SlowProgress Project Introduction

[SlowProgress]

Originally Posted by KPC67

The tank looks very good! I would love to see pictures of it in the car from the rear,.......
I enjoy your posts by the way

It does seem a little thicker than the stock tank. I think that is probably a little bit unavoidable due to the long GM pump module. But I am hoping the stamped surface will blend it in a little better. I will try to get some photos this weekend because next weekend is Goodguys and I will be distracted ! Thanks for the complement. I enjoy posting on Lat -g it is a good crowd !

[waynieZ]

That's a nice looking tank. Should be sweet in there.

[SlowProgress]

Here is a quick shot of the Rick’s stamped tank mocked-up in the 67. I think it looks pretty good. Sorry night time photos aren't the greatest. It is still a little deeper than stock in front, but I think it is a good trade to have the Zl-1 pump in there. Those stamped ridges and the flat black look really good IMO. I am not sure if I will paint it another flat black or not - hmmm decisions !

Rear View




Sides

[Sonar Chief]

That looks great in there ... photos make it look grey?

Good idea w the stamped tank, think I'll follow suit!

[SlowProgress]

I will get one in some good sunlight today. Actually a really nice flat black.

[waynieZ]

I think it looks great in there. I,m sure it's going to work perfectly.

[KPC67]

I think it seems to blend in a little more than the stainless ones, it looks good. I have a friend in Maricopa, next time I come visit him I would love to check your car out. Keep up the great work.

[SlowProgress]

I decided to save the mangled piece that connects the tunnel to the firewall. I was going to start over but as I looked at the firewall, the metal there is all folded and wrinkled in many spots. So, I beat on this piece for a while to get as many wrinkles out, glass beaded all the sealant off and welded closed a few holes. I decided to just tack weld the same 2-inch strips to the sides as the rest of the tunnel.





I also added some Clecos through some of the old spot welds to help hold it in place. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as careful as I should have been cutting this piece out and I had to add another small strip on the driver’s side.



I kept going back to the trunk to eyeball and make sure it looks square and flat. It still needs to move over a little at the rear. I will take some reference measurements before I do my final welds.



I used my little handy bead maker tool to sort of match the factory stiffener rib that runs around the pinch weld joint. This simple contour matched surprisingly well and I can fine tune it in the vice.





I made a few paper patterns and cut out the final piece in front.





It all looks pretty crude now, but as I trim and start butt-welding it together and work out a few more high/low spots I think it will work better. I don’t have a photo, but I trimmed the firewall area at the front and there is plenty of transmission clearance all around.

I am still about 1000 hammer blows away from finishing this, but it feels like it is heading in the right direction !

[SlowProgress]

I took a couple hours tonight, trimmed and tack-welded the puzzle pieces together on the tunnel piece that connects up to the firewall. It actually went pretty well with the TIG. I fit it close enough in most places to not need filler. There are a couple of gaps but nothing terrible. I trimmed the edges back a little more and it is starting to look OK. If I had a bead roller, I would roll a couple of beauty marks in it to make it look a little better.





I am taking next week off and plan to finish this and move on. See how that works out. It should weld in OK as long as I don’t get in a hurry and trim it wrong.

[waynieZ]

Its looking good already.