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You don't weld Springs period. I'll Splain it! He took main leafs from a 60 series because they're the same width as the 55s, took the springs from the 60s and cut the wraps off each (where the bushings go. ) then added them to the 55s spring packs 🤔😉🐷. I believe this is correct. @NikP will correct me if I missed anything 😉🐷
 
You don't weld Springs period. I'll Splain it! He took main leafs from a 60 series because they're the same width as the 55s, took the springs from the 60s and cut the wraps off each (where the bushings go. ) then added them to the 55s spring packs 🤔😉🐷. I believe this is correct. @NikP will correct me if I missed anything 😉🐷

Ah. Cut them off just to use the leafs as add-a-leaf. Got it.
 
You don't weld Springs period. I'll Splain it! He took main leafs from a 60 series because they're the same width as the 55s, took the springs from the 60s and cut the wraps off each (where the bushings go. ) then added them to the 55s spring packs 🤔😉🐷. I believe this is correct. @NikP will correct me if I missed anything 😉🐷
@bobm you nailed it! 👍👍👍👍
 
A quick update after driving around town for a bit. Ride is firm and with washboard roads the springs absorb where the previous springs just enabled the whole vehicle to bounce.

Ride height changed 1 3/4 front and 1 1/2 rear.

I’ve attached a sketch to outline exactly what pieces combine to make the final front and rear spring pack. The pink highlights are the pieces from the stock 55 spring.

@RUSH55 it’s raining so my photo shoot got canceled. Keeping you in suspense.

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Gas tank day in the shop!

I was tired of sucking air with over 5 gallons in the tank.

I first tried @DoubleNickels solution going from the fuel sender unit. I had an old level sensor to prototype with but couldn't get a 5/16 tube to fit under the access panel. (at least with all the spare tube parts I had). It needs a really tight bend to work and I didn't want to try it on my working fuel level sender.

So, I bought a tank bulkhead fitting and moved the pickup from the very rear of the tank (not sure of my logic why I picked such a poor location) to the front section that has some internal baffling. I was able to get a wobble socket on it through the fuel level sender opening to tighten. Since I used -6AN fittings when I plumbed my motor swap, it worked perfectly.


l also installed a fuel vapor separator from a FJ60 so I can eventually connect to a charcoal canister. I didn't have the cannister yet so just plumbed it to the external vent for the interim.

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A quick update after driving around town for a bit. Ride is firm and with washboard roads the springs absorb where the previous springs just enabled the whole vehicle to bounce.

Ride height changed 1 3/4 front and 1 1/2 rear.

I’ve attached a sketch to outline exactly what pieces combine to make the final front and rear spring pack. The pink highlights are the pieces from the stock 55 spring.

@RUSH55 it’s raining so my photo shoot got canceled. Keeping you in suspense.

View attachment 2763565
Thanks for the leaf spring walk thru info, pics, and diagram.. I'm exploring options for my rear leaf springs and don't want to move my rear perches,. I've got an order in for a pair of rear Dobinson's and they are bolt in.. I'm a plan B and C person and reading this makes sense to me.
Two questions.. 1. what rear center pin did you wind up using, the OME bolt that came w the 60 leafs?
2. OME has 3 levels of 60 front leaf spring sets.. the 03's used in this setup are the least rigid. what are your thoughts about using the 04's or even the 05's for the rear 55 swap??
 
Two questions.. 1. what rear center pin did you wind up using, the OME bolt that came w the 60 leafs?
2. OME has 3 levels of 60 front leaf spring sets.. the 03's used in this setup are the least rigid. what are your thoughts about using the 04's or even the 05's for the rear 55 swap??
Yes, the OME center pin is used. It's plenty long enough. The 03's are plenty firm. I'd be worried anything more rigid will give a buckboard ride.
 
@NikP , how has the fuel issue solution worked out so far?

Also curious about how your venting system is doing. Does your tank have one vent port or several tying into that line below the evap manifold?
I’ve got the one 3/8” vent now on the front of the tank and am considering adding a second vent line towards the rear of the tank before calling it done.
 
@NikP , how has the fuel issue solution worked out so far?

Also curious about how your venting system is doing. Does your tank have one vent port or several tying into that line below the evap manifold?
I’ve got the one 3/8” vent now on the front of the tank and am considering adding a second vent line towards the rear of the tank before calling it done.
Yeah, I'm thinking the third shot at this should be a charm. My fuel starvation is worse now than before. I start to have issues at about 5/8th of a tank or after about 160 miles. I should be able to get close to 300 miles on a tank based on calculations.

I ordered a Holley Hydramat but haven't had a chance to drop the tank and install it. I'm going to have to swap in a different bulkhead fitting so I can tie it to the Hydramat. I'm hoping I can fish all this through the stock fuel sender hole or I'm screwed.

You know, my issues would be easier if you'd just build me a tank. I'd be happy to prototype the design. 😀😀😀

My venting issue is much improved. I no longer have fuel running out the gas cap on warm days. My tank has two 5/8 vent lines that connected to the stock filler neck. The new filler neck I installed only has one so they're tee'd together. I'm not sure what kind of vent volume there really is on these. My gut says you'll be good with what you have. After all, they used to vent via the cap. I'm not sure EFI changes the venting requirement all that much. (but what do I know? I'm on my third iteration). I have a fuel smell in the garage but I'm all set up to add a charcoal canister if needed. (Although I did the charge pump delete on my programming). I think I can easily rig something.
 
I went back through the thread and saw mention and a couple pics on page 8 that you plumbed in the fuel pump and lines, but never found any mention of what type of pump you went with (internal or external). Where did you mount it?
 
I went back through the thread and saw mention and a couple pics on page 8 that you plumbed in the fuel pump and lines, but never found any mention of what type of pump you went with (internal or external). Where did you mount it?
It's external. It's mounted in the frame rail on the driver's side behind the axle.
 
Okay @RUSH55 since I didn’t get one of your gas tanks for Christmas, I decided to drop my tank (again) and force a 3x15 Holley Hydramat through the stock tank sender hole. I think I should have built a new tank. It may have been easier😊😊😊. Fishing tubing and fittings in a piece at a time and trying to connect it all while looking through a 2 inch hole and breathing gas fumes for hours was not really all that fun.

I had to fab this piece three times before I could get it in place. This is v1.0 and I didn’t take any additional pictures as I progressed. This one ended up too tall. V2.0 positioned the Hydramat at a rise off the bottom of the tank. V3.0 I had to get creative with my tube bender and after 4 90-degree bends it was close enough. I needed something like a 1.5 inch 280-degree bend radius and with the cheap 90-degree loaner tool it took an alternate design.

Hopefully I can take a decent trip without starvation and filling the tank before it’s half empty now 🤞.

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Gonna need more pics to make sense of what’s going on here.
As for your future custom tank, Santa didn’t make good on the plasma cutter or the TIG welder, so it’s gonna take longer now!😂
Yes this one needs an engineering drawing for sure. The tank is back in so no pictures. I wished I had studied this more up front when I had my tank cleaned. It would have been much easier to install since the tank shop cut an access hole then brazed it shut. Oh well I’ve learned a lot.

Santa must have supply chain issues. I was dreaming about a plasma table. Hmmm … or maybe I was naughty last year.
 
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Santa must have supply chain issues. I was dreaming about a plasma table. Hmmm … or maybe I was naughty last year.
Pro-tip...
Get your wife to start looking at all the "totally cute plasma art" chingaderas on the facetragram and let her know "we can totally make all that for you" if we only had a plasma table.
My wife made a couple dragonflies and a mailbox before she lost interest in her new plasma table then just left it in my shop for me to deal with..
 

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