69 GMC "Ol' Blue"

[mjensen]

Not much progress to report this weekend, but I do plan on hitting it hard next weekend. Last weekend I built the mount for my Blazer tank. This weekend, I bought a new welding helmet because it was 50% off. You HAVE to buy things when they're on sale right? Oh, and I found out that Harbor Freight does sell the safety wire I was after. .99 cents for 25', that I can live with! Next weekend I plan on getting the T case all wrapped up, as well as get the tank mounted. If I'm extremely productive, I'll start on the brake lines....but, knowing me, I'll probably spend most of my time drinking....I mean thinking about it

Not a great pic, but here's the mount.

[mjensen]

Yeah! One more item put on!! Got the tank mounted yesterday. The mounts are just tacked in. I'll finish weld it when I bring the frame back to my house.

[Mustard72]

So the gas tank has to sit below the top of the frame rails so the bed support rails don't need to be modified, correct?

Is that a Blazer tank from a 67-72 Blazer? It doesn't look like what I thought they looked like? Looks like it should work great, just not what I thought these Blazer tanks looked like.

Nice work!!!

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by Mustard72

So the gas tank has to sit below the top of the frame rails so the bed support rails don't need to be modified, correct?

Is that a Blazer tank from a 67-72 Blazer? It doesn't look like what I thought they looked like? Looks like it should work great, just not what I thought these Blazer tanks looked like.

Nice work!!!

Thanks!

This is a tank from a 85 Blazer. I went with this style because it was one of the bigger tanks, and another member used this style and it looked like it fit well. I'm still not sure if the bed will need work, but I don't think I will have to do anything as the top of the tank is level with the top of the frame rails.

[mjensen]

No progress to report on the truck this weekend, as I'm waiting for my brake lines to show up. I decided to bend up my own lines, so wish me luck!

So to fill my time this weekend, I decided to build a welding table for my bench

[67cheby]

nice addition ! Buy twice as much line as you need...LOL, or maybe i am the only one that has that bad of a learning curve !

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by 67cheby

nice addition ! Buy twice as much line as you need...LOL, or maybe i am the only one that has that bad of a learning curve !

Thanks! Yeah, I'm sure I'm going to be sad that I decided to go the route of building my own lines...but, they always make more right

[Mustard72]

That's one of those jobs that you don't get really good at until the last few bends, and then you have to learn all over again in 6 years the next time you do it.

Are you flaring your own ends, too?

Nice welding bench addition. So does that hinge down when you're not using it? I should do something like that.

[mjensen]

That is so true! Not sure what I'm thinking but hopefully I can learn to put my ADD behind me and focus. I may end up with something I can be proud of I will be flaring my own ends, so that ought to be an adventure!!!

Thanks!!! I didn't do a hinge on the bench because I didn't have any scrap material to build one, but I came up with a way to hook it on there so that I can pull it off and store it when I'm not using it. I'm pretty happy with the way that it turned out, except for the legs. I'm going to redo them this weekend.

[mjensen]

Yeah!!! My frustration in a box was delivered today! I'm more nervous than ever now

[Mustard72]

Hey, at least you don't have the cab or bed on the frame now. Otherwise you'd be installing hte lines on your back or maybe on a creeper and forgetting to bring the bender(s) under the truck with you. That's when things start going down hill. "The bend isn't quite right (or maybe just really wrong), but I think I can just bend it the right way here under the truck by hand".

Good luck! Don't forget to put the flare nuts on before flaring the ends. Don't ask me how I know...

[mjensen]

Haha! Yeah, this should be an adventure! Thanks for the advice, I'm sure that I will have several of those darn nuts jump off the end of the line just before I flare them...at least that's what I'll tell people when I forget to put them on

[gdavis]

Originally Posted by mjensen

Yeah!!! My frustration in a box was delivered today! I'm more nervous than ever now

Attachment 1068641

Today, went to our local Advance Auto parts store. The General manager took me in the back and showed me a brake line. It is made out of nickle,copper and iron. You can bend it all kinds of way. He tied it in a knot and it did not kink or any thing. I was woundering have anyone tried this brake line. It looks like a real time saver. it will not rust, bend, corrode, or stretch or leak up to 6000 psi

[mjensen]

Wow, that sounds cool. I would be interested to hear if anyone has used them. Of course I'm not sure what I would do without all the frustration lol

[mud.man.rj]

What brand was the super flexable brake line, sounds very useful.

[mjensen]

The only progress made was bringing the frame back to my garage. It will be nice to be able to walk out and work on it.

[Low Elco]

Bending is no problem- lay it out with coathanger wire first. Flaring always causes me vast amounts of violent profanity.

[Mustard72]

LOL

Sometimes violent profanity is what it takes to get the job done!

[mjensen]

I'm saving up money for my swear jar now

Gonna need a bigger jar!

[mjensen]

grrrr.... Ever have one of those days where you suck at organizing and planning? Oh wait, that's every day for me

Today my plan was to start on the brake lines....what really happened is that I broke the flaring tool on a scrap piece. ooops I am very happy with my Eastwood tools though. I bent up the scrap after the epic flaring fail


I did manage to finish weld my tank mount. Oh, I also fixed the driver's side tank strap. I was not happy with it, so I reworked it.




Then, I got bored and started practicing TIG. I am no good, but then again, I just started.

[Mustard72]

What broke? The little centering pin that goes in the tube as you make the flare?

At least you were able to stay busy in the shop. I always feel like practice time (either with your tig or some other skill) is wasteful, but in reality it is always time well spent.

[mjensen]

Yup...snapped the little bugger right off I'll have to lube it up better next time I guess.

Yeah, it was nice to dink around and learn. I'm going to have to keep at it if I plan on welding my own exhaust...not sure I will, but it never hurts to dream

[Mustard72]

Those frigging things snap off so easy it makes you wonder how they don't snap off every time you use it.

[mjensen]

Yeah, Eastwood sells just the die and I wonder if the quality is any better.
Posted via Mobile Device

[mjensen]

Got the replacement tool today, and was actually successful in creating a double flare on a piece of scrap. Next weekend I will try and form up some lines.