11:18 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline
I'm still trying to figure out an inexpensive way to make room between my Kilby gas tank skid and the rear diff cover. The expensive route would be to get the Genright tank. I just can't help thinking it's over kill when all I need is about another 1/2".
I managed to move the skid and tank back about 1/4" this afternoon with the help of a come along and my front yard tree. I got some strange looks with my Jeep sideways on the driveway attached to the tree. 🙄
I managed to peek inside the skid plate and can see the tank is about 1/2" away from the skid plate where my diff cover hits. I'm considering dropping the skid plate and cutting a hole in it to allow for diff clearance. Between the 3/16" of the skid plate material and the 1/2" gap between the tank and skid plate I think I should reclaim enough space. The hole would be fairly high so I don't think anything could hit the tank. A rock would pretty much have to get on top of the axle to get in there.
What do you guys think?
11:22 pm
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline Troy did that to his tank and I think it worked well for him. I remember him cutting his tank skid, and he didn't drop the tank, just cut it right on the Jeep. I also remember I vacated the garage for about 10 minutes 
I used to wheel a lot. . .
11:35 pm
May 4, 2004
Offline I could probably slide some thin sheet metal in there to act as shield for the tank. Maybe just make some kind of depth gauge for my die grinder. Not dropping the tank would sure make the job easier and faster.
1:14 am
Club President
April 2, 2003
Offline Uhh, good luck with cutting while the tank is up.
A Grinder may be the safer route. Just put wet towels up top.
1:23 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline What did Troy use? It was in your garage.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
1:31 am
December 18, 2002
Offline I didn't ever cut my tank like that, at least not that I remember. Up until I stretched everything, I don't remember having any contact with the rear diff and the tank. What I would do is this....
Run the tank really low on gas, pull the tank and skid.
Cut the skid with about an inch of extra all the way around. Get a piece of 1/8" plate and weld it in place on the inside of the skid. Grind down the edges of the patch so it doesn't skuff the tank, then drop it back in place. You've got some room to move on the inside of those skid plates and 1/8" of an inch isn't going to be a problem. If you needed to, you could even build it out a bit and gain probably somewhere around a full inch between the existing space, clearancing the tank and then building up the cut-out.
That's what I'd do anyway, I'd rather improvise what I had then buy a new tank for 1/2" of clearance.
Out in the garage collecting parts....
1:37 am
December 18, 2002
Offline By the way, don't cut that skid with the tank inside. Those are really soft and you'll cut right through it with a grinder, not to mention - Sparks+Gas Fumes=Boom!!
Unless it's a super quick tack weld with protection between the sparks and tank, I drop the tank on anything I do that consists of sparks in that area. My tank pulls out from the top now though and is much easier to get access to.
I did beat the crap out of the bottom of my skid to get an extra 1" of clerance where that dimple is in the stock skid though.... but that was with the tank out as well. Come to think of it, you might just do that, just beat the snot out of that part of the skid with a sledge hammer to get the clearance you need (again with the tank out of the skid).
Out in the garage collecting parts....
1:51 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline What was it you were cutting at Brad's house. My memory is fading in my old age 
I used to wheel a lot. . .
2:58 am
May 4, 2004
Offline Safety will prevail. I'll pull the skid out if I do any cutting or welding on it.
3:47 am
December 18, 2002
Offline "JohnDF" wrote: What was it you were cutting at Brad's house. My memory is fading in my old age
I cut his speaker pod over there, can't think of what I'd cut on my rig over there. Then again, with all of the cutting I've done on my rig over the last several years - could've been anything! :hack: 
Out in the garage collecting parts....
4:38 am
Club Member
July 10, 2003
Offline I just remember you were cutting something or grinding something right next to your gas tank and I left the garage until you were done.
I used to wheel a lot. . .
4:46 pm
December 18, 2002
Offline You know, I think it might have been my exhaust. I had a problem for a long time with where my exhaust exited and it would rattle against the gas tank. Might have been that.... :hack:
Out in the garage collecting parts....
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