- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Don't think I need all that. I'm only going to be running 31"s or so.When in doubt go 40 spline??
Way overkill and a 9" 40 spline ARB is only $2200.
Meet Red, my 81 Restomod Build
- Thread starter Randyzzz
- Start date
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
I think I’m finally done with the gas tank install- the fab part that is. I built the front and rear bars to hold it in position today.
The rear bar was easy. A straight shot. It’s “c” channel and mounted so that it will deflect/contain those two tabs in case I ever get rear ended.
The front bar was a bit more complicated but simple enough. 
Bent the straps up-
The tank is finally up and in place. The white tape material under the contact points is actually plastic backed rubberized seaming material used on gutters, roof, and the like. It’s about 3/32 thick and really durable. Should keep the tank from abrading on the supports. 
Here you can see the overall ground clearance. Not bad for 25 gallon capacity. 
The level represents the bottom of the tub with no body lift. I’m going to try and fab up a 1 3/4” fill setup and hopefully eliminate slow filling and spit-back. Stay tuned!
The rear bar was easy. A straight shot. It’s “c” channel and mounted so that it will deflect/contain those two tabs in case I ever get rear ended.The front bar was a bit more complicated but simple enough. Bent the straps up-The tank is finally up and in place. The white tape material under the contact points is actually plastic backed rubberized seaming material used on gutters, roof, and the like. It’s about 3/32 thick and really durable. Should keep the tank from abrading on the supports. Here you can see the overall ground clearance. Not bad for 25 gallon capacity. The level represents the bottom of the tub with no body lift. I’m going to try and fab up a 1 3/4” fill setup and hopefully eliminate slow filling and spit-back. Stay tuned!
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
More goodies! UPS just dropped off my radiator and my SpeedHut gauges!
The radiator is a BeCool dual pass. It will be a chore to fit as it is about an inch or so wider than stock- but that will be worth it. 
The SpeedBut gauges are amazing. Worth every penny. But I forgot to buy the 12x1.5 adapter for the temp sender...$14.99 part and 14.00 shipping. Doh. Can’t wait to see these babies installed!
The radiator is a BeCool dual pass. It will be a chore to fit as it is about an inch or so wider than stock- but that will be worth it. The SpeedBut gauges are amazing. Worth every penny. But I forgot to buy the 12x1.5 adapter for the temp sender...$14.99 part and 14.00 shipping. Doh. Can’t wait to see these babies installed!
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Pulled off the white spoke wheels in hopes of selling them. Put on a set of vintage Western Bullet wheels. They’re totally awesome, but just not what I had in mind for this build. I’ll probably sell them too. 
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
So...it wouldn’t be a Randyzzz build thread without some plastic exhaust piping. Here we go! 
The positioning is approximate but the plastic makes it a ton easier to visualize the end result. The second pic is closer to the final product. More mandrel bends ordered, I’ll have the exhaust done by next weekend I hope.
Went and ordered my wheels today, they will get here next week. Then I stopped by a local junkyard that unknown to me was a u-pull-it yard. They were having a 50% off sale, got a tilt column from an XJ that will work perfect. Best part? A friend works there and is pulling it for me for free! Double score!
The positioning is approximate but the plastic makes it a ton easier to visualize the end result. The second pic is closer to the final product. More mandrel bends ordered, I’ll have the exhaust done by next weekend I hope. Went and ordered my wheels today, they will get here next week. Then I stopped by a local junkyard that unknown to me was a u-pull-it yard. They were having a 50% off sale, got a tilt column from an XJ that will work perfect. Best part? A friend works there and is pulling it for me for free! Double score!
Very nice build, should have checked this post before for the gas tank idea. Can you please give me more details of it and also the fuel pick up unit ?
This is very close to what I’m doing with my CJ8, same philosophy, vintage look with a modern reliable engine
This is very close to what I’m doing with my CJ8, same philosophy, vintage look with a modern reliable engine
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Thank you!
The tank is a 25 gallon tank out of a full size 1991 full size Blazer. Spectra Premium GM15C $107.27 on Amazon
Tank straps Spectra Premium ST11 $20.99 on Amazon. These are the straps for a larger capacity tank, but the extra length let’s you reach up to the original front cross member.
Fuel sender module Spectra Premium FG12K $66.78 from Amazon. Comes without pump and has a 0-90 ohm sender IIRC. Also comes with gaskets, lower insulator and sleeve, tube with metal clamps, and a fuel filter sock.
Fuel pump ACDelco EP381 $74.96 from Amazon. This is the pump that has the correct pressure for the LS engine swap, and fits perfectly in the module. Comes with cheesy plastic clamps and a lower insulator that I didn’t use.
The tank fill nozzle is in the generally correct position, but is 1 5/8 tube swaged up to 1 3/4. I contemplated having a 1” fill soldered in place of the bigger one, but then I thought a larger fill tube might help with filling. I found all I need at Fillernecksupply.com They have stainless tube, elbows, fuel rated rubber tube, and universal filler necks with caps. Haven’t gotten that far yet. I want to keep the original fill location. Stay tuned!
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
While waiting for more parts, I started to dig through some of the boxes I had stacked away. Found my box full of shifters. This option worked so well on Copper that I think I’ll go the same way on Red. 
- City
- Ducor
- State
- Ca
Great choice. They are going to look great
- City
- Ducor
- State
- Ca
Very clean. Keep up the good work!?
- City
- Molalla
- State
- Or
You do exceptionally nice work Randy. I like the way you used the mufflers to raise the pipes up to go over the rear end. And you've now set the bar on fitting a large fuel tank!
- City
- Redmond
- State
- OR
Thank you. I did cause a bit of an issue for myself with the muffler placement- now the passenger parking brake cable is about a foot too short. I’m going to wait and see where the parking brake cables go in on the Explorer rear disc conversion and then have one custom built. Other than that I’m really happy with how this is progressing.
