Sinking fuel cell into trunk floor and need mounting ideas please

[Blue70]

I ordered a 20 gal Aluminum fuel cell from Summit.
Now I would like to sink it into the trunk floor, but of course it says that
the tabs are not for mounting and I would not trust the tank hanging by
them. So I was looking for some mounting ideas..

Any help, or thoughts would be great
http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/sum-293220_w.jpg


Thanks

[GregWeld]

Whack the "space" that is currently in the trunk where you would mount the tanck - keep that piece - build it DOWN to where you want it... Use the piece you whacked out - as the New bottom...

Just a thought...

[Blue70]

That was one thought I had, and I do have access to sheet metal and a break
at work so I could easily bend a new section to drop down like you say,
but kind of hate to cover up all that pretty aluminum, so was looking for a way
to hold it secure using the least amount of material....
maybe dropped down section like you said with the back open and some
lightning holes on the sides so u can see the tank..
not sure thats why I am hoping for some ideas, lol

[GregWeld]

Okay -- right - I see what you're saying... that you want the aluminum tank exposed to the exterior.

BE CAREFUL of having "holes" / "opening" in the car that can bring exhaust (Carbon Monoxide - which will kill you!) inside!

So Maybe you could TIG weld a nice piece of angle aluminum (like 1 1/2") around the tank and use this as a "shelf"/"lip" - and just seal that to the trunk floor - so it would hang from the trunk floor but be able to be sealed up at the same time...

[awr68]

Take a look at The Red Witch and Bad Penny.....I think you will get some ideas!

[JRouche]

Hey, I have the same tank. I bought mine prolly 13 years ago, it was a company called triangle engineering. I think they are outta business LOL

Kinda funny how they say the tabs arent for mounting the tank. Then I have to say, why the heck did they put them there. What are they for would be my question. Looks like they are trying to prevent a law suit from the get go. That lil disclaimer wont protect them, they are obviously mounting tabs. Gotta love their law department. Complete disclosure and deniability.

So, what did I do? I had a nice big hole in my trunk floor anyway, art morrison rear clip caused that :) So I welded some clips off the frame to support the tank, acually not just clips but a full rail. The clips on the tank rest on the rails I made. I have faith in the clips that were welded to the tank, they were some solid aluminum welds. Yeah, thats alot of fuel, but the clips on my tank looked good enough to support the weight.

I didnt want it hanging too low so its about half up and half down. I was kinda lucky that the frame rails were pretty close to the tank size. I offset it to the left a lil (prolly five inches) to make room for my filters and pump. Its a EFI setup so the pump and filters are just below the bottom of the tank for a proper head on the pump. And I have a removable access panel to the right of the tank so I can service the pump and filters.

So I saw this aluminum tank hanging down, in the road debris area. I decided to make a steel enclosure. It covers the entire aluminum tank and the filters and pump, and all the fittings. Its a solid enclosure for the tank and pump/filter stuff. All 16ga steel. No rocks are gonna hurt it.

So, anyway, I didnt want any rockes or dirt getting on the tank and pump stuff. Fully welded seams, 16ga enclosure.

Oh, and it was a top bail type filler. And with it being in the trunk I didnt want to have to open the trunk lid everytime I wanted to fill her up. Besides the point I didnt want the raw fuel (or any fumes) in the trunk area, I have stuff in there that I dont want exposed to fuel fumes, including my main battery. And its still a trunk (small) for me. I want to be able to toss a duffel bag or two on top of the tank for a trip.

So I welded up a stainless steel flange to take the place of the filler cap flange. And I routed a stainless tube to a new filler area on the body.

Kinda modernized the race fuel cell for street use. So now I can just flip the lever inside the car, like a honda (yeah, its a honda filler neck and body door) and fill the car up at the gas station like it should be, instead of lifting the trunk lid and hope I dont spill some fluid. JR

No good pics of the build, but hear is what it looks like now. And its far from done. Ill carpet the entire area. Yes, I have a cover for the batt. too ... When its all done it will look sano....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Jrouche/Steves%20Nova/trunk.jpg

The steel cover.....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Jrouche/Steves%20Nova/Rear%20rebuild/Final%20pics/e.jpg

Filler door welding
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v366/Jrouche/Steves%20Nova/fuel%20door/readytoweld.jpg

[rjsjea]

I cut the tabs off and had this flange welded all the way around......this was my 2nd of now three tanks that have never seen the road.

[Blue70]

OK..

So I whipped this up today. It will tie into the subframe at the 4 corners..
Fits great, but now I need to change the mount on fuel pump and filter,
and get a longer tank to filter hose..
Oh... and finish the floor, lol

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/TankMount.jpg

[GregWeld]

There ya go!

Funny -- the flange idea the RJS posted was what I had said earlier in the thread.

Where this is a will there is a way.

[osdmike]

Works for me!

http://www.pixbox.se/pic_show_id17149491.html

Also see pics on left .

[Blue70]

Works for me!

http://www.pixbox.se/pic_show_id17149491.html

Also see pics on left .

Wow.. very nice box! Love the Aluminum.
I'm not quite there with my TIG welding yet
but that looks great!

[osdmike]

Hmmmm,..........the bracket is not aluminum.:_paranoid
Just the box around it. Not TIG welded either.

I think I added approx.14lbs on the bracket/box, so if You want to cut some weight,aluminum is the way to go.

I really needed more space in the trunk for spare tire and stuff.
So this will do for now.



--------------

[JRouche]

Works for me!

http://www.pixbox.se/pic_show_id17149491.html

Also see pics on left .

Very nice work!! Thats a solid cradle for the fuel cell.. I like your work.. JR

[tyoneal]

I ordered a 20 gal Aluminum fuel cell from Summit.
Now I would like to sink it into the trunk floor, but of course it says that
the tabs are not for mounting and I would not trust the tank hanging by
them. So I was looking for some mounting ideas..

Any help, or thoughts would be great
http://static.summitracing.com/global/images/prod/large/sum-293220_w.jpg


Thanks
=======================
Make sure when you install your cell, that you position the filler tube has plenty of angle for the fuel to drain from. If you try to put it just above the old, "Behind the License Door", or Above the bumper, it become very hard to get it to fill correctly without it trying to drain back out.

Ty

[Blue70]

ok... heres what i came up with, its not done, and the work is nowhere
near the level of some of the stuff on this site but at least the car is drivable again, lol

First off I was always ashamed of the trunk, so i decided to do something about it

It started off with a crappy plastic fuel cell, and the top was bowed in from the heat in the trunk

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Trunk1.jpg

Then the just as ugly mounting of an aluminum cell

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Trunk2.jpg

Well start cutting

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Trunk3.jpg

build a cradle to tie into the frame and mount cell

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Trunk4.jpg

fit it all in and add some new sheet metal

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Trunk5.jpg

and almost finished.... car is at least drivable now

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Trunk6.jpg

I also lowered the front today, it was a bit too high, think the stance is alright now

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Stance3.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/entrefal/RoadRunner/Stance2.jpg

[70rs]

The trunk looks WAY better! And the stance looks great too. Nice RR!
:thumbsup:

[osdmike]

Way to go!
Car is looking awesome!

:thumbsup:

[JRouche]

ok... heres what i came up with, its not done, and the work is nowhere
near the level of some of the stuff on this site

STFU!!!!! Your trunk area and tank mount is better than many I have seen, UMM!! Hell!!! The one in my garage. :) Great work.. JR