My J-4500

[rang-a-stang]

I was just thinking about you this week, Cranky. These updates are always welcome! your truck being a daily driver and only needing litte things here and there like this are motivational to many of us!

[Crankyolman]

Well, I finally got around to fixing my gas leak It only took 3 months but there were reasons Reason number one was once my tank is full it takes 3 weeks to get it down to less than 5 gallons and since I only have a 5 gallon gas can that also had to be empty. and I took April 17 through the 27th off, so I originally planned on doing it then (along with a whole lot of other things) but I failed to do much of anything besides nap and make huge breakfasts. Then I had to put gas in it to make it to the next weekend but because we get $1 a gallon off at safeway and I like to use the full 25 gallons they let us get so the truck and escape got filled and put me waiting another 3 weeks but also needing to get gas when the Escape was low. The last time I got gas was ay 11th. I have gone 140 miles on this tank and the weather finally cooperated on my weekend so I finally got around to it.

I started off by pulling the truck into the driveway...actually I started off by going up to my work and grabbing my tool bag because it had the 3/4" Gearwrench that makes removing the nuts for the strap so much easier. then pulling the truck into the driveway, disconnecting the return line, putting that in my 5 gallon can and starting the truck and running the engine until it ran out of gas. As expected, usable fuel was right at 5 gallons. Then it was a simple matter of disconnecting the pressure line, removing the front nut for the strap and dropping the tank. It was then that I found what I pretty much expected. The vent hose off the tank was deteriorated and had a hole so it was a simple matter of shortening that by an inch or so, reconnecting it and putting everything back together. It was actually quite simple. While I was under there I looked around to make sure nothing was doing anything I didn't expect. I also checked the differential, which was fine, and fantasized a bit about fixing the exhaust where it goes over the diff. and that was it. It's now ready to drive throughout the summer.

That reminds me...Mrs Cranky recently asked me about insulating the truck. She discovered some new Chinese site that sells knockoff dynamate for $7 for 20pc 10"x7.35" or 40 pieces for $11, which is crazy cheap but to be honest I'm not crazy about buying from this site and actually would prefer lizard skin which sprays on but is significantly more money (I am a cheap bastard after all so I may wind up with the cheap Chinese stuff.

That's about it for me...for now anyway.

[Crankyolman]

Funny , because couple days ago I came across your earlier posts with granny on the back of your Jeep

Granny was the most fun and attention I've ever had with a vehicle. I wish I had made youtube videos documenting the whole thing.

[Heep-J4000]

Funny , because couple days ago I came across your earlier posts with granny on the back of your Jeep

[Crankyolman]

Drive your tank down, then when you're ready to drop it, you can route a hose from your fuel filter tank return line into a can, then let the truck run as it empties the tank.

Did that on my mechanical pump CJ5, was only 3-4 minutes and 1 gl can was full, so it bypasses pretty quick.

Electric pump might overheat as not designed for constant run like this, but gets tank lighter and safer easier.

That's my plan more or less. I drive 10-12 miles a day so 3 weeks gets me close to empty, then the pump I have in the tank will empty it in less than a minute. I'm pretty good at dropping the tank. I was actually toying with the idea of removing the bed again and and putting Granny back on just for some youtube videos. I think I missed a real golden opportunity by not doing that when I originally did all that crazy stuff.

[devildog80]

Drive your tank down, then when you're ready to drop it, you can route a hose from your fuel filter tank return line into a can, then let the truck run as it empties the tank.

Did that on my mechanical pump CJ5, was only 3-4 minutes and 1 gl can was full, so it bypasses pretty quick.

Electric pump might overheat as not designed for constant run like this, but gets tank lighter and safer easier.

[Crankyolman]

It seems like anymore I only post when something goes wrong...I actually like that I have the truck to that point.

Well, today I was at the gas station filling the car and truck. We always get a dollar a gallon off at Safeway so to take advantage of the 25 gallon limit we meet for gas. We plan this for the truck having gone 120-140 miles since the last fill up and since the gas gauge isn't terribly accurate on the truck I always fill the truck first, then move to the escape, if the escape fills up before we reach 25 gallons I keep a 5 gallon can in the back of the truck.

So, as usual I fill the truck, then move on to the escape and while I was filling that the guy on the other side of the pump told me it looks like something is leaking. Looking under the truck I saw this
fuel leak 10 mar 22.jpg

Well, that doesn't look good and it was certainly gas.

So I slide under the truck and as suspected it was coming from the top of the tank. So either the vent line or more likely the gasket for the sending unit has failed but by the time I was finished filling the escape it had slowed considerably and by the time I got home it was no longer leaking.

So my plan is to drive it for the next few weeks and drop the tank and fix it once it's low on gas and easy to work on. Who knows, by then the weather might even be better. I might even buy a new sending unit so I have an accurate indication for a year or two...or maybe not, who knows. Then there is Earth Week...

What I mean by that is that I have Earth week off in April and I am hopeful that I will get my paint tent set up and get around to doing all the paint touch up and little things to the exterior. I have been waiting to put the door cards back on until the paint touch up is done, which drives my wife crazy. So, minor body work, paint touch up and door cards and mud flaps back on and it should be good for another few years. Maybe I'll even take it to The Good Guys car show in Puyallup in July since I also have that week off. Of course I'd have to talk Mrs Cranky into riding in it, which is something she has never done.

[sierrablue]

Ah. I've done that too, although the turn signals, radio, and blower motor didn't work...couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong for a couple of days.

[Crankyolman]

It was a loose wire at the ignition switch. I'm pretty sure the switch is a replacement and someone has done some less than perfect things in the process of replacing it so when I was finding a suitable place to connect the dash cam wires to I disturbed a connector that just needed re-secured. I hate sticking my hands under the dash because every time I do something gets knocked loose and I have to spend time chasing down the loose one.

Some day I plan on rewiring it but the wiring isn't terrible, it's just easy to knock a connection loose. Thinking back I should have connected the always hot wire under the hood to the battery and run the hot when the key is on through a relay triggered by the wire to the radio. If I need to get under there again that's what I'll do.

[sierrablue]

I suspect his issue isn't the wiring, but the stupid plug for the steering column. Much like the power valve on a 2100 Motorcraft, you look at it wrong and it moves. Plug it all the way back in, and it all works fine. There's not a whole lot you can do about it--just when you're working under the dash, always make sure it's plugged in afterwards.

[Heep-J4000]

Cranky ,maybe it's time to give it a good once over and make sure all connections and grounds are strong and tight!
it's no fun to have a electric short or much worse with your truck because of floppy wirings!

I also have a complete rewiring ahead for my j4000 after the cab and front section are back on the frame.
Im going with a new aftermarket wiring harness for it and keep the old harness for the 71' parts truck.

[Crankyolman]

It's NOT just me!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I've done that a few times too

Isn't dealing with 50 year old wiring fun!

[sierrablue]

Every time I mess with wires under the dash I knock something loose, so why wouldn't this time be any different.

On my way home I discovered my blinkers didn't work so when I got home I had to crawl under there and sort that out. Fortunately it didn't take much to find and fix the problem and everything is good now.

It's NOT just me!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, I've done that a few times too

[Crankyolman]

Every time I mess with wires under the dash I knock something loose, so why wouldn't this time be any different.

On my way home I discovered my blinkers didn't work so when I got home I had to crawl under there and sort that out. Fortunately it didn't take much to find and fix the problem and everything is good now.

[Crankyolman]

That is except for the fact that any time I mess with wires under the dash I knock something loose, so why wouldn't this time be any different.

On my way home I discovered my blinkers didn't work so when I got home I had to crawl under there and sort that out. Fortunately it didn't take much to find and fix the problem and everything is good now.