Have made a decision that I will reassemble  the truck IC (internal combustion) components and drive the truck for a while.  Better to make sure that the frame and structure are in excellent working order before I put half a ton of batteries or more onto the frame.

Any shaft or differential issues need to be sorted out before I commit to putting major battery frames in place.  I intend to leave the bed off for a while as I figure out the battery placement.   The truck gets OK gas mileage and should do even better with the bed off.  I will use this frame as my daily driver until my Smart Car arrives and I can begin the IC engine removal and DC motor phase of the installation.

Removed the ripped gas tank and replaced it with another that I picked up at a local reclamation yard.

After getting all of the tools out and getting the tank unbolted I had to begin the rubik’s cube process of removing the old tank.  As I am moving and folding the fabric of space & time to get this tank out, I notice weather approaching.  It turned into a quick session tonight.

I did get the tank out before the rain arrived. While it was raining I figured out how the pump assembly was installed and moved it into the new tank.

Total Time: 1.5 Hours