Projects Bucket list Belly Tank build

Decided to see if I can build a 50s belly tanker this winter. Always wanted to build one. It wont be SCTA specs. More of a nostalgic build. Picked up a FJ-4 Fury tank yesterday. Have a running 8BA that I will be refreshing up and some 39 wide five running gear. Any ideas or tips would be appreciated. Thanks

 

I'm building one too so will follow along. JW

 

How big is the diameter of the belly tank? From picture it looks small.

 

Watching
Mine hangs in the rafters

 

Tank measures 13' long and 25" wide center. I think I can squeeze everything in there.

 

Do you have a parts list for the build ? JW

 

Not really, Just building and getting parts as I go. Have the suspension, motor and trans. Will build a frame per the inside dimensions of tank then build on that. I'm guessing there will be a lot of fabricating that will keep me busy as I hunt down parts that are needed.

 

Be careful how you start as you run out of space very fast. JW

 

Breaking down the flathead. Aside of some water in one of the cylinders she looks pretty good and everything spins freely.

 

Finally back to building the tank. Getting ready to cut her in half today. Not sure what side I want to be up. Any input would help. Trying to figure out the best look but also what works best to fit everything in it. Decisions decisions?!?!

 

IMO the second pic looks more right.

 

The second pic looks best....BUT.... that may change if it has a fairing going on the top, good to see you making a move on it. JW

 

Hmmm. This is going to be a little work. May need to get me a plasma cutter to get at this.

 

Well I finally managed to get her cut open today.

 

Great job.

 

Nice job, what did you use to cut it?

 

Used a Sawzall to cut the outside. Went through it like*****er but when I got to the two baffles I had to use a plasma cutter. Not easy getting in there around the channel but managed to gut it out.

 

Little bit of progress yesterday

 

Cool, have you tried sitting between the rails and is that engine going to slide in behind you. Nows the time to check. Looks nice. JW

 

Well finally got a new to me Merc Flathead. Tore it down and sent it off to H&H for some machine work.

 

Also got the garage all cleaned out to make room for the project. Have some rails I bent and a mock up BA to see how everything is going to fit. Time to start moving on this tank.

 

Having spent too many years building a rear engine lakester I have a couple of suggestions. One get the frame up to waist height on rugged saw horses. build a jig to build the frame on so that the frame rails are parallel and the cross members are at right angles to the frame rails .and you can get the front and rear axels on center and parallel

 

Cool to see you moving on your Tank, here's some inspiration. JW

 

Thanks for the advice Bearing.

 

26 T she looks great. How does it run?

 

Did some mock ups today, think I'm going to take Bearings advice and get the frame up higher. Waiting on some more parts so I can keep going.

 

Just went and checked out your build post again. My god that tank is awesome. Nice work

 

Don't know yet, maybe a couple months away on that and i will try it with the engine as is for a test, Then build it. JW

 

Little more mock up.

 

My god, man! You let household stuff into your garage! And neat! And laundry facilities in the garage! It's not right, it's just not right!