I put the body lift on a few months ago and finally got around to lifting the gas tank.
First I drained the tank and removed it, which took much longer than I expected. When I did this on my 95LS many years ago i cut off the original brackets and welded on a set of lame and probably very week brackets. This time I decided to use the original brackets in the front and just cut them down. The one rear bracket I cut off and then I welded 3 pieces of 1x1 angle on the rear cross member so the seam of the tank sits just at the top of the cross member.

Here's the original bracket at the front of the tank.


Cut it off almost at the top. the hardest part was getting the cuts clean & straight so I could weld the two pieces back together.



Don't get your finger too close to the grinder when you are cutting.


Here's the pic after I cut out the middle 3 inches and tacked the bracket back together.


That's the rear bracket I cut off


I forgot to take more pics while I was working so here's 2 of the three rear brackets that I welded to the rear cross member. The bolts come down from the top.


And lastly here's how it sits once it's raised 3" in the front & 5" in the rear.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Nice work Kirk. Been dragging my fuel tanks over stuff for 15 years, but after dragging my tail in Moab a few weeks back, it really gets me thinking...

Great job grafting the two pieces together on that bracket!

Any more pics of your rear bumper? You've shown us before I think, but it's been a while. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

ok, since you know how to do this and have a welder and are even closer than Carlos, when can I come over so we can do this? I even have a good already empty gas tank to replace my dented one. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Make that two!! Sounds like a weekend of fun!

Mine's raised up in a very similar manner, after Toasty worked his magic a couple of months ago for me. Makes that exhaust pipe look awfully lonely, doesn't it?

And why doesn't my gas tank look like that? Mine's got these funny looking flat spots and creases for some reason. Hmmm, maybe it was those rocks...nahhh.

John B.

Build day at Kirks sounds Great I've got a steak with your name on it Kirk <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
Russ

Oh this discussion could go so wrong right now. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Looks nice. it would have been cool to see the before and after just to have that better visual. o yeah do you have any better pics of your rear bumper. looks good.

I made that bumper a bunch of years ago but I don't think I ever took any pics of it's construction. I'll take some of on the truck and post them up in a couple of days.

I'll absolutely host a raise the gas tank day at my place. Have to figure out when to do it though.this weekend is fathers day,next weekend Russell wants to hit the trail, the weekend after that is 4th of July with the family. And after that ... I don't know.

I'll throw in the caveat that I'm self taught when it comes to welding. For the most part I think the stuff I weld will stick together but no guarantees.

Great job on the gas tank lift <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />



<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I'm not laughing at you, but at me. I'm about to start making a rear bumper for my truck and I actually let myself think I would be the first with something and not be beaten to the post, i.e. factory back-up lights in a 2" tube bumper. At least you only beat me to it by several years <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Looks good <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />