Making a belly pan for fuel safe cell -

[whytry]

On a 68 Camaro I am adding a fuel safe cell, and wanted to make a belly pan for the cell to sit in. What would I use (material wise) to do this? Also would I just weld it to the existing trunk pan or go to the rear part of the frame and weld there?

Thanks for the help and advice on this!!!

[WGSPEEDSHOP]

I would not just weld it to the trunk pan. it all depends on how big the cell is and how low it hangs down. Most of the time when i mount a cell that hangs below the trunk floor , I build a cage for it and weld the cage to frame rails. kinda like they do in stockcars. here are a few pic of two that i have done the first i did about two years ago. The second im working on now for a current project.


Nick
RedZone Race Fabracation
Redzoneracefabrication.com

[wendell]

Might need to give a little more info. A "belly pan" is an aero device in my world e.g. not structural. If you're refering to a method of mounting a fuel cell, then you would want to base that structure off of the rear frame rails with something like what Nick posted.

If it's a street car, I would design a cage for it that meets LMSC or even NASCAR specs. But that's just me not wanting to die.

[whytry]

I have the cell mounted to a frame that I built and tied into the rear framerails. I was thinking about making something to go around the outside of the fuel cell's frame to cover the whole thing up and paint it flat black so it's does not stick out so much....

[BlownBigBlock]

You mean like this? It's 3 pans, the center one has 100 louvers in it. Although not shown, it's powdercoated now,
in a textured satin black.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/PICT0490-1.jpg

This is what it hides, battery is on the passenger side.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/RearEnd-1.jpg

[Damn True]

Wow, very cool. So how much of your cell wound up in the trunk space?

[BlownBigBlock]

Wow, very cool. So how much of your cell wound up in the trunk space?

IIRC it's almost even with the top of the frame rails... I ended up doing the trunk in wood. This gives ya a pretty good idea of the depth I still have. Underneath is also the amps for the sound system, as can be seen in the next picture.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/2c96-1.jpg

Here is what all get's covered from the top.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/73b2-1.jpg

And this show's it somewhat finished.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2008/03/1b43-1.jpg

Still have some panels to make, something to cover up the access hole to cell, etc..

[whytry]

Yeah, that's exactly what I am talking about. I want to cover up the cell and frame that holds in the cell...

[MrQuick]

...I think that would be considered a butte pan. LOL

Your cell cage would be the frame work for the panels.
Nice work BBB.