Shrunken66Stroker's build thread.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by BIGMAC68

This part has been recently re-designed to match the original bracket.

Good to know. You can see in the picture from the circular marks that the bolt head overhung the edge of the mount. The first time I saw that I knew something wasn't right.I bought mine and had them sitting around for a few months. I'm sure they'll work fine. The tailgate will be closed 99% of the time anyways so who give a $hit really, right.

[protrash64]

My bed is 1/2 '62 and 1/2 '66......the earlier hardware was bolted and later it was spot welded. My theory is cost reduction during the production run. Other differences include a lot of metal that was eliminated as time passed.

[61TWUK]

any update on this build? I love your truck...

[daverod]

Originally Posted by 61TWUK

any update on this build? I love your truck...

He's busy cutting his truck up.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by 61TWUK

any update on this build? I love your truck...

Thanks dude. Between the two kids under 3 and work, I've been really busy. I also have a 61 MGA that I'm restoring for someone and that's eating up my garage time from the truck. I have been doing a few things though. I took the front end off, fit the new hydraulic clutch master, brake booster master and filled some holes on the firewall. I got a gas tank from a guy who said it's a blazer tank of an unknown year. Maybe someone who reads this can identify it but I don't think it's going between the back cross members without some heavy modification. He said he thought it was from an 80 or 81 blazer. The thing is gigantic, it's like 26x26. I'll have to hack seven inches out of it to get it to fit up in there. The price was right, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
Next I think I'm going to raise my bed floor up a few inches. With the air out of the shocks the differential pushes up on the bottom of the floor and bows the wood. I don't have the money to buy a wood kit so I'm stalled out on that for now. After the bed floor is done I'll blow it apart and paint the frame. I'll prime the whole thing while it's apart and then put it back together. I'm thinking of driving it in primer for a while to make sure there aren't any more modifications that I want to do before paint. It's nice sometimes to slow down and just look at it to make sure everything is like you like it before moving forward.

[Joemomma1]

Thats a blazer tank. What type of steelies are those?

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by Joemomma1

Thats a blazer tank. What type of steelies are those?

I thought so but is there a thread somewhere that you know of that deals with the modifications to jam it up in the frame rails that are 19" wide?
The rims aren't steelies. They're 17" cragar 397s.

[Frizzle Fry]

This might help.

[SCOTI]

Check out Rokcrln's threads. He did a late-model blazer tank install on his LowBuk build IIRC.

[Joemomma1]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

I thought so but is there a thread somewhere that you know of that deals with the modifications to jam it up in the frame rails that are 19" wide?
The rims aren't steelies. They're 17" cragar 397s.

Well, I am putting the same tank in my 66 swb truck. You need to remove the last crossmember in order to make it fit. I am not happy w/ the idea of less support back there so Im going to weld a piece of steel right behind the tank going to both frame rails. Cragar 397s huh? Love em. Might have to invest in those. 17s look perfect, get those 20s outta here!

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by Joemomma1

Well, I am putting the same tank in my 66 swb truck. You need to remove the last crossmember in order to make it fit. I am not happy w/ the idea of less support back there so Im going to weld a piece of steel right behind the tank going to both frame rails. Cragar 397s huh? Love em. Might have to invest in those. 17s look perfect, get those 20s outta here!

Wow, I have to take out the last cross member? I didn't know that. I thought I only had to take out the little one that's 18" from the end. Like you I'll have to weld or bolt in some kind of support. Make sure you post it when you do it so I can get a good look at it. I'll do the same if I get around to it.
Check back on page 8. There's a pic of my truck aired out. I think the proportions are nice with 17's.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by Frizzle Fry

This might help.

Thanks Frizzle. I've seen that before, I think. I guess I just never realized I have to take out the furthest rear cross member. I'll make it work. Where's a good place to get replacement sending unit? How many gallons is it?

[Joemomma1]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

Wow, I have to take out the last cross member? I didn't know that. I thought I only had to take out the little one that's 18" from the end. Like you I'll have to weld or bolt in some kind of support. Make sure you post it when you do it so I can get a good look at it. I'll do the same if I get around to it.
Check back on page 8. There's a pic of my truck aired out. I think the proportions are nice with 17's.

Im still sorta working it out, what type of straps and how low. I also didnt want to have to remove the bed in order to remove the tank. I spot welded some nuts on the inside of the rails. You will not be able to get you hands in there once its installed. I can now just remove the bolts and drop it. I will post up some pics. Your also gonna have to notch one of the cross supports on your bed as well, how much depends on how low you hang it.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by Joemomma1

Im still sorta working it out, what type of straps and how low. I also didnt want to have to remove the bed in order to remove the tank. I spot welded some nuts on the inside of the rails. You will not be able to get you hands in there once its installed. I can now just remove the screws and drop it. I will post up some pics. Your also gonna have to notch one of the cross supports on your bed as well, how much depends on how low you hang it.

I'm raising my bed floor up a few inches and I want that SOB tucked up tight. I'm also having the roll pan/rear bumper debate with myself at the moment. I have a roll pan already that's been sitting in my garage for about 8 months. I still can't decide if I'm going to use it but if I do, I want the gas tank to tuck up behind it completely. I need to get straps to hold it up too. Any suggestions?

[Joemomma1]

Thats where it stands now. I ran across some diamond plate straps and put those on. Im not sure I want to use aluminum instead of harder steel. The skid plate is a whole differnent animal I have yet to confront.

[Joemomma1]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

I'm raising my bed floor up a few inches and I want that SOB tucked up tight. I'm also having the roll pan/rear bumper debate with myself at the moment. I have a roll pan already that's been sitting in my garage for about 8 months. I still can't decide if I'm going to use it but if I do, I want the gas tank to tuck up behind it completely. I need to get straps to hold it up too. Any suggestions?

I put the bed on to see where I needed to cut. THAT BABY HANGS LOW! I think the bumper will cover majority of it but Im sure some if it will be seen. You can also run it in between the rails instead of below like I did to push it higher.

[Joemomma1]

Thats the only pic I have right now, I will post up more tomorrow. Side and ground clearance.

[daverod]

The first tank I tried looked like the one you have. It's to big on the top half. They make another one thats smaller on top it's about 1" wider so you have to trim thing alittle but height wise it fits a lot better. The one I used came from a 80's van.Your right you won't use that roll pan you can just send it to me I can use it on my 64 it has a big old farmers bumper on it.

[daverod]

I see you still have your drip edge. Thats good.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by daverod

I see you still have your drip edge. Thats good.

The roll pan will go on at some point but I don't want it to be completely smooth back there so I'll probably leave the seams....maybe. I'm not committal on the drip rail. I'm with you, I'll wait to see how the rail on Dennis' truck comes out first.b The tank will end up working after I raise my bed floor a few inches.

[Dinos63]

DUUDE THATS ALOT OF BARE METAL

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by Dinos63

DUUDE THATS ALOT OF BARE METAL

It makes me a little nervous. It will all be primer soon... hopefully soon.

[Frizzle Fry]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

Where's a good place to get replacement sending unit? How many gallons is it?

IIRC They are 21 Gal. I was going for low buck on that one and didn't want to spend $100 on a new Blazer sending-unit (4x what I paid for the tank). So I welded in the flange from the truck tank and bent the truck sending-unit float arm and pickup to work in the Blazer tank. Worked great!

[Strodder]

Originally Posted by shrunken66stroker

It makes me a little nervous. It will all be primer soon... hopefully soon.

Yeah, but living in Vegas it can sit for a while without rusting. Like here. Just don't was it. Oh I forgot it's against the law to wash your car in Vegas. Unless you do it with a pressure washer.

[shrunken66stroker]

Originally Posted by Strodder

Yeah, but living in Vegas it can sit for a while without rusting. Like here. Just don't was it. Oh I forgot it's against the law to wash your car in Vegas. Unless you do it with a pressure washer.

Still makes me a little nervous. I have just a few more things to do before painting the frame and priming the whole truck. I see the light at the end of the bare metal tunnel.