Sinking fuel cell into trunk floor and need mounting ideas please - Lateral-g Forums

Blue70 · #1 10-24-2009, 05:09 PM

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

Thanks

**GregWeld** · #2 10-24-2009, 05:22 PM

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 · #3 10-24-2009, 08:01 PM

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** · #4 10-24-2009, 08:13 PM

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 · #5 10-24-2009, 08:41 PM

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

JRouche · #6 10-24-2009, 11:22 PM

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....

The steel cover.....

Filler door welding

rjsjea · #7 10-25-2009, 08:47 AM

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 · #8 10-25-2009, 03:12 PM

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

**GregWeld** · #9 10-25-2009, 04:00 PM

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 · #10 10-25-2009, 04:15 PM

Works for me!

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

Also see pics on left .