Crown Firecoach: When Fuel Systems Bite-Re-post for the morning crowd

"Hooker" (Hooker) 06/29/2020 at 09:00 • Filed to: None

12

23

Completely shameless self promotion. I didn’t post this until later Friday and thought the morning crown may want to see it. Happy Monday to all!

Throughout the last 7 weeks the Crown has posed several, let’s call them, “challenges.” In my previous writings I detailed the gradual learning to drive process, the passion for the drive, my family bond, the fuel system issues and the pump test. I am proud to report that the Crown motors under its own power once again! However, it wasn’t without those aforementioned challenges.

Video of gears 1-overdrive post fuel system swap:

As a reminder, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Particles from the tank were clogging fuel filters at an alarming rate and sapping power from the big Cummins. The fuel tank needed to be replaced. In order to maintain as much of the original truck as possible, my father came up with a plan to mount a new tank on top of the hose bed and run the feed/return lines from there. It was the simplest and most cost effective way to get the Crown running again.

With the tank mounted on top of the hose bed, it would be out of sight, and provide easy access for fueling and maintenance. I built a wooden platform that enabled a flat base for the new tank, I then placed a wedge under the rear to provide enough fall for the fuel.

Once the tank was installed, my father put just enough fuel in it to get to the fuel station down the street and filled the tank full! Emboldened with a new confidence, my father took my mother on a ride through the country. However, things started going south quick. The truck was billowing black smoke and it was running too hot. The engine was running far too rich.

After consulting with one of our other friends (Thanks, Barry!) we determined the height of the tank was creating too much pressure. After numerous scenarios were considered we reached a sobering conclusion: The new tank, old fuel tank and the water tank all had to come completely out. This would put the new fuel tank in a position similar to the original tank. As defeating as this challenge seemed, it was also just another piece of the puzzle. My excitement to drive the Crown again was temporarily dashed, but I also knew that I had a new opportunity to learn and interact more intimately with the Crown. As I have learned over this process, it’s not just about the truck itself, it’s about the chase.

So, what do you do with almost 100 gallons of pure, fresh and incredibly expensive diesel fuel? Leaving the fuel in the tank would have required heavy machinery to remove the tank. That wasn’t a workable option. But, we also didn’t have two clean 50 gallon drums. My father and I were wracking our brains. However, we called one of our friends and he mentioned that there was a man with a trailer full of clean 50 gallon drums for sale a few towns over.

My father and I hopped in my truck, followed a long, empty road to the address where we found said trailer full of drums. They were for sale on the honor system (place cash in metal box) and we bought two! We were back in business! The process to remove the fuel was simple. All that height that created the “too much pressure” problem for the engine was perfect for draining the tank! Bucket brigade style!

Over the next few days, the old hose bed was carefully dismantled and removed. It will be re-assembled at a later date. The old fuel tank and water tank were removed as well to make way for the new fuel tank. If you’ll remember, we had patched the water tank in an effort to save it, however, that patch ultimately failed. So, in the future, a new water tank will be installed. Baby steps.

After all the tanks and superstructure were removed, my father fabricated a new cradle for the fuel tank. Even with the careful measurements that were taken, we soon realized that the tank was too tight of a fit. First we found it was rubbing up against a pre-existing rear discharge for the pump. We brought the sawzall out and made some modifications. However, the tank still would not fit in the cradle.

The cradle is simply a place for the tank to rest. To keep it from moving around. So, my brother made the recommendation to cut the cradle at the corners and wail it with a sledgehammer to provide just enough give for the tank to fall into place. It worked! We strapped the tank in place and congratulated ourselves on a job well done.

All fuel lines were run and connections made. We fired it up. We discovered the injector pump was leaking like a sieve. Before we could run the truck, the injector pump had to be rebuilt. We took it out, brought it to the shop and went to the beach for a week. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and it no longer felt like a train. This was happening. I was getting my Crown back.

When we returned from vacation, the injector pump was re-installed. My father took the inaugural ride. After a few days of work, it was my turn. I was so excited. It had been weeks since I had taken it out on the open road. As I was cranking the Crown up my fathers said “Oh, by the way, you should know the accelerator sticks sometimes you should be able to pull it back up with your toe.” Awesome.

It did stick. But he was wrong, you couldn’t just pull it up with your toe. It was a bit of a panic moment but I recovered. That first drive with the new fuel system was cathartic. The truck had more grunt, and honestly just seemed happier. I have taken multiple rides with the truck since then, putting it through its paces. There may be a slight temperature issue, however, that’s minor in comparison to what we just accomplished.

Even though the fuel system has posed many challenges at seemingly every turn, I wouldn’t trade the process we went through for anything. I feel even more connected to the truck and my family than ever before. We, of course, have more projects planned. I will keep you all updated.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 11:22

3

This is the Oppo we all need right now. I’m so happy that you are able to get that behemoth back on the road.

That video: all the camera shake. It’s not as though there is a better mounting place though.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 11:25

3

I have to say, the styling of the Crown just slays. People think it’s easy to make a big industrial shape look good, or at least not awful. It’s not. Every proportion of the cab is elegance - the fender width, the radius of the cutaway, the bumper fluting. It’s *crafted*.

Hooker > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 06/26/2020 at 11:30

0

I couldn’t agree more! You really start to get lost in the details the longer you look at it and I love that! 

Hooker > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 06/26/2020 at 11:31

1

Thank you! I am completely elated! The camera shake is primarily due to a cheap phone mount. I will get a better one someday. The truck, honestly, doesn’t shake as bad as it translates in that video!

vondon302 > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 11:35

1

Too cool!

This is good Oppo

Hooker > vondon302 06/26/2020 at 11:38

1

Thank you! I don’t post much due to work obligations but I try to contribute where I can to this amazing community of people! 

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 11:58

1

This is so awesome! That shaky video of rowing through the gears made me laugh

This is  best oppo, keep updates coming!

shop-teacher > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 12:02

1

Awesome story! Thanks for sharing :)

Hooker > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's 06/26/2020 at 12:07

0

Yeah, I need a better phone mount. For sure. I still love the video though. Don’t hate me too much for missing a gear here or there! I’m  still learning! :) And thank you! I will keep it coming. 

Hooker > shop-teacher 06/26/2020 at 12:07

1

Thank you! I’m trying! 

My bird IS the word > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 12:19

1

Wouldn't have been easier to install a fuel pressure regulator?

Hooker > My bird IS the word 06/26/2020 at 12:27

0

If I remember correctly, we looked into that but due to the age and other factors it was determined this was the best permanent solution. I think my dad said he couldn’t be sure there was a regulator that could handle the job. Ultimately, we feel this turned out to be the best solution. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t involved in that research, so I don’t know all the particulars. But after he did that research this is where we landed. 

My bird IS the word > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 12:31

1

It certainly is a more thorough solution. Wouldn't fault you for doing it properly.

Hooker > My bird IS the word 06/26/2020 at 12:33

0

I think this was more fun. Haha. But I also may be a little broken in the ole noggin! 

My bird IS the word > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 13:20

1

Hey, enjoying restoration is a blessing, not a curse. Me, I'm sick of cutting my hands up lol.

Hooker > My bird IS the word 06/26/2020 at 13:22

0

Haha. I get that feeling. 

NKato > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 14:09

1

And how’s progress on creating the roof? :)

Hooker > NKato 06/26/2020 at 14:13

0

At a stalemate at the moment. We had to put that on the back burner once we realized how much work we had to do for it to run properly. BUT! It is still in the plan to do a removable roof at some point! We have a Miata guy who has a lot of experience with roof installs and such and we are likely going to tap his vast knowledge to put something together in the future!

NKato > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 14:15

1

Very good. The system I sketched out is the most likely best fit for you, though. Requires very little alteration of the vehicle itself.

Hooker > NKato 06/26/2020 at 14:18

0

Oh, I agree wholeheartedly! I printed that out and put it on my dad’s board in his shop. Trust me, it’s our inspiration! 

NKato > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 16:55

0

I also realized it can also be a triangle (three-point frame) on the roof portion, to make it less susceptible to wind pressure. You could also consider a different frame (four-point or five-point frame) , and using stitched white canvas as a soft-top option.

NKato > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 16:56

0

Allllso I just realized that looking at your pictures, that the rear mounting points could be on the upper deck to the immediate aft of the cabin, rather than mounting to the floor - this would make installation and removal much easier.

Your boy, BJR > Hooker 06/26/2020 at 18:09

1

Lmao firecrotch