How does this **** happen to me?

[T Man]

Last friday my girlfriend and I were on our way to see a concert, I had to fill up with gas, and being as that it was friday, it was my weekly fillup anyway. So I put a full tank in (18 gals. and change) and go in to pay. I come out and there is a puddle the size of my bed underneath my truck. I come to find out that my leaf spring on my left side has slipped to the right, karatie chopped my tank knocking a hole the size of a chapstick container in the...where? BOTTOM OF MY TANK! (Good bye $38.96) So we push my truck out of the way get her car of which i put another 15 dollars in so we can get to the concert, and we go. I call a buddy I am taking a class from he happens to have a tank out of a 89 4cyl. I get it on tuesday because he lives 2 hrs away from me...guess what, its a 13 galon, looks more like a damn fuel cell, but we get it put in my truck, starting at about 9:30pm finishing at 2 (had to pull the bed because im so low) well, we go to put my sending unit out of my 20 gal tank in, and......its an inch too long, so we put the one out of the 13 in there, and....the float doesnt work, so ive got a fuel pump but no gas gauge.the next day at work i spend several hours modifiying my 20 gal sending unit to fit in the 13 gal tank get it in, ive got a gas gauge now, and get it running. BAAAH, I thought gm was the king of interchangeability?!?!?!?!?! Oh well, she runs now, and tuesday, im putting poly bushings on every suspension part, a new pittman arm, and maybe new shocks, with me only paying 75 bucks for everything. Ill try to get a pic up of the carnage to the tank.

[Mikz86TA]

How did the leafs break? Did you fix that? Sorry about your luck man =(. Wish you could have found a exact tank to fit back in there.

[04silveradomykk]

I think all in all you were pretty resourceful on getting another tank... I probably would of just ordered another tank from LMC or Dorman... or a fuel cell from Summit.

[j894]

sounds like my luck

[Topher23]

Dude that sucks I wan't to see some pics of that gas tank

[Slacker1357]

Hey it cost me about $180 for some one else to install a brand new OE gas tank. fairly simple (aside from where to put the gas and getting it back into the new tank)

Worked for me because I worked side by side with these guys as a tire salesman

[droopy89]

Like the great man Forrest Gump once said "**** happens", but sorry to hear bout this

[T Man]

meh, gotta roll with it, the leaf didnt break, found out later that one of the u bolts had stripped so it wasnt clamping the leaf pack which has been "modified" very well, and the locator bolt had sheered. I went ahead and pulled the bed off to swap the gas tank, which in the end was for the best...it made putting my taller drop blocks in a cinch. Now all we have to do is wait for tuesday...I just found out im gettin a set of drop springs as well to go in when the front end is torn apart...wahoo!

[T Man]

More updates.

Well, monday night the fuel pump took a ****. It had 152k good miles on it, like losing a close friend. Got one in tuesday morning and began the suspension work. Poly bushings are in as are the "modified" drop springs ;) New shocks and new sway bar end links. In my sway bar kit, I have a greasable set of bushings and brackets for a 1 1/8 inch sway bar if anyone wants them send me a price, Ill let em go for cheep. Now ive got a bigger problem, ive got a knocking/popping noise like something is binding and then releasing when the brakes are applied. I shook everything down today at work quickly, and other than a little wheel bearing play it all felt tight. Im going to tear the front back apart here in a bit and see if maybe I have a loose balljoint nut or something. My alignment shims are not missing, and as far as I could tell the UCA bolts are tight. Im thinking its the idler arm possibly, although the steering wheel stays rock soild when im braking and the noise is being made....Any suspension specialists feel free to chime in with your thoughts. Im certanly no newb when it comes to suspensions and steering, but Im missing something easy i know.

[droopy89]

Caliper bolts tight? front sway bar banging around?

[Dogsofjune]

You gonna be at the Pittsburg show again this year?

[T Man]

steering shaft that connects to the pittman arm is moving about 1/4 inch, im glad to know im not gonna have a tie rod fall out on my way...not glad at what its gonna cost. and yeah dan...ill be there, will yall?

[Dogsofjune]

It's on the 21st, right?

I'm working in the Garnett, Iola area so I'm not to far away. Isn't your B-day soon? Should I bring the Hooters outfit for ya? j/p

[T Man]

Yeah..not for another month or so. As far as a date, im not too sure on the show date though. The hooters outfit is a must, duh.

By the way dan, I may be getting a new truck at the end of the month, so when that p dine comes off, you have a potential buyer.