it happen, and it most likely will be the Z'ing the front 4".

Another alternative to getting it low is a chopped crossmember, but you won't be able to set the cab section of the frame on the ground. The link above is the ones I make.

Another alternative is Porterbuilts Droppmember

Ok, so I might as well plan on z-ing the frame if I want the drop I'm trying to get. That's fine, I'll just take my time and DO IT RIGHT. Summer shop class here I come!

I knew I was going to have to cut and weld stuff. (notches)

I'm planing on doing most of the stuff this guy did here. Frame Z, under cab frame trim, raised tranny hump, etc.

But everything waits on a couple of things: a clean work area (basement), money, knowledge, and tools.

[chevysnbuicks]

Sorry for the double post mods, but I thought I would share this with y'all.

Car domain pics!

Click here to view them, and read descriptions, etc...

[Captkaos]

loweredd came here for info too.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=78491

Here is his post Z-ing post with a few more pics (some are no longer valid...)
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=99728

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

loweredd came here for info too.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=78491

Here is his post Z-ing post with a few more pics (some are no longer valid...)
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=99728

Oh, ok, that's cool. That looks like a whole lot of work that I'm willing to do, lol.

*EDIT* here is a link to my welcome thread, it has a list of my plans for the truck, in case your interested!
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=240356

[chevysnbuicks]

Ok, I've been thinking about it a little. Right now, it's an Automatic (my grandpa actually bought the th350 instead of the 400... my dad wondered if he was on something, because he come home with the non-heavy duty tranny and a color he would never even dream of ) Anyway, I'm thinking of changing it to a Tremec TKO 5 speed or T-56 6 speed. If I Z-the frame, and have to raise the tranny hump, what kind of shifter clearance problems should I expect?

Yes, and sorry for the double.

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by chevysnbuicks

Ok, I've been thinking about it a little. Right now, it's an Automatic (my grandpa actually bought the th350 instead of the 400... my dad wondered if he was on something, because he come home with the non-heavy duty tranny and a color he would never even dream of ) Anyway, I'm thinking of changing it to a Tremec TKO 5 speed or T-56 6 speed. If I Z-the frame, and have to raise the tranny hump, what kind of shifter clearance problems should I expect?

Yes, and sorry for the double.

Shifter clearance in relation to what? The floorboard? If you Z the frame, you WILL have to modify the floorboard to clear any transmission?

example for the post I linked...

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

Shifter clearance in relation to what? The floorboard? If you Z the frame, you WILL have to modify the floorboard to clear any transmission?

Yes, I know I'll have to modify the floorboard when I Z the frame, I guess what I'm wondering is what kind of problems am I going to face with the clearance of the shifter vs. the seat or dash?

I'm sure that question will be answered when I get to that part. Still quite a way down the road....

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by chevysnbuicks

Yes, I know I'll have to modify the floorboard when I Z the frame, I guess what I'm wondering is what kind of problems am I going to face with the clearance of the shifter vs. the seat or dash?

I'm sure that question will be answered when I get to that part. Still quite a way down the road....

If you are running a bench seat, it will be in the way of the TKO and T56 Shifter.

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

If you are running a bench seat, it will be in the way of the TKO and T56 Shifter.

Ok, I guess that's fine then. Good thing I'm switching to buckets

Going back t one of my older questions: Will I really need new control arms? I've heard of people laying low enough with stock arms, and I've heard people have had to buy new ones. What do I really need?

[Captkaos]

In my opinion, there is no need for control arms if you are going to Z the frame. It may help a little with clearance from having to reroute the steering linkage though.

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

In my opinion, there is no need for control arms if you are going to Z the frame. It may help a little with clearance from having to reroute the steering linkage though.

Alright, that's cool. What exactly has to be done to reroute the steering linkage? Doesn't sound too difficult, but I've been wrong before.

[dubdeuce80]

my $0.02, as i was in the same boat as you are. don't take offense to any of this, but i would do what you can for now. no need to go all out and do something way ahead of you. if you really want to do all of this, spend as much time as you can reading up on it so you actually know what is being said to you, i.e. "Zs", u-jointed steering linkages, etc. or pay someone who knows what they're doing, or you might end up with a useless truck. once again, not bashing or trying to tell you not to do it or anything, just recommending you wait and learn

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by dubdeuce80

my $0.02, as i was in the same boat as you are. don't take offense to any of this, but i would do what you can for now. no need to go all out and do something way ahead of you. if you really want to do all of this, spend as much time as you can reading up on it so you actually know what is being said to you, i.e. "Zs", u-jointed steering linkages, etc. or pay someone who knows what they're doing, or you might end up with a useless truck. once again, not bashing or trying to tell you not to do it or anything, just recommending you wait and learn

None taken. That's why I have this thread, so I can ask questions about the stuff I don't know about.

I want to study up on stuff as much as I can before I start, so that way I'll at least have an idea of what I'm doing. I have a picture of the finished product in my head, and a picture of what it looks like now in my head, So now all I need are the steps in between.

*EDIT* I should probably note that I AM NOT going to wuss out of this project. I made a promise to myself that I would do it, and do it right. I was thinking the other day that I might have gotten in a little over my head, but after much thought and study, I believe I will be fine as long as I get some help with the welding, and I have that taken care of.

[Captkaos]

This is a write-up XXL did on the install of one of my chopped crossmembers:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=137398

It shows what I am talking about in reference to rerouting the steering linkage on that setup.

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by Captkaos

This is a write-up XXL did on the install of one of my chopped crossmembers:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=137398

It shows what I am talking about in reference to rerouting the steering linkage on that setup.

Oh, ok, I c. That doesn't seem like it'll be too hard if I just throw money at it

Oh well, I'll take care of that when I get to it I guess.

*Edit* any idea how much that Borgeson setup ended up costing him?

[smashingchuck]

I think I've got around $250 into my borgeson set up...

[chevysnbuicks]

Originally Posted by smashingchuck

I think I've got around $250 into my borgeson set up...

Ok, and just to make it a little easier, what Exactly do I need to get?

[chevysnbuicks]

Ok, bump and this is really a preference question more than anything...

Is it worth it to do an auto to manual tranny conversion? I wonder if it's really worth the time and the money. I know I'll save a little more gas with a 5 or 6 speed, and it'll be quite a bit more fun to drive, but with having to control the bags and shift while driving, and making all the modifications I'm going to be making (raised tranny hump, custom interior, etc...) is it worth it?


Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a few days...