Fuel Cell Super Thread

[badass66]

Need a little help.
Just installing the new fuel cell in trunk of my 66 chevelle. Need to ask a stupid novice question. Which way should I mount the cell? Sump on one side and vent and sender are on other side. Which should be towards the rear of car? Do I cut a hole in the trunk floor to set the sump into or shim up the tank (off the floor)?
Thanks for the help.
Glen

[71dusterdan]

okay looking for somebody really knowledgeable. why the diff in fuel cells. most road racing organizations say no to plastic cells, but all modern cars have plastic fuel tanks. they all say no to jaz and rci, yet you can buy these in a can just as you can a fuelsafe or atl. i know the big dollar cells have a rubber type material bladder, rather than plastic. if they are in a can why the nitpicking(for lack of a better word) I'm not trying to downplay the safety just personally ignorant. hell they sell them which would stand to reason that, some kind of organization accepts them, or else they are all bling for the ricers. just a HUGE disparity in price. if nothing else is a sumped stock tank addequate for a track day and occasional auto-x car. thanks in advance, i know somebody will step up to educate me. Dan

[LS6 Tommy]

If your goal is to pass an SCCA tech inspection, it HAS to be FIA certified, the certification # must be visible, and there MUST be a "quick access" port of some sort for fuel sampling. At least in GT1.

There are probably other things involved, but it's been so long since I installed a cell I honestly don't remember.

Tommy

[sinned]

okay looking for somebody really knowledgeable. why the diff in fuel cells. most road racing organizations say no to plastic cells, but all modern cars have plastic fuel tanks. they all say no to jaz and rci, yet you can buy these in a can just as you can a fuelsafe or atl. i know the big dollar cells have a rubber type material bladder, rather than plastic. if they are in a can why the nitpicking(for lack of a better word) I'm not trying to downplay the safety just personally ignorant. hell they sell them which would stand to reason that, some kind of organization accepts them, or else they are all bling for the ricers. just a HUGE disparity in price. if nothing else is a sumped stock tank addequate for a track day and occasional auto-x car. thanks in advance, i know somebody will step up to educate me. Dan

Plastic cells are not allowed because they will open up during an accident. RCI/JAZ/Summit, etc... are not allowed as they do not have the internal bladder again to prevent leakage in an accident. The ultimate reason for the small number cells that are allowed is the cell has to maintain its integrity in a collision and NOT LEAK. Fuel safe is pretty much the only company that goes through the trouble and expense of ensuring this doesn’t happen.

[Damn True]

The plastic cans are ok in many drag classes but as stated above SCCA and NASA require FIA certification in classes that require a cell.

A Fuel Safe or ATL bladder has a far higher tear and puncture resistance than any plastic can. Additionally, their foam baffels will mitigate the chance of flash explosion.

[bret]

I need to find a good fuel cell for my Mustang. What are you guys using? Results?

[fishtail8]

I put a 17gal Jaz fuel cell in, with a sending unit, and a modified 45degree filler neck. I used the oval track version to keep the fuel lines inside the car instead of hanging out the back....

[ProBell]

What are you planing to do with the car? What type of fuel pump are you going to run? Randy

[PTAddict]

Fuel Safe makes a direct-fit replacement for the stock early Mustang tank:

http://fuelsafe.com/pdf/Mustang.pdf

They also build cells to your custom spec - just give them drawings - and will include things like in-tank pumps, fuel level senders, etc. I had them build a custom one for my '71 with in-tank pump and sender. Not cheap - about $2200, I recall - but their off-the-shelf items are not as expensive.

[gt1guy]

ATL

kevin

[Steve1968LS2]

My 18 gallon tank arrived yesterday and we're mounting it today. It has the internal Bosch pump and an aluminum can with a "hat" design rather than a flat lid. This kept it from hanging too low under the car.

Anyways, Gary at FS said that for a "street" car I was good to go for just mounting it to a 2x2 square-tube frame between the frame rails. That would mean all the weight would be supported by the flange.

He said that in a competition enviorment where the car might be bounding a lot (over rumple strips or curbs) then they reccomend building some sort of cage to support weight in the center of tank rather than just on the flange.

I'm sorta torn.. My car isn't a "race car" but it will see track days. He says the cage isn't necessary but I think it would be a good idea just to lend extra support. We would do the cage out of 1x1 or 1x1/2 square tubing with three straps running front to back. The flange would be supported by 2x2 tied to the frame rails.

Like this: http://www.hotrodstohell.net/cars_fr...aro/index9.htm

What say you? Cage or not.. not would be a cleaner look and offer more clearance.. a cage would be "safer" and require more fab work and would add weight.

Hmmmmmmm

[Steve Chryssos]

Jake, Jake's Rod Shop, built mine with frame and a cradle. Then he rebuilt the trunk with sheetmetal to make it look like it was always there. Fuel cell is a custom stainless steel piece by IIMuch Fabrication. Do the cradle. It will add piece of mind and you can use 1"x1" square tube.

http://web.mac.com/streetfytr/iWeb/T.../Upgrades.html

[Steve1968LS2]

Jake, Jake's Rod Shop, built mine with frame and a cradle. Then he rebuilt the trunk with sheetmetal to make it look like it was always there. Fuel cell is a custom stainless steel piece by IIMuch Fabrication. Do the cradle. It will add piece of mind and you can use 1"x1" square tube.

http://web.mac.com/streetfytr/iWeb/T.../Upgrades.html

Yea, seems like a "better safe than sorry" deal.. I'm generally a more-is-less kind of guy, but when it comes to safety I guess more is better. lol -- I just didn't want to feel I was going overboard.

The FUEL SAFE unit is sweet.. I will post some pics tomorrow.

[CamaroAJ]

this picture is a few years old so alot is changed but the fuel cell is still the same. 1x1 square tube.

[Steve1968LS2]

Thanks, I think we will be doing three "straps" rather than two.. Like in the HR-to-Hell pics..

[CamaroAJ]

i'm still debateing weither to add a 3rd one and ones on the side. i'll prolly do it just to be safe.

[70TWO NOVA]

Cage it, It is a purpose built car after all....isnt it?

[Steve1968LS2]

Cage it, It is a purpose built car after all....isnt it?

Fine, have it your way!!!! ;)

The "cage" for the new fuel cell..

The mounting rack:


With the can, tank and top installed:

[Steve Chryssos]

That cell ain't goin nowhere. And you have two extra crossmembers between your framerails. Poifect!

[parsonsj]

Steve,
That's nice. And worth it for safety I think. My aluminum cell on II Much has an internal cage just like that.

jp