Got the tank moved up into the bed and some storage space built. I didn't have the money for a fuel cell, but I may go that direction in the future, so for that reason I just built a box for the existing tank and mounted it in the bed. Here is a picture of the finished product.




http://members.cox.net/riophaz/ftfinished.jpg


Started out by building a box. I forget what gauge the sheet was, just some scrap I had laying around. The corners, top, and bottom are braced with angle iron. The lid bolts down to the top, the filler tubes come out the side, and the fuel lines and electrical come up inside the box through the floor.

http://members.cox.net/riophaz/ftbox.jpg

Then, I built a hinged lid behind that to keep my stuff in the back... in the back.


http://members.cox.net/riophaz/fthingedlid.jpg



A shot of the filler tubes... made sure not to kink them. Didn't want to have to suffer through any 15 minute fillups because the filler tube was somewhat restricted. :shaking:

http://members.cox.net/riophaz/ftfiller.jpg

I've been in spots before where I couldn't open my tailgate, so I wanted to be able to access the storage area from the top or the back


Access from the top...


http://members.cox.net/riophaz/ftaccesslid.jpg



Access from the rear...


http://members.cox.net/riophaz/ftaccesstg.jpg

Here is the storage area without any thing in it. Everything that I've been carrying fits with room to spare. Only other thing to load will be the cooler up on top.



http://members.cox.net/riophaz/ftunloaded.jpg



And.... The best part of it all...





Look at all that room to raise that rear section of the frame, make a new rear bumper, and strettcchhhh that rear axle back. :cool:


http://members.cox.net/riophaz/ftnewroom.jpg

Nice job looks real clean, but your muffler looks like a rock magnet :flipoff2: Maybe it just the angle of the picture. But I like your fab work on the rear box/gas tank storage.

Nice job looks real clean, but your muffler looks like a rock magnet :flipoff2: Maybe it just the angle of the picture. But I like your fab work on the rear box/gas tank storage.

That's where the muffler and tailpipe went around the gas tank when it was there. The muffler will end up flat against the body where the gas tank used to be, thinking about exiting the tailpipe out through the rear bumper.
BTW, with raising the rear of the frame, the new height for the rear bumper will be 32", about 7" higher then it is now.
Rio

Looks like some nice clean work! I did something similar to my 5, but I didn't want to have to lift a heavy cooler up on top of everything. I was able to use one of those RCI jeep cells mounted like yours right behind the seats and the cooler slips in behind it.

Anyhow good job. I'm interested to see pics of the stretch.

Kevo

Very clean work! how did u cut the steel? Very clean

Gui

Very clean work! how did u cut the steel? Very clean

Gui

Plasma... it rocks, that and a light touch up with a 4" wheel and it looks perfect. It helps to keep it steady though. On the long cuts like some of those I clamped down a guide to slide the plasma against and keep it straight.

Rio

You could make some real cash selling those tank "boxes".
What's that rear axle?

You could make some real cash selling those tank "boxes".
What's that rear axle?
looks like the weaker housing ford 9" pre 1977 style...

I couldn't decide between a 9 or a toy rear...