Fuel Cell Super Thread

[CamaroAJ]

are you running a fuel level sender?

[Mean 69]

Yep. But, there were no instructions with the darned thing. I hooked it up as I "thought" I should have, meaning 12v, ground, and sender, but the gauge read full all the time (or might have been empty, can't recall). In the process of doing something else to the car the other day, I disconnected the 12v, and the gauge read 1/4 tank. I am guessing it doesn't need 12V, but I screwed up the pot settings so bad that I will have to fill the car, and empty it to set the levels correctly.

Sound familiar?
Mark

[Matt@RFR]

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/fsafe9a.htm

They do need 12v. When you buy them seperately, they come with instructions. Simple stuff really:

Install fuel cell and add a couple gallons of gas (or however much you want left when the gauge reads empty), then set the "empty" pot until your gauge reads empty.

Fill fuel cell fully, then adjust "full" pot until gauge reads full.

These are really neat senders (can be cut to length for oddball tanks like the one pictured), but are not cheap. Plus, no moving parts so you can run them in bladders and in conjunction with fuel cell foam.

[CamaroAJ]

i forgot to ask how many gal. tank was everyone running?

[Matt@RFR]

How far do you want to go?

[CamaroAJ]

i was thinking everyother exit , well i was looking at either the 18 gal. or 22 gal. tank. also when you use fuel safe's level sending unit i'm using auto meters gauges doesn that matter?

[Matt@RFR]

Personally, for a streetable car, I'd go as big as possible. It's the same amount of money to fill, just in bigger (but further spaced) chunks.

Full, the 22 gallon tank will only weigh roughly 25lbs more than the 18 gallon...not enough to worry about, all other things being equal.

The Fuel Safe sender comes in the 0-90 ohm flavor unless you specify otherwise, and I'm not sure what other choices they have.

Doesn't matter what brand gauge you have (even stock), as long as the ohm range is correct. If you bought a gauge for a GM car, you have the 0-90 ohm gauge.

[dennis68]

Fuel safe builds a real nice 32 gallon

[Mean 69]

I run a 22 in my car, in trunk-first gen Camaro. I made it such that about three inches, maybe a little more, are above the nominal trunk pan, the rest is underneath the car. I think it looks pretty cool too. You need to vent the tank out of the passenger area of the car, and also will need to run a full firewall to sperate the trunk from the interior in case the worst happens.

So, I was playing with mine again last night (sending unit). I definitely works without the 12v lead, but I can't get it to adjust to empty, the lowest it goes is about 1/4 tank or so. Ironic too, because the gauge hadn't been working, and it is a 22 gallon tank, I always kind of assumed I still had "enough" gas. I ran out last night, luckily in the shop though!

Mark

[Matt@RFR]

That's strange, Mark. I wonder why they even put the "12v+" terminal on the sender if it's not needed??? Weird.

I'm sure you have, but I have to ask; Have you made sure that your sender is the correct length for your tank (bladder)?

[Mean 69]

I'm sure you have, but I have to ask; Have you made sure that your sender is the correct length for your tank (bladder)?

Oh, come on now, Matt. You know me, of COURSE I haven't! I expected the darned part to come from the supplier correct!

Kidding aside, I hadn't even considered that, but it would seem to me that if it were too short, the tank would read "empty" earlier rather than later (as is in my case). Honest though, the darned sender is the least of my problems, I realized that my wonderful $120 optima battery is dead?!?! I'll sort the sender out later, but for crystal clarification, it doesn't work at all with 12v connected (were you using the stock gauge in your applications, or a remote one???).

M

[CamaroAJ]

i have to ask since i can find no clean answer, is the adjusters on the sending unit itself? also Mean 69 do you have any pics of it in the car? i was thinking about doing it something like that depending on how much it hangs below the floor. i ordered the 22 gal tank 34 x 17 1/2 x 9 1/2 with the standard 6x10 fill plate, i'll change it to the correct one when i figure out what i need but untill then i can get the cell mounted.

[Matt@RFR]

...if it were too short, the tank would read "empty" earlier rather than later...

Ahh yes, so true. Sorry dude, been a loooong day.

...$120 optima battery is dead?!?!

What'd you do to it?

I have to ask since I can find no clean answer, are the adjusters on the sending unit itself?

Yep. Two little philips screws. I can track that tank down and get better pictures if you want.

...it doesn't work at all with 12v connected.

Bizzare. I haven't had a chance to run one in my own car (we's be po' folk), but I haven't had any customers call with that complaint. The only one that's local isn't in the car yet, but I'll try and remember to see what the deal is when they wire that car.

[Mean 69]

Why, oh why??? Did my battery die? I give up. But it did. New one works great.

Not terribly high on my concerns' chart, but the fuel sender still ain't working.

Here's a shot of the "Lateral One," otherwise known as the shop mule. This is with a 22 G Fuel Safe cell, catalog item.

Mark

As always, your mileage may vary, and we cannot be held responsible for anything that causes you issues you don't like.

[USAZR1]

Whoa! What a killer ride,Mark.