June 2010 Gas Tank Filler Port

June, 2010: Today we tackled the install of the gas tank filler port. Of course, like anything else, you can't just "install" it, you have to measure twice, cut once (sometimes measure and cut again) until you get it just right. The top of the opening to the tank needed to be shaved down and the bottom of the filler port needed to be cut down as well, along with the rubber tubing and re-drilling the hole for the filler cap safety chain. All in all a good morning's work, with some supervision by Mom.

Dad measuring for the hole to be cut into the wood bed.

Checking for clearance and figuring out
how much needs to be cut off the filler port and tank opening.

Dad drilling the hole into the wood bed using a hole saw.

Hmmm, that looks difficult... You sure you have that hole right Dad?

What you doing Sherm? Are you ready to go yet?

Mom supervising!

Trimming down the gas tank opening.

Installing rubber hose for filler port.

Filler port installed!!!

Safety chain reinstalled on newly trimmed filler port

May and June have been focused on getting the gas tank and fuel lines installed. A little body work was done while waiting for the gas tank to arrive (which took over a month, once it did it was damaged and we had to wait for a new one to ship.) The tank, which SHOULD have fit a 51 GMC had odd angled brackets that prevented it from sitting level on the frame. These brackets had to be cut off and I had to fabricate new ones out of raw stock which I purchased from Lowes.

While waiting for the tank to arrive, some body work was done: At some point the cowl vent had been covered up with bondo. I cut out the old bondo and welded the vent, shaving it into a smoothed out look.




The gas tank finally arrived with one small problem. The brackets that attach the tank to the bed were angled on both sides. I cut the existing brackets off and fabricated new ones, aligning them properly to fit onto the frame. I then welded them onto the tank, making sure everything was level.

Raw Steel cut and fabricated into brackets.

New brackets welded on to gas tank, then drilled holes in the
frame and bolted the tank onto the frame

The following is a picture of the side view of the mounted gas tank.

Next up was installing the fuel lines, using Dad's technique, routing them along the frame rails, avoiding brake lines and emergency brake cables-- straight shot to the fuel pump.