Well, I'm still not fully recovered from my knee surgery, been complicated by my COPD, so now they have me in a Pulmonary rehab program. BUT, I am getting the itch, and since I missed almost everything last summer I want to make up for it this year. As I look at some of my options, I have decided that I actually want to be able to drive Edith as much as possible rather than the trailer.
Through my research I have verified that I do indeed have a 5.14 rear end, which was the highest available for the truck and according to Chuck, a very rare option. But with the 8R19.5 tires it puts me back even with a lower rear end equivalent. So, the next step is a 'Brownie Box' that Chuck has (had) that I will be installing sometime over the next couple of months.
In addition, I am tired of the constant (fat) belly rub on the steering wheel and the fumes anytime I fill the gas tank past half way. So I am planning to remove the tank and hopefully find a decent used tank and hardware that I can mount under the bed yet outside the frame rails, a typical larger truck square or D shaped tank with brackets attached to the frame rails. I would really prefer to find at least a 30 - 50 gallon tank.

 

Joe, sounds like you are ready for some fun with Edith. Need help getting the BB into position, give me a call.

 

Keep us posted. I'm thinking of an auxiliary transmission too.

 

I'll do that....thanks Ray.

Chuck really urged me to look for some 22.5 wheels for the truck, but that is a tall order and probably out of my budget.

 

Relocating the gas tank won't help unless you also change seats. The backrest hits the window before the seat comes close to the gas tank.

 

I'm gonna pull the seat out again as I have about 2" between the seat back and the back of the cab and about 1" from the tank.
At the same time I'll examine the tank and pressure test it to see if I can find the source of the fumes. (I'm thinking maybe a less than perfect seal on the sending unit gasket.)

 

That or hardened, cracked hose on filler pipe. The sending unit seal on M. G. was hard and dry.