Sperry Rand SPD Wedge

[kghills]

This thread will try to document the build of Wedge #55336.


This is the Tippecanoe Craigslist photo.


Here are a few shots of the Wedge the first day home.


This wedge has the factory roll bar and Berkley 5J5 Jet pump.


When purchased the engine had been removed and dismantled. The exhaust and an engine shield were missing along with a few other bits and pieces from the engine bay. I was able to find a 295 JLO locally from an Attex that came with a primary clutch so I decided before I took much more apart I would try to fit most of it back together.


I even found some factory style knobs at Mcmaster-Carr and waterproof LED tail lights at a trucking supply web site from the original manufacturer.


When cleaning it was apparent the fiberglass gas tank was leaking so I removed it for inspection and repair.


I found the fuel shutoff was loose and a bunch of the bonding for the seam inside the tank was loose. So I pulled the valve and debris from the tank.


I cleaned the tank up and ordered some epoxy sealer to coat the inside and a new shutoff valve. You can see the green color of the original resin for the tank again.


More as it happens, Keith.

[6X6]

Very cool build. I am guessing that the sealer you used on the tank if for ethanol? Ethanol eats the resins in most fiberglass tanks, and could be what started the leaking in the first place. This has been a big issue in the marine world during the switch-over, though most fiberglass tanked boats have been switched to aluminum already.

Very nice wedge there. I have wanted a jet pump wedge since I first saw a photo. One day...

[kghills]

I am guessing that the sealer you used on the tank if for ethanol? Ethanol eats the resins in most fiberglass tanks, and could be what started the leaking in the first place.

Epoxy Gas Tank Sealer - Restoration Aids - Caswell Inc

This Epoxy by Caswell is supposed to be alcohol resistant.

Keith.