It's Always Something!

The gas tank in my truck started leaking last fall. Since I wasn't working, I didn't really need to drive it, so I just parked it for the winter. I knew that we would need the truck over the summer (trips to Lowe's, the dump, yard waste, getting mulch etc...), so I decided I had better fix it. After spending 5 hours to remove 8 rusted (14 year old) bolts, the bed was ready to come off. I was told that taking the bed off would be the easiest way to do the work. I think it was.

My dad and a friend from school came over to help lift the bed off.

It was a little heavy, but not too bad.

I knew I had to hurry to get the new tank put in or this might have turned into a flower "bed".

I cut the bolts that were holding the old tank straps, and the tank came right out.

I installed all new fuel lines and bolted the new tank in place.

I got the new sending unit set up and put the fuel pump on it.

After installing the sending unit and connecting the fuel lines, wiring harness and ground wire, I put 5 gallons of gas in it, and it started right up.

My brother-in-law and the same friend from school came over to put the bed back on. It sure was easier to put the 8 new bolts back in than it was to take the old ones out. I hooked the filler neck hose and vent hose back up and thought I was done.

When I plugged the wires back in for the tail lights, one side wasn't working right. The reverse light would come on when I stepped on the brake and the turn signal was really dim. After messing around with it for a while, I found a broken ground wire. I spliced and soldered it, and all is good now.

I am glad I decided to take the bed off for this project. I don't think I would have wanted to do the whole thing from under the truck.