From the pasture; The valiant story of my '66 Valiant
Forgive me Father, for it has been six months since my last confession. I confess to thee that I have (hath?) been busy, and have neglected the required updating of my thread.
Thou art forgiven my son, now do 12 Hail Mopars, and post pics.
Deal.
So one bright shiny day, however many weeks ago it was, I was in the shop, and decided I would finish the gas tank install at a minimum. So here we go! We were already still up on jackstands so that parts done. Hey baby, howya? Good to see ya, miss me?
*insert wavy lines and sounds indicating a flashback sequence*
Now since I have last updated you, oh Constant Reader, I have off and on attempted to clean this stupid filler neck. I ran pipe cleaners through it, wire brushes, everything known to man. Nothing. So I got frustrated and googled it. I found one on that magical auction site in the sky for $100, but I wasn’t quite bourboned up enough to pull the trigger on that purchase. Or maybe I was not quite so frustrated as to quit on the one I have just yet. Dunno. Maybe both. I mean it’s a smooth hundy plus shipping and I feel like I should exhaust all efforts first. So I put it on the ole watch list. This is important for later.
So instead of trading a Ben Franklin for a piece of pipe, I decided to try some stuff I have had good luck with in the past, CLR. I filled up a bucket, and soaked this thing. Ran some through it, used some and the wire brush again.
And guess what?!?!
Not a damn thing, that’s what. Fuel filler said F U. I like being rusty, corroded and ugly. I refuse to change; to get clean. Take me as I am or cast me away it said, in its secret filler neck language. I chose the latter option and by way of a sweeping arm motion, I send him off to the nether recesses of the shop to reside for evermore. About a day later, I get an "offer" from that one auction place, and when I click the email, I see that I am being offered one sterling jewel of a Taiwanese filler neck fitting one derelict 66 Plymouth for 48% off. I mean that’s a pretty good coupon me thinks.
So faster than you can say Direct Connection, I sent a presidential hit squad consisting of one Ulysses S. Grant and two George Washingtons over to rescue Capt. Filler neck. (They were wildly successful at it BTW) And unlike my wheels, I didn’t even have to make a drink first. Shipping was scheduled to take ten days, so I hopped over to RockAuto, ordered me a sending unit (with some other bobs n bits) and then ordered some gas tank felt paper, and a filler neck rubber gasket. I plan to be ready when it comes!
Ten days to the day, this purty lil thang showed up on my porch, well packaged, dressed up and ready to go. Well worth the money.
Being made in Taiwan seems to be a bit of a downer, but let's reserve judgement until we assemble, hmmm?
Before the weekend came, everything else I needed showed up, and I made plans to head to the shop, which brings us back to the beginning of the story. Are you keeping up? You are? Good. Flashback over.
First thing I did was make sure the fuel line was clear. Mo gas, mo air, mo crap sprayed out. That line is clean, so let's move on.
So I kinda got clowned by my buddy when I bought the actual fuel tank pad instead of just using some cast off tar paper, but since this was like $18 and I didn’t have any cast off tar paper, and I didn’t wanna go bumming around for cast off tar paper, and I had $18, I didn’t worry about his opinion much. Also, Detroit Muscle was easy to deal with and shipped quickly. Here it is lying "in place" prior to glue. Fit pretty well, and is notched where you need it to be. I had to lay it out in the sun for a while so it would quit its rolled up ways. Other than that, no issues!
Quick note, the aftermarket ring that comes with your fancy Chinese fuel sender is made of grade A hot stinky garbage. It was too small, didn’t fit in the hole, barely fit around the fuel sender, and is 100% effective at ONE THING, and that’s pissing me off. So if you feel the need to be pissed off, and don’t have a ready target, buy (Edit: don’t buy this, ever) one and smash it with a hammer. Twice. So I, having the brains to keep the old one, walked over, put it on the wire wheel and, for no reason, painted it.
Now we in bidness!
Sender goes right back in like its supposed to when you use the correct part. Funny that. So using the powers of my knees, minimal big swears and only a pinched finger or two, Madam Valiant of the isle of Plymouth gets the gaping hole in the rear filled with one shiny fuel tank. And it fit perfect!
Forgive me Father, for it has been six months since my last confession. I confess to thee that I have (hath?) been busy, and have neglected the required updating of my thread.
Thou art forgiven my son, now do 12 Hail Mopars, and post pics.
Deal.
So one bright shiny day, however many weeks ago it was, I was in the shop, and decided I would finish the gas tank install at a minimum. So here we go! We were already still up on jackstands so that parts done. Hey baby, howya? Good to see ya, miss me?
*insert wavy lines and sounds indicating a flashback sequence*
Now since I have last updated you, oh Constant Reader, I have off and on attempted to clean this stupid filler neck. I ran pipe cleaners through it, wire brushes, everything known to man. Nothing. So I got frustrated and googled it. I found one on that magical auction site in the sky for $100, but I wasn’t quite bourboned up enough to pull the trigger on that purchase. Or maybe I was not quite so frustrated as to quit on the one I have just yet. Dunno. Maybe both. I mean it’s a smooth hundy plus shipping and I feel like I should exhaust all efforts first. So I put it on the ole watch list. This is important for later.
So instead of trading a Ben Franklin for a piece of pipe, I decided to try some stuff I have had good luck with in the past, CLR. I filled up a bucket, and soaked this thing. Ran some through it, used some and the wire brush again.
And guess what?!?!
Not a damn thing, that’s what. Fuel filler said F U. I like being rusty, corroded and ugly. I refuse to change; to get clean. Take me as I am or cast me away it said, in its secret filler neck language. I chose the latter option and by way of a sweeping arm motion, I send him off to the nether recesses of the shop to reside for evermore. About a day later, I get an "offer" from that one auction place, and when I click the email, I see that I am being offered one sterling jewel of a Taiwanese filler neck fitting one derelict 66 Plymouth for 48% off. I mean that’s a pretty good coupon me thinks.
So faster than you can say Direct Connection, I sent a presidential hit squad consisting of one Ulysses S. Grant and two George Washingtons over to rescue Capt. Filler neck. (They were wildly successful at it BTW) And unlike my wheels, I didn’t even have to make a drink first. Shipping was scheduled to take ten days, so I hopped over to RockAuto, ordered me a sending unit (with some other bobs n bits) and then ordered some gas tank felt paper, and a filler neck rubber gasket. I plan to be ready when it comes!
Ten days to the day, this purty lil thang showed up on my porch, well packaged, dressed up and ready to go. Well worth the money.
Being made in Taiwan seems to be a bit of a downer, but let's reserve judgement until we assemble, hmmm?
Before the weekend came, everything else I needed showed up, and I made plans to head to the shop, which brings us back to the beginning of the story. Are you keeping up? You are? Good. Flashback over.
First thing I did was make sure the fuel line was clear. Mo gas, mo air, mo crap sprayed out. That line is clean, so let's move on.
So I kinda got clowned by my buddy when I bought the actual fuel tank pad instead of just using some cast off tar paper, but since this was like $18 and I didn’t have any cast off tar paper, and I didn’t wanna go bumming around for cast off tar paper, and I had $18, I didn’t worry about his opinion much. Also, Detroit Muscle was easy to deal with and shipped quickly. Here it is lying "in place" prior to glue. Fit pretty well, and is notched where you need it to be. I had to lay it out in the sun for a while so it would quit its rolled up ways. Other than that, no issues!
Quick note, the aftermarket ring that comes with your fancy Chinese fuel sender is made of grade A hot stinky garbage. It was too small, didn’t fit in the hole, barely fit around the fuel sender, and is 100% effective at ONE THING, and that’s pissing me off. So if you feel the need to be pissed off, and don’t have a ready target, buy (Edit: don’t buy this, ever) one and smash it with a hammer. Twice. So I, having the brains to keep the old one, walked over, put it on the wire wheel and, for no reason, painted it.
Now we in bidness!
Sender goes right back in like its supposed to when you use the correct part. Funny that. So using the powers of my knees, minimal big swears and only a pinched finger or two, Madam Valiant of the isle of Plymouth gets the gaping hole in the rear filled with one shiny fuel tank. And it fit perfect!
