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Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?

Posted by Gravity Fed 
Gravity Fed
Alex Staidle
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 10:40AM
i suppose that would be easier anyway.



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john vanlandingham
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 11:06AM
Quote
heymagic

We've been lucky with the fire thing to date. Luck isn't any sort of guarantee nor should it be used as an example of something being allowable.

And yet SCCA and RallyCarmerica come up with rules way in conflict and beyond anything the FIA requires in the name of "best Practices"


And more than 20 years after FIA mandated on board fire suppression systems, we still don't have a rule requiring them...

Seems kinda selective.
(I am not minimizing fire danger, I bet I'm the only person here who has been burned severely in a fire to the point my left leg was signed off for amputation and I spent a month in a "severe case burn ward". I was very very lucky) (and I do have a fire suppression system for my car)



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heymagic
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 11:32AM
Quote
john vanlandingham
Quote
heymagic

We've been lucky with the fire thing to date. Luck isn't any sort of guarantee nor should it be used as an example of something being allowable.

And yet SCCA and RallyCarmerica come up with rules way in conflict and beyond anything the FIA requires in the name of "best Practices"


And more than 20 years after FIA mandated on board fire suppression systems, we still don't have a rule requiring them...

Seems kinda selective.
(I am not minimizing fire danger, I bet I'm the only person here who has been burned severely in a fire to the point my left leg was signed off for amputation and I spent a month in a "severe case burn ward". I was very very lucky) (and I do have a fire suppression system for my car)


The rulez is the rulez and I don't see it changing any time soon. This discussion has been had many times and never changes, has nothing to offer. I'd be more worried about PlayDoh suspension ears than the very, very few cars who have trouble complying with fuel cell riules.
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Gravity Fed
Alex Staidle
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 11:38AM
finding pictures of fuel cells in the US has proven difficult. Trying to get an idea of a cover that can be removed for refueling easily and still have the fuel lines go somewhere.



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czwalga
steve czwalga
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 11:45AM
Quote
Gravity Fed
finding pictures of fuel cells in the US has proven difficult. Trying to get an idea of a cover that can be removed for refueling easily and still have the fuel lines go somewhere.


This is what I did... and hurst gave it the OK.

Ignore the big section to the right, I had an external surge tank and pump in this area which was a no-no. Anyways, the lines go up and back under the car, to a fuel pump (sits below'ish the cell, mounted to the rear subframe). Then from the pump up to the SS lines coming through the floor.

FYI, unless you're cell is 30-40%+ full you will have starvation issues. I end up buying a drop surge tank which also has to be fia approved $$$. I have an ATL bladder/atl rally surge tank.




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Gravity Fed
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 12:04PM
would this be acceptable?

http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/product/11886/ATLAccessories



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czwalga
steve czwalga
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 12:14PM
That's exactly what I have.
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Gravity Fed
Alex Staidle
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 12:21PM
well for 179, its not terrible.



First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
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NoCoast
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 01:25PM
Dzus fittings instead of butterfly heads will make refueling easier too.
Rubber grommets on the box for the fuel lines and vent coming through are acceptable.



Grant Hughes
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 01:27PM
I remember talking to Mike Hurst at the grange at either Doo Wops or Olympus (I cannot remember which, Gene, you were there for a minute or so when Mike and I started talking, do you remember which event it was?)

He basically told me that you really just need to have a way to stop the fluid/fire for a minute or so so everyone can get out of the car. I believe he even said, or agreed when I said, "So technically, you could just use aluminum tape to seal everything off..."

It's seriously not that hard to deal with. Honestly, it's not. Like Gene said, you're all making a much bigger deal out of it. I figured out a way to get around making a bulkhead around the fuel cell red can. You end up turning the can into the bulkhead. PM me if you want to discuss it more. It works, it's been approved by Hurst, I have the emails to prove it, somewhere. The only reason I'm not doing that now, is money. I just don't feel like spending the money on some dry break connectors and very large AN hose.



This is mine. Just sheetmetal stitched to the can. Seamseal/RTV/Firewall bulkhead goop/plumbers putty/play doh/cake icing/ etc the two pieces together, and that is the bottom. As for how the hoses get out, rubber grommets.

Now, I just bend up a lid, get some foam or rubber or foam rubber or something to seal the edge to the lid, and make a way to attach the lid.

Just goop the red lid to the red box, and you're good to go. That's what Hurst said.

If anyone is considering a fuel cell, I highly recommend calling/email him and talking to him about what idea(s) you've come up with and what he recommends, as he's quite open to it.



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A1337STI
Alex Rademacher
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 01:28PM
The more i see rules like this. the more I'm convinced I am never going to buy a fuel cell.

(eventually we maybe be forced to) but until then
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Gravity Fed
Alex Staidle
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 01:33PM
actually your little box idea stirred up a way for me to make it work! excellent!

ill make a diagram and send it his way.



First Rally: 2010 First RallyX: 2004 (a bunch)
Driver (0), Co-Driver (7)
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czwalga
steve czwalga
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 02:09PM
Quote
A1337STI
The more i see rules like this. the more I'm convinced I am never going to buy a fuel cell.

(eventually we maybe be forced to) but until then


Yeah it is kind of a pain in the ass more so the money aspect of it, but i had to move remove the stock tank when I did the awd swap, so it was pretty much my only option.

That said since the bladder is flexible I dont think i'll ever hit something the wrong way and be leaking fuel, so I guess there's that piece of mind.
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john vanlandingham
John Vanlandingham
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 06, 2012 04:17PM
Quote
Gravity Fed
well for 179, its not terrible.

The mid 80s saab intank sump or reservoir at a pull-a-part for 1/10 the cost is not even terrible-er
Comes with integral low pressure feed pump.



John Vanlandingham
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CALL +1 206 431-9696
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A1337STI
Alex Rademacher
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Re: Carbon Fiber for fuel cell case?
January 09, 2012 01:32PM
someone gave me an AWD gas tank... actually i'll have one available now this week. but it sounds like you already solved your problem...
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