- Joined
- Oct 13, 2010
- Messages
- 6,058
- Country Flag
Update time guy.......................................
I needed to fit the fuel sender unit but I foolishly cut the float arm down to fit the 1st tank I made which was 50mm shorter in height.


Not a problem with a TIG though.
Clamped in position.



With the TIG set an incredibly low 15amps I melted the 2 pieces of 3mm rod back together.


It was then ready for assembly.



It could then be bolted in position.



Connected some 8mm fuel hose.

And ran it along the edge of the drawer system to where I'm thinking of mounting the filter and pump.

The filter will be held in place by some rubber quick fists.




I connected it all roughly together so I could try filling the tank.

Having not driven LJ for a while I found the batteries were flat.
I'm going to grab a solar panel from work and put an anderson plug on the end so I can plug it into the socket on my bullbar so it keeps the batteries topped up.
The Astra came to the rescue.

Then it was off to the local fuel servo to see how the tank would fill.

Now something a bit weird happened!
Half way through fueling the pump switched off. I went in and spoke to the guy behind the counter thinking he had switched the pump off, but he hadnt.
I'd put 42 litres in no problem and then the pump went dead.

The guy suggested I try another pump which I did and was then able to pump the remaining 48 litres in.
With the tank in, full and not leaking, I could fit the drawer system.
I needed to drill through the 50mm x 20mm box section on the bottom of the drawer system frame.

A step drill always works well in thin material like this but it also meant I could put a big hole through the top layer to fit a socket through and a smaller hole through the other layer for an M8 bolt.

Bolted in position, down through 3 of the tabs on the fuel tank to also help bolt that down + another 3 bolts in the other length of box section.

Fuel sender wiring next.

One terminal needed earthing and the other wire runs up to the gauge on the dash.


I left the wire for the gauge coiled up at the side of the tank for now.

I trimmed the ply wood next that sits on top of the drawer system and over the fuel tank.
Drilled a hole for the fuel tank filler neck.

And the other piece for clearance around the fuel sender.

Fitted them.




As I'm moving the locks on my drawers up higher I had to make new drawer fronts.







Fridge slide next.

Fridge.


Waffle boards next.

As my umbrella no longer fits in my now shortened drawers I found it fits quite snugly next to my waffle boards.


Re-fitted the ply and rubber mat.






Loaded my recovery gear drawer.

Sorted out my tools for the other drawer.


Decided as I havent got another 35" BFG and so dont have a spare that I would put the 37's on as then I could use one of the 35's as a spare.

Found a split boot on one of my tie rod ends.

Fitted a new rubber boot off an old tie rod end.

Tyres all on.

So then I was all ready to take my future brother in law on a 4wd trip.
But then I had to have a wisdom tooth removed as it was growing into one of my other teeth and I totally under estimated how much pain I would be in.
Been dosing myself up with plenty of codeine but that has been making me feel pretty out of it at times so there no chance I can drive!
So no 4wd trip before I fly to Europe on Monday.
But only a couple of weeks till my 4wd trip in the UK with some great mates, cant wait!!
Few work pics!
I finished welding up the alluminium tray for the back of the solar suzuki.


Added a few brackets and rounded 2 of the corners.


I had to make a lightweight tow bar for the solar Suzuki which can be used as a recovery point but also to tow the other Suzuki using the A frame as one of the conditions of the world record attempt is that the only vehicles that are able to assist/recover each other are the 2 solar Suzukis.

I chose to fully TIG weld it for maximum strength.

Fitted.


Got the tray for the panels back from the powdercoaters.


Now there is no escaping the fact that this looks hideous!
Had I of ordered the solar panels I would have measured the space in the vehicle and with careful consideration I would have ordered panels that would have fitted inside the back of the vehicle. Obviously that didnt happen and I was given the task of trying to store these panels in the back of the vehicle.





They leave for the world record attempt next week and sadly I will miss the millions of flies, dust, heat, seemingly never ending sand dunes and the hours and hours of sitting around in the desert everyday waiting for the batteries to re-charge as I will be on holiday in Europe!
But I wish them good luck and pray the vehicle I've built makes it across the desert and into the record books!
If they make it, it will make news around the world, so keep an eye out guys.
I needed to fit the fuel sender unit but I foolishly cut the float arm down to fit the 1st tank I made which was 50mm shorter in height.

Not a problem with a TIG though.

Clamped in position.
With the TIG set an incredibly low 15amps I melted the 2 pieces of 3mm rod back together.
It was then ready for assembly.
It could then be bolted in position.
Connected some 8mm fuel hose.
And ran it along the edge of the drawer system to where I'm thinking of mounting the filter and pump.
The filter will be held in place by some rubber quick fists.
I connected it all roughly together so I could try filling the tank.
Having not driven LJ for a while I found the batteries were flat.

I'm going to grab a solar panel from work and put an anderson plug on the end so I can plug it into the socket on my bullbar so it keeps the batteries topped up.

The Astra came to the rescue.
Then it was off to the local fuel servo to see how the tank would fill.
Now something a bit weird happened!
Half way through fueling the pump switched off. I went in and spoke to the guy behind the counter thinking he had switched the pump off, but he hadnt.

I'd put 42 litres in no problem and then the pump went dead.
The guy suggested I try another pump which I did and was then able to pump the remaining 48 litres in.

With the tank in, full and not leaking, I could fit the drawer system.
I needed to drill through the 50mm x 20mm box section on the bottom of the drawer system frame.
A step drill always works well in thin material like this but it also meant I could put a big hole through the top layer to fit a socket through and a smaller hole through the other layer for an M8 bolt.
Bolted in position, down through 3 of the tabs on the fuel tank to also help bolt that down + another 3 bolts in the other length of box section.
Fuel sender wiring next.
One terminal needed earthing and the other wire runs up to the gauge on the dash.
I left the wire for the gauge coiled up at the side of the tank for now.
I trimmed the ply wood next that sits on top of the drawer system and over the fuel tank.
Drilled a hole for the fuel tank filler neck.
And the other piece for clearance around the fuel sender.
Fitted them.
As I'm moving the locks on my drawers up higher I had to make new drawer fronts.
Fridge slide next.
Fridge.
Waffle boards next.
As my umbrella no longer fits in my now shortened drawers I found it fits quite snugly next to my waffle boards.
Re-fitted the ply and rubber mat.
Loaded my recovery gear drawer.
Sorted out my tools for the other drawer.
Decided as I havent got another 35" BFG and so dont have a spare that I would put the 37's on as then I could use one of the 35's as a spare.

Found a split boot on one of my tie rod ends.
Fitted a new rubber boot off an old tie rod end.
Tyres all on.
So then I was all ready to take my future brother in law on a 4wd trip.

But then I had to have a wisdom tooth removed as it was growing into one of my other teeth and I totally under estimated how much pain I would be in.

Been dosing myself up with plenty of codeine but that has been making me feel pretty out of it at times so there no chance I can drive!

So no 4wd trip before I fly to Europe on Monday.

But only a couple of weeks till my 4wd trip in the UK with some great mates, cant wait!!

Few work pics!
I finished welding up the alluminium tray for the back of the solar suzuki.
Added a few brackets and rounded 2 of the corners.
I had to make a lightweight tow bar for the solar Suzuki which can be used as a recovery point but also to tow the other Suzuki using the A frame as one of the conditions of the world record attempt is that the only vehicles that are able to assist/recover each other are the 2 solar Suzukis.
I chose to fully TIG weld it for maximum strength.
Fitted.
Got the tray for the panels back from the powdercoaters.
Now there is no escaping the fact that this looks hideous!

Had I of ordered the solar panels I would have measured the space in the vehicle and with careful consideration I would have ordered panels that would have fitted inside the back of the vehicle. Obviously that didnt happen and I was given the task of trying to store these panels in the back of the vehicle.


They leave for the world record attempt next week and sadly I will miss the millions of flies, dust, heat, seemingly never ending sand dunes and the hours and hours of sitting around in the desert everyday waiting for the batteries to re-charge as I will be on holiday in Europe!

But I wish them good luck and pray the vehicle I've built makes it across the desert and into the record books!

If they make it, it will make news around the world, so keep an eye out guys.

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