LS Gas tanks--too many options!?

[absintheisfun]

I've pulled the trigger on a great LS6 so now I'm parts running for the supplimentals. I have read that many of the aftermarket Fuel tanks have starvation issues during hard cornering, some are poorly built, etc, etc.. I have searched, but I really want honest user reviews, not "I've heard..." because I am trying to clear up what I've heard.

I know that there are many folks on here who have done LS conversions, so please present your findings!

What tank did you go with, and what the pros & cons that you have run into. Also it would be helpful for you to say what you would have done differently if you were to build it again.

It is a 67 Camaro needing a tank fitted in the stock location.


I have put together a list and links below of the tanks I know of.
The parts place (http://www.thepartsplaceinc.com/ocatalog/part.asp?VID=3&YearList=1969) - 449.00
DSE (http://detroitspeed.com/productpages/indproduct/fuelsystemprod/popups/fuel_tank_2_pic.htm)- 1150.00 *sending unit sold sep
Rock Valley Antique (http://www.rockvalleyantiqueautoparts.com/catalog/gas_tanks_chevy.pdf) - ????
Rick's (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/RHR-4081/) - 829.99 *pump sold sep.
Custom build of stock tank - $???
does S&P make a tank?

Am I missing anyone?
THANK YOU!

[meenaggie]

What type of car are you building? Mainly street? Serious autocross or track time in your future? What type of rear suspension - inboard leaf spring relocation, Prodigy bar, etc? What is your budget? All these items will make a difference.

I can only tell you what "I have heard" but I did some research and selected the Rick's tank from my '68 camaro with upgraded pump and notched corners (still in project phase). It fit my project needs and budget.

If you want the cat's meow you can copy what Mark Steilow did for his latest car. He posted the detials on lateral-g and maybe here as well. He has gone through several versions and has a lot of track time to test the different designs.

[meinthe73]

I just used an external walbro pump and c5 filter on a stock tank on my 73 vette... alot of people do. Works well and good up to 600 hp just incase i do anything else.

[youthpastor]

I've used the Rock Valley and Rick's

love em both

[absintheisfun]

I was talking with a guy at the shop today and he was saying that DSE tanks are actually manufactured by Rock Valley...anyone else heard this?

[TnBlkC230WZ]

I run a Ricks tank in my Nova. It works pretty good. for the first 15 gallons of fuel, there are not starvation issues at all, even at autocross events.

At about 3.5 gallons left, I notice slight issues on long, sustained turns (clover leaf) at high speed

At three gallons, it still works fine driven normally.

At about 1.5 - 2 gallons left, you really have to drive carefully to avoid starvation. No quick inputs with the right pedel or steering.

Over all, the tank is worth the money. I consider the last three gallons my low fuel light. It has saved me a couple of times from running out of gas.

[meenaggie]

The DSE tanks are made by Rock Valley.

[Mkelcy]

I run a Ricks tank in my Nova. It works pretty good. for the first 15 gallons of fuel, there are not starvation issues at all, even at autocross events.

At about 3.5 gallons left, I notice slight issues on long, sustained turns (clover leaf) at high speed

At three gallons, it still works fine driven normally.

At about 1.5 - 2 gallons left, you really have to drive carefully to avoid starvation. No quick inputs with the right pedel or steering.

Over all, the tank is worth the money. I consider the last three gallons my low fuel light. It has saved me a couple of times from running out of gas.

IMHO, that's a pretty unsatisfactory result with a $1,000 plus part.

[srh3trinity]

Any starvation issues with a stock tank and external fuel pump? Any reason more people don't do this other than noise?

[GeoffP]

I run a stock tank and external pump with the LT1 in my 68. It starves for fuel under hard cornering at anything under half a tank.

[The WidowMaker]

IMHP, that's a pretty unsatisfactory result with a $1,000 plus part.

ive got the newest version of the ricks tank, but its untested on my end. it has checkballs and an enclosed area that should help get down to maybe the last gallon. it was the second to the last that steilow has tried.

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2010/09/IMG_7229-1.jpg

[Mkelcy]

Any starvation issues with a stock tank and external fuel pump? Any reason more people don't do this other than noise?

The issue is that with EFI you don't have a fuel reservoir as you do with a carb - uncovering the fuel pickup instantly cuts fuel flow to the engine. The OEM's have solved the issue, we just need someone to adapt their solutions to fuel tanks that will work in our cars.

[CarlC]

It's coming. Trust me, it's coming.

[Mkelcy]

It's coming. Trust me, it's coming.

Promises, promises.

[CarlC]

Promises, promises.

Just a little teaser for ya. When you're ready Mike.....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

[wrkcar]

Just a little teaser for ya. When you're ready Mike.....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

Carl can you give more info on this set up?

[ProdigyCustoms]

Carl is correct, it is coming, he knows. It is so close now, look for a introductory sale from us very soon.

[demo]

Frank is it narrow ?

[Ron.in.SoCal]

Carl is correct, it is coming, he knows. It is so close now, look for a introductory sale from us very soon.

Frank - details please? It's about time this issue was put to bed!

[CarlC]

Frank - details please? It's about time this issue was put to bed!

There will be a lot of information and tech coming in the very near future. Suffice it to say that every problem that has been mentioned above, and in other posts, has been addressed and steps taken to fix them.

If you think what you see in the photo above is cool, wait until you see what's inside the tank.

[Ron.in.SoCal]

There will be a lot of information and tech coming in the very near future. Suffice it to say that every problem that has been mentioned above, and in other posts, has been addressed and steps taken to fix them.

If you think what you see in the photo above is cool, wait until you see what's inside the tank.

You're killin' me Carl...

Knockback, oil/fuel issues keep me up at night.

[Lance-W]

Promises, promises.

Mike,

Just put what you have up for sale. Carl's new tank is that good. It solves all the known issues and more (and you've certainly heard me bitch about what I have now). You need to get on the list at the top right after me :).

Lance

[CarlC]

Ron, rest easy on the gas part. We've got you covered.

It sure makes the design and testing process a lot easier when you have good friends to help along the way.

[absintheisfun]

Okay, okay...I'm sold. sooooo

What am I buying, when will it be available and what is it going to cost me???

[Ishmael]

Put me on the mailing list.

[John Wright]

Okay, okay...I'm sold. sooooo

What am I buying, when will it be available and what is it going to cost me???LOL......:smoke:

[wayne70]

Will there be a tank for a 70 chevelle?:fingersx:

[ErikLS2]

So should I stop rackin my brain tryin to figure out how to modify my stock tank to work properly and move on to something else?

Frank you involved with this? If so I'm pretty soon going to have to switch my paycheck's direct deposit to Prodigy Custom's account!

[highschool70ss]

Will there be a tank for a 70 chevelle?:fingersx:

X2 for the 70 chevelle

[BonzoHansen]

Just a little teaser for ya. When you're ready Mike.....

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif

ooooooooooooooooohh, is that an OE style 'bucket' sender?

[CarlC]

Oh but there's more. Much more.....

Carl's fuel system Volume I coming to a P-T thread very soon.........

[CarlC]

So should I stop rackin my brain tryin to figure out how to modify my stock tank to work properly and move on to something else?

In the information to come I'll be showing advantages/disadvantages/costs associated with many of the different designs available today. Hopefully it will help you make a better educated decision for your requirements.

[BonzoHansen]

Solid, I look forward to the info!

[Mkelcy]

In the information to come I'll be showing advantages/disadvantages/costs associated with many of the different designs available today. With that information you can make a betted educated decision for your requirements.

I thought Billy Mays died.

Are the phone lines open now and what do I get if I order in the next 15 minutes? :poke:

[BonzoHansen]

:lol:

[Lance-W]

I thought Billy Mays died.

Are the phone lines open now and what do I get if I order in the next 15 minutes? :poke:

Free ginsu knives ??????????

[CarlC]

I sat next to the Ronco guy on a Southwest flight from LAS/BUR way back in the 90's. Close enough? What a guy!

If you order within the next 15 minutes you get your two bottles of Bloody Mary mix back.

[OldSchoolFormula]

I don't know why someone doesn't just make a tank that uses a venturi-bucket system like the LS 4th gens and I'm sure other models use. :idea:

Continues to work beautifully in my '73 and all for the grand total of a cut off wheel, some hoses and parts from my parts car.

[CarlC]

OK, this should help clear a few things up, and hopefully generate some dicussion.

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72309

https://www.pro-touring.com/gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=32913[/CENTER]

[brans72]

Whoa you got my attention on a tank!

[TnBlkC230WZ]

Any retrofits for an existing Ricks tank?

[BonzoHansen]

Any retrofits for an existing Ricks tank?

https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72309


Retro-fit is possible. Give Hector a call at Rick's for pricing.

[overZealous1]

just a couple questions on the tank design. in multiple pickup designs, you will very rarely get even draw between the pickups. you can still run one side dry and once that happens, you won't pick up from the other one still submerged.
if you are picking up from inside the bucket though too, feeding your return back into the bucket can cure alot of problems.
it does look good, but a sump with single pickup and trap doors AND feeding your return into the bucket will cure all. swirl pot can help too if low enough and enough volume to hold through a turn with external pump systems.

[absintheisfun]

Got to see Hector at Good Guys in Ft. Worth today. Really nice guy, and what an awesome set of tanks on display! That Vapor works tank is NIIIIICE....so nice in fact, I ordered one. Should have it soon!
:bananna2:

[neki67]

Keep us posted and show some pics once you have it in!

[CarlC]

just a couple questions on the tank design. in multiple pickup designs, you will very rarely get even draw between the pickups. you can still run one side dry and once that happens, you won't pick up from the other one still submerged.
if you are picking up from inside the bucket though too, feeding your return back into the bucket can cure alot of problems.
it does look good, but a sump with single pickup and trap doors AND feeding your return into the bucket will cure all. swirl pot can help too if low enough and enough volume to hold through a turn with external pump systems.

The pickups have a built-in valve that closes after fuel runs away from it, hence keeping the opposite pickup functional. Once fuel runs back to the valve there is a bleed hole that will allow it to re-open. The module has its own venturi pump as well, and even if both of the corner pickups closed it has enough capacity to feed the pump at full output by itself down to approximately 45psi output.

There is no return line needed on this system. The fuel pressure regulator is built into the the module reservoir and returns directly back into it. All bypassed fuel is returned directly to module reservoir.

I don't believe having additional trap doors and/or baffles will prove to be significantly beneficial or fianacially practical. Road course testing has shown that this module/corner pickup system is very effective to really, really low fuel levels (far less than a gallon).

[CarlC]

Got to see Hector at Good Guys in Ft. Worth today. Really nice guy, and what an awesome set of tanks on display! That Vapor works tank is NIIIIICE....so nice in fact, I ordered one. Should have it soon!
:bananna2:

Thanks!

Once you get it please post back up here or start another thread. What I'd like to do is start an assembly post so that we are all on the same page about how to put it together. It's not at all hard but there are a few things that I can cover that will make the overall reliabilty and assembly process easier.

If you have a picture of the tank/booth I'd love to see it!

[overZealous1]

The pickups have a built-in valve that closes after fuel runs away from it, hence keeping the opposite pickup functional. Once fuel runs back to the valve there is a bleed hole that will allow it to re-open. The module has its own venturi pump as well, and even if both of the corner pickups closed it has enough capacity to feed the pump at full output by itself down to approximately 45psi output.

There is no return line needed on this system. The fuel pressure regulator is built into the the module reservoir and returns directly back into it. All bypassed fuel is returned directly to module reservoir.

I don't believe having additional trap doors and/or baffles will prove to be significantly beneficial or fianacially practical. Road course testing has shown that this module/corner pickup system is very effective to really, really low fuel levels (far less than a gallon).

touche'. well played sir.

pm with price then, haha

[67CamNKC]

Any updates on the new tank? The link Carl posted on the previous page no longer works. Anyone know where to find it?

Edit: Here is the link
https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?72309-Track-Ready-Street-Friendly-Fuel-Tanks-From-Rick-s-and-Vaporworx./page3

[CarlC]

Tanks are in production and being delivered to customers.

There is ongoing development and testing on a high-horsepower version. The higher-horsepower pumps cannot, IMO, be reliably controlled with a simple bypass spring-type pressure regulator like that used in the modified 5th-gen Camaro pump. Too much heat is introduced into the fuel tank from the pumps. This makes development much more difficult, time consuming, and expensive.

For those coming to RTTC2 I will be running the proof-of-concept prototype of what I hope to be bringing to market soon. It is functional and running in the Camaro for testing, and IMO is the most advanced stand-alone fuel control system running today. Sorry to be a bit cryptic, but I don't want to let the whole cat out of the bag until it it is closer to being ready to go. For those that already have a Vaporworx tank and a 5th-gen fuel module, don't worry. If you decide you want to upgrade this new control system will be compatible with what you have.