Rocket Man's 2008 Bagged CC Silverado Build AKA "THE MACHINE"

[Tonyrodz]

It’s been a challenge. I had to drop the tank because it’s all full of crap. It looks like the RTV I used as well as other stuff got all in the tank and filter. I cleaned it up, bought what I thought was the right pump, and it was too tall. So I took it back and checked the other one they had for my truck but got the standard bed and it was taller. Then I called the PO and he said he shortened the stock pump to fit the tank. So now I had to take an Uber to Autozone and I’m on my way back. Gonna try the original rubber gasket or supplied o-ring. And maybe different RTV but just a little where needed.

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I wonder how all that rtv got in the filter. Was it gas compatible? Did it drip down off the opening while it was still wet? And kind of got squeezed off when you pushed the pump down to bolt it down?

 

[Rocket Man]

Yeah it was amazing any gas was getting through that filter at all, what a mess. I found out the RTV I used was not gas compatible. I never even thought about it when I R&R'd the pump last time, I just figured all silicone was. Plus I did it wrong- I used it as a gasket since the rubber hand-made gasket was full of holes and cut in 2 places and was unusable. So I had shot a lot of the RTV around the opening. setting the pump down in it, and then running the screws through the RTV and the metal ring they had made to hold the pump in. (There's no tabs to use a factory lock ring.) I believe some of the RTV dripped down on the inside, something I also didn't think about. Plus it was probably hanging down around the inside of the opening so every time I filled up the cell with gas, it came in contact.

 

[Rocket Man]

Also, I was doing the work that last time in a cramped area since I didn't pull the tank. I was just trying to seal the leaks so I didn't get any more evap codes but it ended up costing me in the long run. Anyway, this time I used the huge o-ring that came with the new pump. First, I needed to cut down the legs on the new pump so it would fit the tank but as soon as I got home and looked at the Delphi pump, I saw it was built different from the AC Delco that the PO cut down. Instead of hollow legs that were accessible from the outside of the filter basket, it had solid legs that were inside it. I figured it was a $300 gamble but said f it, I can do this. The solid legs had grooves machined near the bottom, I guess to keep it from coming apart somehow even though I couldn't see how that worked. I did my best with my angle grinder and it kind of worked even though it came apart once. It doesn't matter once the pump is in, since it pushes up against the top half of the assembly when I put it in the tank. ( I had to unsnap the filter housing and force it to the side while cutting the legs since it can't be completely removed due to the wiring and hoses that were heat shrinked on) I have to push down on the pump all the way and I took 1 1/8" off those legs. It still barely pushes down enough and the spring holds pressure upwards. Anyway, success with the cutting down. Then I used that o-ring which was about 1/4" thick and that sealed the pump to the tank which just left the extra holes that were left over from someone moving the ring a bit and then putting the screws into new locations (that wasn't me.) as well as the screws themselves. So with that o-ring towards the center, I used some Dow 791 which is resistant to solvents as a seal where the screws go through and then backfilled the area between the o-ring and the outside of the mounting ring. I'll let it set up overnight before pressure testing and installing the tank tomorrow. There shouldn't be any silicone touching fuel anymore, or at the most it will be a tiny amount where the screws go through.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Also, I was doing the work that last time in a cramped area since I didn't pull the tank. I was just trying to seal the leaks so I didn't get any more evap codes but it ended up costing me in the long run. Anyway, this time I used the huge o-ring that came with the new pump. First, I needed to cut down the legs on the new pump so it would fit the tank but as soon as I got home and looked at the Delphi pump, I saw it was built different from the AC Delco that the PO cut down. Instead of hollow legs that were accessible from the outside of the filter basket, it had solid legs that were inside it. I figured it was a $300 gamble but said f it, I can do this. The solid legs had grooves machined near the bottom, I guess to keep it from coming apart somehow even though I couldn't see how that worked. I did my best with my angle grinder and it kind of worked even though it came apart once. It doesn't matter once the pump is in, since it pushes up against the top half of the assembly when I put it in the tank. ( I had to unsnap the filter housing and force it to the side while cutting the legs since it can't be completely removed due to the wiring and hoses that were heat shrinked on) I have to push down on the pump all the way and I took 1 1/8" off those legs. It still barely pushes down enough and the spring holds pressure upwards. Anyway, success with the cutting down. Then I used that o-ring which was about 1/4" thick and that sealed the pump to the tank which just left the extra holes that were left over from someone moving the ring a bit and then putting the screws into new locations (that wasn't me.) as well as the screws themselves. So with that o-ring towards the center, I used some Dow 791 which is resistant to solvents as a seal where the screws go through and then backfilled the area between the o-ring and the outside of the mounting ring. I'll let it set up overnight before pressure testing and installing the tank tomorrow. There shouldn't be any silicone touching fuel anymore, or at the most it will be a tiny amount where the screws go through.

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Good job. I hope you got it licked this time around.

 

[HiHoeSilver]

Also, I was doing the work that last time in a cramped area since I didn't pull the tank. I was just trying to seal the leaks so I didn't get any more evap codes but it ended up costing me in the long run. Anyway, this time I used the huge o-ring that came with the new pump. First, I needed to cut down the legs on the new pump so it would fit the tank but as soon as I got home and looked at the Delphi pump, I saw it was built different from the AC Delco that the PO cut down. Instead of hollow legs that were accessible from the outside of the filter basket, it had solid legs that were inside it. I figured it was a $300 gamble but said f it, I can do this. The solid legs had grooves machined near the bottom, I guess to keep it from coming apart somehow even though I couldn't see how that worked. I did my best with my angle grinder and it kind of worked even though it came apart once. It doesn't matter once the pump is in, since it pushes up against the top half of the assembly when I put it in the tank. ( I had to unsnap the filter housing and force it to the side while cutting the legs since it can't be completely removed due to the wiring and hoses that were heat shrinked on) I have to push down on the pump all the way and I took 1 1/8" off those legs. It still barely pushes down enough and the spring holds pressure upwards. Anyway, success with the cutting down. Then I used that o-ring which was about 1/4" thick and that sealed the pump to the tank which just left the extra holes that were left over from someone moving the ring a bit and then putting the screws into new locations (that wasn't me.) as well as the screws themselves. So with that o-ring towards the center, I used some Dow 791 which is resistant to solvents as a seal where the screws go through and then backfilled the area between the o-ring and the outside of the mounting ring. I'll let it set up overnight before pressure testing and installing the tank tomorrow. There shouldn't be any silicone touching fuel anymore, or at the most it will be a tiny amount where the screws go through.

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That's a lot of work. Excellent problem solving, as usual. Looks good.

 

[Fosscore]

Since the battery on this is kinda hard to get to and it will be sitting for extended periods this winter, I decided the last thing I want to happen is for it to be sitting aired out and have it not start. As we all know, just starting up the engine and letting it idle for awhile doesn’t really charge the battery very good. I bought an Optimate 6 battery maintainer for it, which is the same brand that I’ve been using for my Harley’s for years. I’ve never had a dead or bad battery and Optimate is rated highly. This one has all kinds of modes it selects automatically from testing to saving to maintaining to charging etc. It will be nice to know the battery is being maintained and ready to go. View attachment 210373

Sorry to hear of the truck troubles, but if one guy can solve these niggly issues, it certainly is you and your fortitude. Nice work! Those wheels look beautiful.

Wanted to see if you had any further pros/cons on that Optimate 6 unit? Thinking about getting one for my trucks. Thx and keep up that great work.

 

[Rocket Man]

I installed the fuel cell this morning, added 6 gallons of gas and it fired right up. The Tech 2 says fuel rail pressure is steady at 58 psi. What a relief. And @Fosscore , the optimate is a great little unit for keeping a battery optimized. It’s maintaining The Beast’s battery now that I’m driving The Machine.

 

[Fosscore]

I installed the fuel cell this morning, added 6 gallons of gas and it fired right up. The Tech 2 says fuel rail pressure is steady at 58 psi. What a relief. And @Fosscore , the optimate is a great little unit for keeping a battery optimized. It’s maintaining The Beast’s battery now that I’m driving The Machine.

Thx man. Going to put that on my list to get for the longer periods when the truck sits idle.

 

[Rocket Man]

Spring is finally here so I took the wheels in to have tires swapped over. Hopefully they’ll be done tomorrow.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Spring is finally here so I took the wheels in to have tires swapped over. Hopefully they’ll be done tomorrow.

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Make sure you look those babies over when you get them back. Def don't want or need any nicks or scratches on them because they don't know how to mount them correctly.