Gas Tank Install ... holy straps!

[GNRick]

Not sure about the springs that came on the car, so I put the springs on that came off my 87 TR. The TR never bottomed out but I'm sure the springs are kind of worn. Shocks are Monro Sensa Trac (I think thats what they are called). Shocks are only about 3 years old. I have nothing against buying new springs but I would really like to know what's been hitting. FWIW, I measured the springs that I took off and they are 14.75" tall. This agrees with the height of the stock replacement Moog 5379. The springs I put in are 15.25" tall. After installation, the car continues to sit at 27", measured from ground to bottom of gnx flare. They are the regular springs, not the cargo springs. I have 245/50/16 tires (gnx size) with Kirban's wheels.

 

[RED LS1]

I had a real hard time with one of my tank straps on my last TR. Here's what I did.

I borrowed a 1/2 inch cordless impact gun from my brother. I set it all up with the bolt ready to drive in. I had a buddy put a floor jack under the back of the gun and jack the gun up to the strap while I zapped the SOB right in. It went from a 45 minute whore to a 12 second completed job.

 

[TRICKSIXPA]

Give me my dewalt cordless impact driver and get your knee to prop up the tank and done. Problem does come up when your putting on new straps. They are not fully contoured to the tank yet so they need a little persuasion.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

Not sure about the springs that came on the car, so I put the springs on that came off my 87 TR. The TR never bottomed out but I'm sure the springs are kind of worn. Shocks are Monro Sensa Trac (I think thats what they are called). Shocks are only about 3 years old. I have nothing against buying new springs but I would really like to know what's been hitting. FWIW, I measured the springs that I took off and they are 14.75" tall. This agrees with the height of the stock replacement Moog 5379. The springs I put in are 15.25" tall. After installation, the car continues to sit at 27", measured from ground to bottom of gnx flare. They are the regular springs, not the cargo springs. I have 245/50/16 tires (gnx size) with Kirban's wheels.

From my experience with working on cars (for about 20 years now) springs don't wear out as much as people think they do. Not saying yours are or were worn, I'm just conveying my experiences. They do sag a bit sometimes, but they don't go all out like some say. Though you could do with a new set if you were so inclined. Also, sensatrac shocks SUCK. I wore a set out on my daily driver GS inside a year. And I put about 14000 a year on my car. wtf. Get a set of non hd bilsteins and see what's up. If it's still happening, do the springs next.

 

[GNRick]

I think I figured it out. I had wheel spacers to push the Kirban wheels out a bit for the wider gnx look. I'm pretty sure the spacers caused the tires to hit. I guess that is why some folks roll the fender, and also to run larger tires. So I removed the spacers and will test it out the next time someone wants to ride with me.

 

[Turbo6Smackdown]

I thought you looked for that. There wasn't really obvious signs of rubber on the lip, or cuts in your tires?

 

[GNRick]

Yes I saw a very small piece of rubber kind of hanging off the tire. Must have been where it got cut by the fender lip. Didn't put two and two together. This was about a month ago.

 

[m3x1c0]

One thing that I thought about after slashing my arm: it might help to round the corners of the tank where the two halves are welded together. All four corners are extremely sharp and pointy. Has anyone tried taking some shears to those corners and rounding them out?

 

[RmvBfrFlght]

With a pair of pliers grab the tip of the corner and roll it.

RemoveBeforeFlight