Life with a fuel cell??

[Chevelle LT1]

As my Chevelle project continues to evolve, and I am working on my LQ9 swap, I now find myself at a crossroads with respect to the fuel system. The current setup on the car is a modified tank from Rock Valley, with a Walboro pump. The setup has worked OK in the past, but with the arrival of our first child, my wife is harping on me about safety of the vehicle (perceived and otherwise). At this point, based on her dictum to make the car "safer", I am leaning towards a fuel cell from ATL or fuel safe, but don't know how this will be to live with.

Can anyone chime in about their experiences with either of these cells? Is there much to be done WRT foam/bladder replacement? I am not looking to make work for myself, but I want to enjoy driving the car, and not have something always nagging me in the back of my head (or on the passenger seat, as the case may be).

Many thanks.

~ Jason

[Payton King]

Not to cause a fight with your wife, but she does not have a fuel cell in her daily driver. I have 2 kids so i can get away with that comment. LOL

Why does she think you pesent tank is unsafe?

[RSX302]

I second Payton's question. What's concerning about the one you have now?

It all depends what you plan on doing with the car. If it's living life on the street, then a modified stock replacement in the factory location is just fine. If you plan on tracking the car, then a fuel cell might not be a bad idea. But now you get into fuel cells in the trunk which has its own safety concerns. (sealing the trunk to the passenger area) I do occasionally track my car, but stayed with a factory tank location. Since I have a sound system (subs in the trunk) it was difficult to seal everything like the tech guy's want.

[Chevelle LT1]

Thank you both for the responses. While I would sometimes pick a fight with her on general principle, she is in effect giving me a blank check to upgrade the car, so I wanted to make sure it was something that I could live with. I hope to spend more time with track-based activities once the car is back up and running, but in this case, her concern is about the lack of robustness in the case of being rear-ended. Since the fuel filler neck is hard-mounted to the tank, this would seemingly be the first failure point, and may be a concern. That would seemingly be addressed with a fuel cell that includes a bladder (or would I be wrong in this case?).

Thanks.

[Jim Nilsen]

Can I borrow your wife just long enough to be the recipient of an ATL 25 gal custom fuel bladder and container along with rollover valves and AN fittings attached with the fuel level gauge too !!!!!

Go the whole anchilada with a quote for how much it will be and she will settle down really quickly on the idea, because you know she needs 25 gal to save trips to the gas station for cheaper gas.

If I could have the fuel cell I want it would be around $2,500 - $3,000 and I wouldn't have to do anything but measure for its place and mounting and install it.

Done right a fuel cell is a wonderful safety item, but the tank you have is more than edequate and DOT approved!!!

Goodluck with the debate but if she really wants to buy a fuel cell I'll take it!! LOL.

[RSX302]

Wow..I haven't herd of the rearend issue since my 74 Pinto days.. Think you have problems..lol

I think the Chevelle could take quite a hit before that would be an issue. With my Camaro it has a rubber sleave/hose from the down tube to the tank. Could you set-up something like that? I would think that would help tank damage if rearended. God forbid!

All else fails, go with it...I would love an open check..

[CarlC]

Bladders require periodic replacement. It's not a one-time expense, nor an inexpensive one.

Keeping the OE safety systems in place goes a long way toward reducing fuel leakage during an accident. Long flexible joints for the fuel and vapor lines, no sharp objects that could pierce the tank wall, inertia switches or ECM fuel pump cutoffs, etc. should always be addressed during installation.