53 Surburban "Family Truckster"

[nvrdone]

unfortunately it wont work with a m/t and I have an m21. oh well, back to the drawing board.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Coach529

Looks good, price is right on that one.

Thank you. yes, I thought so too.
I like the idea of the MC being out of sight. On my 48 it is on the firewall.

Originally Posted by nvrdone

unfortunately it wont work with a m/t and I have an m21. oh well, back to the drawing board.

I should have mentioned that. I'm running a 4L60E.

Marc

[youngrodder]

Well following Doug's lead I too went with a 67-68 Camaro EFI tank. I found one used on Ebay for cheap. It took the seller over a week to ship it. I thought I bet he was having a hard time finding a box big enough. Well when I saw the tank sitting on my front stoop I realize I was wrong. I can believe USPS shipped this tank looking like this. Look at the wires, it looked like a bomb....

I started mocking up the tank today. It took a while but I think I came away with something that will/should work. I had two challenges. 1 - The tank had to be removable from the bottom. 2 - I wanted to mount it in such a way that I don't need straps and the whole thing would bolt in because I want to be able to full dissemble the frame to paint it.

I notched the factory brace allowing me to drop the tank low. I will make a bolt in brace (shown with the piece of wood) that will support the front of the tank. I then will box the frame rails. This is give me something to attach some side mount brackets the bolt the tank to...It felt good to get back out in the garage.

Here are the pics

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Following my lead...now I feel so responsible. And I followed dwcsr. Anyway, good ideas Marc. And nice score on the Tank...bet all the UPS folks were giving that shipment the eye.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Following my lead...now I feel so responsible. And I followed dwcsr. Anyway, good ideas Marc. And nice score on the Tank...bet all the UPS folks were giving that shipment the eye.

I like to sit back and wait to see it you make a mistake so I don't repeat it. So far you haven't made any (:

Marc

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by youngrodder

I like to sit back and wait to see it you make a mistake so I don't repeat it. So far you haven't made any (:

Marc

Lol, you mean if we discount my rear floor redo or the 4 sets of engine mounts that aren't done yet, possibly going a fifth version...? Nope, I never misstep. It is all good though.

[oldman3]

Marc, glad to see you at it again. With UPS you never know...Jim

[lower50's]

Wow I can't believe they shipped it like that!

[youngrodder]

Tonight I got back out in the garage and cut all of the metal for my lower tank brace. I also made the mounting tabs for the brace...

All that is left now is to burn in some welds...

Marc

[69CST-V]

Nice work... Looking at your ideas so keep posting the little details.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by 69CST-V

Nice work... Looking at your ideas so keep posting the little details.

Will do.....thanks
I should receive my trans crossmember on Friday, so that will allow me to set up my drivetrain and figure out my driveshaft length.
Marc

[Advanced Design]

Egads...you will be catching up to me soon. Nice work on those cuts Marc. They fit really well.

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Egads...you will be catching up to me soon. Nice work on those cuts Marc. They fit really well.

Not sure about that. I used my Dewalt chop saw. it cuts really nice.

Marc

[youngrodder]

I received my Porterbuilt tranny mount. I mocked it up on Saturday for a few minutes. On Sunday I spent that first 1/2 of the day at an area car show with my 48 truck..the weather sucked but it was good to get it out.

Later on Sunday I got back out in the garage to drill the holes for the tranny mount. Then the bad news....after checking my drive shaft length/angle, I realized that my rear end is 1" off from center. This required me to cut away a my bag mounts, and trailing arm pads. The old 2 steps forward 3 back. At least I found it in advance and since I only tacked the brackets on it was not too difficult to remove.

Marc

[oldman3]

Marc, engine tranny set up look good...Jim

[lower50's]

Good find on the diff, That would suck if it caused a problem driving, then you found it. Also very nice 45* cuts.

[Advanced Design]

Glad you caught the issue Marc. Guessing now the axle ends are equal distance from the frame rails? Good looking trans mount. Packaging in that area gets tight, especially with the under floor master. Looks like PB has a good solution.

[RockinKees]

Your tank is a nice fit behind the Watts

Don't we all make small mistakes sometimes
Glad you found it in this early stage!!

[youngrodder]

Originally Posted by oldman3

Marc, engine tranny set up look good...Jim

Thanks Jim...

Originally Posted by lower50's

Good find on the diff, That would suck if it caused a problem driving, then you found it. Also very nice 45* cuts.

Yes, it stills sucks but it can always be worse...Looking forward to getting the 45's welded up to form the brace.

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Glad you caught the issue Marc. Guessing now the axle ends are equal distance from the frame rails? Good looking trans mount. Packaging in that area gets tight, especially with the under floor master. Looks like PB has a good solution.

No they were equal. The center of the rear end is offset by 1". That is what screwed me up. I'm going to take my time and center the rear end properly this time by marking the floor with center lines and running string to locate center points. I also think my pinion angle was a little off as I didn't have the gauge on the right part of the rear end. I have never had experience with setting the pinon angle. Another bonus to my redo.

Thanks on the drive shaft dimension. I will check my notes. It sounds close to what I think I wrote down.

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Your tank is a nice fit behind the Watts

Don't we all make small mistakes sometimes
Glad you found it in this early stage!!

Yes, the watts takes up quite a bit of room. I wanted to move the tank as far forward as I could to leave room at the end of the frame rails to squeeze in a hitch...

Marc

[youngrodder]

Well this post will be picture heavy...On Sat I took the 48 to a local show that I have not attended in 7 yrs or more and I have never taken my 48 there. I took a few pics of some odd ball stuff that caught my eye. Who has seen or heard of a Marlin? it was cool and I loved the original interior...

[youngrodder]

Mothers day and soccer games for my boys ate up most of the weekend. I did get out in the garage yesterday after 7. I finished welding up my tank brace.

On Monday I got back out and drilled the mounting holes for the brace. I made mounting tabs and I tacked in the backing plates as well as the mounting tabs. I wanted to make sure that I can drop the tank from the bottom which I confirmed that I can. I just need to finish weld the various brackets. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

On Sunday Cooper (my oldest son - 11 yrs old) was board so I said you want to learn how to weld. He said OK....He didn't do bad screwing around welding together some scrap pieces.

Thanks
Marc

[youngrodder]

I told you I had a lot of pics......The tabs I tacked to the frame boxing plates I made. I took it all apart and started to burn it in...

Marc

[lower50's]

Nice!! My boys 12 & 13 just learnt how to weld a week ago, building a off road trailer with me. Your 48 is great.

[Advanced Design]

Wow, you made a lot of progress for after 7 on a Sunday. Nice work on the brackets and tabs. And it is very cool your son was learning to weld.

Your truck looks really good out at the show and yes, I remember the Marlin. Not many around.

[Old Jimmy]

Marc,

I've been following your burb build. You sure are doing nice work. I really like your 48 pickup. Maybe I'll be able to see it at Kalamazoo hot rod show.

I do remember seeing some Marlins: back in the day. AMC didn't start making power until they came out with Javlins and the AMX. Some of those were really quick.

Anyway, thanks for all your posts, helps me out a lot.

Jeff