Lookin good! Tank looks fine.Like everyone else has said,just cut the bolts down,leave about 3/4"-1" remaining and cap them.
so the shackles are those things on either side of my rear that hang down in the back? sorry... I haven't researched the rear end of our cars too much yet.
The shackles attach the rear portion of the feaf springs to the frame rails...yourse are aftermarket and can be bad news...
sweet! thanks for all the input guys! it really does help alot. i started to get scared about the gas tank for second there... any input about anything on these pics is welcome! Feel free to be brutal and honest.
aftermarket? So someone besides me actually did something to my car in the last 40 years?!?! *jaw drops* - Is this the type of thing that can wait until I do a full rear end rebuild or am I looking at a safety issue? Already did the front suspension, but was hoping on getting the engine and body done before rebuilding the rear. Safety issues take precedence always!!
The reason they are on there is most likely because the leaf springs are worne out.People use em to restore or jack up the rear ride height.If you leave em in the position they are in you will be ok for a bit but. I wouldnt recommend any"spirited" driving with em, they tend to flex and make the rear end unpredictable.
I remember you mentioning you did a swap, those bolts look really thin though, dont want them to flex/rust and break while youre going down the street one day a few years from now. Nothing against your craftsmanship at all, it just looks nerve racking from my eyes...but maybe its because its completely exposed in the back?
The door gap should be easily fixed by loosening the bolt at the bottom and pushing the lower fender in...a lot of times that whole section will rust out causing the fender to flap in the wind though(like mine...lol) Even with shackles the rear end sits really low, when are you planning to install the rear end?
They are the same thickness as the bolts that held my old tank on. (I took the old ones with me to lowes when I got the new ones) should I have upgraded the thickness with the larger tank?
A gallon of gas weighs 8.66 lbs, upgrading from a 14(121.24 lbs gas only) to a 19(164.54 lbs gas only) will only put an extra 43.3 lbs on it, I think itd be ok...just make sure it doesnt sway and those nuts cant loosen themselves up. Honestly Im not sure if Im even giving legitimate information...but something like that I wouldnt take any chances on, Im just suggesting what Id do, as Im always paranoid about stuff like that Murphy is a good friend of mine...a friend who wont leave me alone.
I was planning on waiting until the engine and body was finished, but now I'm thinking of pushing it up some... I've gotta do my research on leaf springs and gear swaps first. I know there's TONS of info here on that stuff, I just haven't read it yet thinking that I had more time. The rear might look low because the front is pretty jacked right now and has tiny tires too? (wishful thinking...)
small bumpers makes a car sit lower ? I had spring issues when I redid my front suspension - long story that's been retold on several a thread lol. I was supposed to take the clamps off (yes. the springs are clamped) this week and cut the springs, but weather in the mountains didn't permit me going back. Was trying to get my rims n tires before cutting the springs so I could be exact, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen so I'll have to wing it. I'll just be conservative with the cutting especially now after finding out that my rear is sitting funny too. Bumpers implies plural. I don't even have holes for a rear bumper hahhaha. oh boy. I shoulda bought a horse.
