Ok, vehicle update time. As some of you may know, I've been having fuel pump issues. First in December, when the original fuel pump took and dump and just recently with the salvaged OEM pump that another member was kind enough to send me since aftermarket pumps have a poor reliability reputation. I had known there was some rust issues in the normal spot in the forward, passenger side of the bed and had noted in December that it had gotten worse along with a couple ofther spots that had shown up, but it was too cold to deal with it then and I was dealing with the other vehicles having issues at the time as well. So, I had replaced the pump and slapped the truck back together. I would worry about the rust problems another day.
Well, the "another day" has arrived since the replacement pump has failed. I already had a Carter pump up in the loft and a repair panel in the garage. So. I might as well get to it.
First the pump. For those who don't know, the bed has to be pulled or the fuel tank dropped. With a Ford Ranger, it is infinitely easier to pull the bed.
So you can access the pump here.
Since aftermarket pumps have a poor reputation for reliability. I made myself an access opening so I don't have to pull the bed again. Who knows, I might not even need to pull the cap anymore either, which would be handy.
Now for the rust issues. There are several.
First mounting hole back from the forward bulkhead
Second hole back from the forward bulkhead
First stringer back from the forward bulkhead
Second stringer back from the forward bulkhead
Progress so far on a patch for the front mount hole. I also have some pieces of steel angle for under the floor. I'm waiting on Metals Supermarket to fill an order for some pieces of steel sheet to repair the front bulkhead.
Since this is in and under the bed of the truck, I'm looking for function over beauty. Plus, the repairs are going to be under the truck or under a wooden platform I keep in the bed of the truck. So, the idea is to fabriate the pieces, paint them, slather them in acrylic RTV and to bolt and use steel pop rivets to secure them in place. I haven't come up with a solution to repair the stringers yet. I know one member some years back had found some generic ones with no holes that they used to replace theirs, but I have not been able to find them with an internet search.
The aim at the moment is to get the truck back on the road and since the problem areas are not over the fuel tank, I should be able to patch them at leisure later on with the bed on the truck.
Part of the reason for the push to get it back on the road is that I'm racking a lot of miles on the 2019 because of my work commute and another is that the roofers are going to be working on the roof soon. So the driveway needs to be cleared so they can put a dumpster in it.