Newbie With Questions

[lkt1954]

I posted this in the welcome area first and it was suggested that I post here, so here goes.

Well here I am another "newbie" from Texas. I just purchased a 69 GMC short wide pick-up and am looking to finish what someone else had started. I have spent several days reading various post and have a few questions to bounce off you'll, but first let me give you some details of the pick-up;

350 crate with a 144 B & M blower (which is going) 800 cmf holley carb, bored .30 over and a cam to match the blower (forgot the size), th400 with a 2800 stall converter (think I am right-information at work, not here at home), 455 positive track rear end (yes its going to a 373), fuel cell in the bed, very nice rear roll pan. Paint is burnt orange, the body looks to be straight and rust free (a good soda blast will tell the truth). Like any project there are several items I would have done different and several that I want to do to make this truck cool. So here goes some questions:

1) in reading post on bucket seats, several recommend newer style seats to convert bench to bucket.. I would like the seats to stay at or below the rear window line, so what year bucket seats would you'll recommend that I look for?

2) on to relocating the fuel tank-- I do not want to go back behind the seat, with a rear roll pan I do not want one in the rear end. So my question here is can a fuel tank be mounted in this model truck like the late 70's and up models had (between the frame and body in front of the rear wheel) and put the filler door and cap in the side panel? I realize these were small tanks (if my memory serves me right), but it is not like this will ever be used for long trips.

3) converting from steel to wooded bed. What can I expect to pay to do the job right (my labor is cheap)for all the necessary items to do a 1st class job?


Sorry for the long post, kinda got carried away and hope I have not asked any dumb questions. Any ideas, suggestions or directions will be appreciated.

Thanks
Larry