48 Burb, bagged, 5.3, 20 year wait

[Advanced Design]

And the fill pipe fits ... yay. I think I will fabricate a support mount for this section of pipe. Thinking of something simple like on a 56 Chevy. At my rate of fabrication two days should be sufficient.

[Advanced Design]

And one last look at cap positioning ... about 1/2" off the fender.

Now to paint the pipes and this portion of the build will be ready for final assembly.

[Advanced Design]

When I went to PRI Thursday I stopped by Koul tools. They were really good guys and enjoyable to talk with...plus they had a show special of free shipping.

I couldn't resist and ordered one....way overkill for what I need....and I will be ready for the push lock hose assembly on this Burb.

[JJorgensen52]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Putting a bead on cross fill pipe for better retention and sealing in the connecting hose. Terrible picture, I know, as there is too much stuff in the back ground. Only picture of this I took.

I'm not sure I could focus on the task at hand with all that stuff in the background to look at

Fill neck looks great, Doug!

[mongocanfly]

Fill tube worked out great..

[RockinKees]

Filler fits nice Doug!
Also it sits great in the fender, perfect.

And you got a nice welding helmet 👍

[reaper71]

Came out nice Doug.

Mark...

[lower50's]

Nice filler. I tell my boys if you work at something long and hard enough you will get it perfect.

[rkn463]

The filler tube looks perfect Doug. The fun part should be working it through the rubber seal once that is in place. That is a nifty new tool you have there, I must admit, I'm a bit envious.

-Richard

[Drifters]

The filler tube is a nice touch Doug! Can't wait to see her done makes me want to build mine...

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by JJorgensen52

I'm not sure I could focus on the task at hand with all that stuff in the background to look at

Fill neck looks great, Doug!

Thanks JJ! And the grandsons really like those Gators too.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Fill tube worked out great..

Thank you Mongo - I think it will work.

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Filler fits nice Doug!
Also it sits great in the fender, perfect.

And you got a nice welding helmet ��

Appreciate that Kees. That helmet is starting to get some age on it now, though it still works well.

Originally Posted by reaper71

Came out nice Doug.

Mark...

Thanks Mark, means a lot to me!

Originally Posted by lower50's

Nice filler. I tell my boys if you work at something long and hard enough you will get it perfect.

Thank you Lower. You are so right...I often struggle with the fabrication though I really enjoy the challenge...and making something.

Originally Posted by rkn463

The filler tube looks perfect Doug. The fun part should be working it through the rubber seal once that is in place. That is a nifty new tool you have there, I must admit, I'm a bit envious.

-Richard

Thanks for your kind words Richard. Actually I split some vacuum tube and sealed the edge of the hole with that. The fill tube is an easy press fit so may go that route. The hose press showed up...way overkill. A good friend made an effective one from two blocks of wood, angle iron and two bolts... I just wanted this one...and like I mentioned the Koul guys were very personable. I liked them so I bought their product.

Originally Posted by Drifters

The filler tube is a nice touch Doug! Can't wait to see her done makes me want to build mine...

Drifters...thanks man, too kind.. I would like to see you building your burb too. With the builds you do, it would be awesome.

OK, It was about a year ago I ordered the tank and fill from David at Hollister Road Company. He is really great to work with. Finally it is all together and straps (along with strap rubber) work to hold the tank.

I used a mud flap I picked up at Rural King for $8 for the top of tank rubber buffer strips. This mud flap will also be used for body mounts. Way cheaper than from the parts suppliers.

The Camaro pan gives really good clearance in here.

Artistic low view 3/4 shot....just for personal motivation. OK, not that artistic. Hopefully this will be a cool truck.

[Advanced Design]

So I went ahead and put the powertrain and steering column back in to figure out steering shaft configuration and brake assembly mounting. Poor project management on my part as I was here earlier this year too. Got tight on time with the schedule at the metal shop.

I "might" be able to use two joints and one shaft since I moved the steering a bit to the left. It will likely be three joints with a support bearing and I will be getting those components ordered soon. By using a dowel rod and duct tape, I roughed out the shaft needed. The bottom connection at the rack might be tight.

Tried a different style drop here as I didn't like how the one I used previously was fitting. Didn't like the look either. This drop was laying on the shelf from a previous build and it has some age as it was labeled Mullens Steering. Mullens sold out to Borgeson some time ago.

And I am not wild about the look of this drop either. Too "billet" for the build theme. Maybe more fab?

Next week end is Christmas and I plan to get in some good shop time the week after.

[mongocanfly]

Moving along nicely there Doug..the way your going on this its almost like your in a contest or something.....haha

[Iceburgh]

What is the tank out of?

[youngrodder]

Looks good Doug...I used 3 joints but I need to confirm header clearance once I get the mock up LS block back. I hear ya on the billet drop. My thoughts exactly with the billet drop I used. The price was right so I decided it would be easier than fabricating my own. I plan to paint mine the same color as the steering column and dash..what ever color that will be.


Marc

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Moving along nicely there Doug..the way your going on this its almost like your in a contest or something.....haha

Ha....yeah, about time I did something. It has helped that the grass stopped growing and I can be in the shop.

Originally Posted by Iceburgh

What is the tank out of?

68 to 69 Camaro, fuel injection from Tanks.

Originally Posted by youngrodder

Looks good Doug...I used 3 joints but I need to confirm header clearance once I get the mock up LS block back. I hear ya on the billet drop. My thoughts exactly with the billet drop I used. The price was right so I decided it would be easier than fabricating my own. I plan to paint mine the same color as the steering column and dash..what ever color that will be.


Marc

You know maybe I will paint this column drop. I still need to throw the seat in to verify clearance. It will probably work and painting the drop is a good idea. Ordered the u joints and dd shaft so they should be here this week. I splurged on stainless steel this time. I don't have much luck painting the steel ones as it always looks sloppy.

Here is the push lock hose press a friend created that I mentioned earlier. It worked fine.

[RockinKees]

All looks good Doug.
WhatMarc said, painting the column drop is maybe the best option, besides making your own.
I think, only if you go for a high end billet vehicle those drops would work
It's just not old enough.
So, now you know how I think about billet stuff, not my cup of tea

Linking your steering can be a problem, I know, I'm still not happy with mine, although it works.
I'm sure you will work it out

[reaper71]

Looking good Doug...Here is a shot of the steering I set up on that Chevy coupe I'm working on the angle looks very close to what your working with (same manifolds also)
Sand blast the column drop and paint it!

Mark...

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

All looks good Doug.
WhatMarc said, painting the column drop is maybe the best option, besides making your own.
I think, only if you go for a high end billet vehicle those drops would work
It's just not old enough.
So, now you know how I think about billet stuff, not my cup of tea

Linking your steering can be a problem, I know, I'm still not happy with mine, although it works.
I'm sure you will work it out

Good points Kees. Blasting and paint this column drop is the plan. I think I am going the right direction for the steering shaft.

Originally Posted by reaper71

Looking good Doug...Here is a shot of the steering I set up on that Chevy coupe I'm working on the angle looks very close to what your working with (same manifolds also)
Sand blast the column drop and paint it!

Mark...

Mark, great talking to you and Jim yesterday! Appreciate your ideas on welding and builds. Hope you got the compressor running.

Sunday evening I ordered the needed parts sitting on the couch using the IPad....and it still amazes me when they show up a couple days later because I live in the sticks. One part showed up Tuesday and it wasn't expedited shipping. The rest showed up today.

I really like the looks of these stainless steel pieces from Borgeson. The dowel rod will be used to mock up dd shaft lengths between u joints before cutting the stainless steel shaft. That should help me get the lengths correct.

[Advanced Design]

The pinion steering shaft has the triangular shape and is pictured above. I wanted to check the fit of the u joint there as the fit looks pretty tight.

Yep, it's pretty tight... Hopefully adjusting the rack up and over will provide needed clearance.

What would it be like to bolt stuff together and it just fits? Nah, that wouldn't be fun...would it?

Anyone go over to LS1Tech and watch a Kwhizz build? He takes really nice mid to late 60's B body Chevys and does a LS Connect and cruise swap, VA and DD gauges. Done in two weeks. I think I want to try that....

[oldman3]

Hey Doug, enjoyed the talk yesterday. Yes we got the air compressor running, had to install a new 5 hp motor (not cheap), but can't be without it. Again Merry Chirstmas to your entire family...Jim

[lower50's]

Nice steering parts Doug!

[reaper71]

Look's good Doug, Would love to have you and the wife come visit anytime!
Hope you have a great Xmas..

Mark..

[rkn463]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

What would it be like to bolt stuff together and it just fits? Nah, that wouldn't be fun...would it?

Anyone go over to LS1Tech and watch a Kwhizz build? He takes really nice mid to late 60's B body Chevys and does a LS Connect and cruise swap, VA and DD gauges. Done in two weeks. I think I want to try that....

LOL!

I think if we just built the same thing over and over we could probably do them in two years 😜

The work you are doing on the steering looks great (as always).

Merry Christmas to you and yours Doug.

-Richard

[Advanced Design]

Hey Jim, Lower, Mark and Richard always appreciate the encouraging words!

After installing the seat to evaluate the drop, I decided the last one I tried was too low. After a couple hours of evaluating various options, I went back with this one, Painted black it will look OK.

Steering is pieced together with the help of 3/4" wooden dowels to get the shaft lengths correct between u-joints. Then I made the support for the shaft from some angle iron in the scrap pile.