Need some pics and info on stretched wheelbase EBs

[JeepinCJ7]

I will be stretching the rear end back 4"-6" on the EB shortly and want to get some ideas for how I'm going to do it. I will be keeping the leafs too. Here is what I am looking for.

1. Need pics of recessed fuel tanks/cells. My plan is to recess a fuel cell into the tub between the frame rails. Thinking about a 20 gallon cell dropped about 8"-10" into the bed between the rails. Anyone done something similar and have pics?

2. Pics of stretched wheelwells. Not looking for the square version like Dusty did, but actually just cutting and stretching the existing wells. Reason for this is because of my custom rear seat. I need to keep the current rounded style.

3. Pics of the spring hangers and how they were mounted to the frame again. Any issues with ride height being altered at all?

4. Gas filler. Looking for some ideas on doing this so the filler is outside of the tub. This may be the trickiest part of the whole setup to make it look "clean". Any ideas?

[Dusty]

Scotty, I don't know if he's here on Pirate but look up Scott Woodward over on So Cal. I believe he stretched his fender wells the way you're describing. I seem to remember that Lee Novikoff did it on his pre-Barbie bronco way back in the day. Mike Bautista is getting ready to do his this way also (I gave him my old tubs for it :D ).

Not sure how far back you'll have to move the spring hangers. On mine, with the longer F150 leaves I had to put them all the way back at the end of the frame horn just to maintain stock wheelbase. I welded a plate into the fishmouth on the side of the frame horn to strengthen it before welding on the spring hanger.

Here's an idea that might be pretty trick for the fuel filler if you're keeping the stock tailgate. Get a short piece of 4 or 5" thin wall tubing, hole-saw a hole through the tailgate near the top, and weld the short piece of tubing in then trim to flush front and back. Then mount the filler neck on a stalk so that the fill cap pokes through the hole in the tailgate but doesn't stick out past the outer surface of it. Then you will still be able to open the tailgate. This will also allow you to still run a hard or soft top (which would be more difficult if you mounted the filler above the bed rail or tailgate). This also moves the gas filler to the back rather than the side, wehre its vulnerable to rocks and trees. You could even put a flange on the filler neck with a rubber gasket that seals against the tailgate when closed. I actually may end up doing this one myself some time in the future.

Dusty

[45acp]

I have mine back 4" dead on right now and it will be 5" once i get the other rear bolted on with the longer perches. Havent done anything with the fenderwells yet but you can bet when i do it that it wont be pretty. :p Im using the springs i had-- 3.5" Duff 10 leafers. All you have to do is cut/grind the hangers off and move them back however much you want. The rear hanger is super easy since its only welded to the side of the frame. The front hanger is welded both down the side and the bottom. The top of the dif clears the crossmember fine but is fairly close to the gas tank (doesnt matter to you since you're making a cell). I think we calculated a half inch reduction in ride height. I know i cant tell visually that it changed at all.

[broncman]

45acp is right on the money. I have done 2 of them. With a decent lift, clearance is usually good and most people WILL NEVER bottom out the axle on a lifted eb. The brackets are very easily removed from the frame and rewelded. I simply made a new doghouse just like the gas filler one and put it on the drive side. The 2 doghouses give plenty of room for rear clearance with out moving the wheel wells. These have usually been done on wider axled ebs. I used a 20 gallon Wild horses cell pulled up to the body on Karl Bradley's eb and made an addition to the inside of the doghouse for the filler. It gets filled from inside.

Axle moved back and body and frame stretch
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/toxicar/Karls.jpg

Axle moved back
Bob Ray's rig, dynatrac prorock 60's front and rear

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v260/toxicar/Bobs.jpg