Well........The last big hurdle is the Fuel system......Two issues here.......#1....The Nomad gas tank is nothing like a stock 57 tank......with the spare tire well in the rear floor....there wasn't too much room left for a gas tank.....so GM pretty much form fit a tank in the space that was available......as you can see........
And a new tank I bought for Modifications.............
I'm using a GM LSA Fuel pump which is 7 1/2" high and the Nomad tank is 12" deep.....So......two problems....the GM pump needs to be spring loaded against the bottom of the tank......so...I need to build a recessed mounting system for the GM pump......and I need to lengthen the stock LSA pump to replicate the stock compressed GM specs......Here are some pic's of the Tank Modifications.......Should be finished later this week........
Also..........To get the old Nomad tank out of the car I basically had to just about take the rear axle assy out........I disassembled everything and slid the housing forward on the springs to get enough room for the tank to come out.......And....as long as I am ripping the rear of the car apart, I had an Axle oil seal leak on the passenger side, so....pulled the axle out to get that fixed.......then I checked and found out the rear was an open rear......so....pull it all apart and took the third member to get a Posi unit installed.........used a couple cans of Brake clean to get the oil out of the parking brake assy and to get the pads and rotors cleaned up......should have the rear ready for reassembly when the tank is finished.....
And........The Fuel pump.........A couple of concerns here.......The GM pump has exposed wires that are submersed in the gasoline........So....I found out by asking the experts on LS1tech how to extend the wires while lengthening the pump......I was told to use PTFE wire and shrink tubing only.......took a while to locate the Teflon insulated wire and shrink tubing......finally got everything and got the wires fixed.........next was the flexible "Soda Straw" feed line from the pump to the outlet port on top of the assy........couldn't figure out a good way to lengthen the corrugated plastic tube without crushing or restricting the line........so.....I ended up getting some -8 braided stainless fuel hose and it worked out perfectly......I cut off the plastic tube and left the stock GM RF sealed tube ends on the fittings.....the -8 hose fit over these tube ends perfectly and will be held on with stainless hose clamps.....then I made some stainless rod extenders and longer springs to make the pump to the new length.........all finished, just need to wire tie the wires to neaten then up.......
Having second thoughts about using a rubber feed line submersed in Gasoline in the tank.......Does anyone know what type of material the Soda straw tubes and GM pump bodies are made from and what type of adhesive/sealant is used by GM in the assembly process ????????
Been busy at the shop so not a lot of time for Car parts......I finally got the fuel pump situation put to bed........I ordered a set-up from Ricks that has a dual filtered in tank pick ups for supplying the fuel pump......there are a couple of brackets that the pick-ups snap into that needed to be tack welded in the Tank to hold them in position......Got that finished today........Now I can finish welding the Pump plate into the tank.........Getting real close !!!!!!!
Got home from Vacation and I was hoping the Elves would have the car back together.....No Luck......Gas Tank is not finished yet either........But !!!......Got a box in UPS with new shocks in it........Can't do anything till the Tank gets finished.......Darn !!!!
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
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