Fuel cell ideas

I realize that this is a touchy topic for most of us with the new flameproof/fireproof bulkhead(however it's worded).

My question is whether or not there's still a molded cell available like that shown in the Ford Sierra book that goes between the rear uprights?

If not, are people just going with a square cell. Size? Pictures?

I won't be at that point for a bit, but I want to be scheming.

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

Yeah, here's what we did one Skye's and Scotts cars and it works in the whole rest of the fuckin world, except Rally America:



Pump details:


Mounted on a plate isoltated using Misterbitchy Eclipse wiper motor mounts.

Then you make a alloy cover and secure the tire in this position (make a wedge shaped alloy trough thing for the wheel to sit on

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John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
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is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2006 01:49AM by john vanlandingham.

> My question is whether or not there's still a
> molded cell available like that shown in the Ford
> Sierra book that goes between the rear uprights?

ATL has many fouel cells with the tire cutouts. They might have an asymmetrical template for the Sierra from the olden days. Give them a call -- if not, they can form up anything you want, one just needs to ask (and PAY).

I don't know squat about fuel cell regulations throughout herstory or around the world, but possibly Boreham built the Mk2's fuel system to the maligned RA/FIA spec. From the book,

"Regulations for any stage event demand the fitting of a fireproof bulkhead. ... The bulkhead is designed to prevent fuel from entering the cockpit at all costs. Then the lot: wheel arches, diaphragm and ventilation system must be sealed around with a petrol proof substance . . ." [Sec. 2.7, page 22]

However, this may not apply in the Norte America, as we use alternative fuels such as gasolene instead of petrol.

chris

It certainly seemed from reading the Ford book(preparing the sierra for motorsport) that the word of the regulation was the same back then. Seems that this full floor to roof barrier is a new twist.

I'd like to lay the spare flat in the back(possibly leaving room to put two there if needed on some events). I don't really want to move the cell further forward, but I suppose it could be mounted in front of the rear wheels if all rules were followed.

I don't see anything wrong with the original Ford setup as the cell and pumps seemed to be completely sealed from passenger compartment by a fireproof barrier(especially with the pumps in the original spare wheel well with a cover.

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

This is something I've been thinking about as well, since stock gas tanks are getting hard to find around here (and I already sold mine). I was planning on doing a square unit, just for ease of ordering.

I'm not sure if I have enough room back here:


to cram in a cell like on Eric's Maz-dawg, and then there would still be the issue of filling it. Photo:
http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/sirlurch/Mazda3075.jpg

Half of me just wants to "homemade Pinto" it, like on Larry's Galant:
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/porsche944s2racer/detail?.dir=8a16&.dnm=108f.jpg
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/porsche944s2racer/detail?.dir=8a16&.dnm=8985scd.jpg

Since the "box within a box" becomes trivially easy then, and won't eat a huge amount of space for spares.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/23/2006 09:39AM by PAddy.

As I understand it, neither of those will be legal with RA?

Maybe we could just get the car logbooked in Canada and then it would be exempt from RA rules?

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

Well you can see in Galant that the pod is actually sealed in the trunk, so the XR version I'm envisioning would have a short aluminium top over the whole cell/pumps/filter assembly, sealing it to the floor. I don't know what Lurch has done to modify his to the new RA rules.


...or you could just get a CARS rulebook. Up here in rally nirvana we have yet to change to made-up interpretations of FIA rules, so the metal box provided by the cell manufacturer is still good enough, as it is everywhere else.

My current car is CARS logbooked. My XR will probably be as well because of this stuff. I'm all for safety, in fact a big proponent, but having to re-engineer the friggin car to put in a cell is nuts!

There's a reason I rally in Canada and have the Canadian flag on my driving suit! :-)

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

Well the point is, the Fuel Safe cell is *already* a metal box around a foam-filled rubber bag - why does the metal box need a metal box around it? How about a metal box around that? It can be like a Russian nesting doll set. That factory Ford Sierra setup is the same damn thing, a metal box around a bag.

Hence the references to the helmet protector-protector...

The regulation is probably the same but the current interpretation is brain-dead.

Skye

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www.rallyrace.net

Skye Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well the point is, the Fuel Safe cell is *already*
> a metal box around a foam-filled rubber bag - why
> does the metal box need a metal box around it?
> How about a metal box around that? It can be like
> a Russian nesting doll set. That factory Ford
> Sierra setup is the same damn thing, a metal box
> around a bag.
>
> Hence the references to the helmet
> protector-protector...
>
> The regulation is probably the same but the
> current interpretation is brain-dead.
>
> Skye
>
>
> ______
> Undercover Canadian evildoer
> Rally car's almost done I swear...
> www.rallyrace.net



Ask Mike Hurts (No i didn't misspell, that's what i think of him, he hurts the sport)

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Cheers
M.Samli
Phoenix AZ
Gaylant VR4
EVO III GSR (Stolen)


Rallies are no place for traitors

I did the homemade Pinto thing with a twist...I surrounded the bottom edges with 1x? angle and then put another thin sheet of steel between that and the cell. The top is held in by angle and round tube and tied into the cage and car all over. I always thought I overbuilt it and was told so by many folks...little did realize that a mis-interpretaion of FIA rules would lead my setup to being illeagal. Too bad for me I guess. I have still not tackled this issue, but it is still in the plans at some point.

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Thanks To: Billygoat Racing "Smokin' since 1977"

I was thinking of just trying to find a 20+ gallon fuel cell casing (no bladder) and mounting the exterior around a 15 gallon cell. So when you look in it looks just like a regular fuel cell but there are internal lines connecting between the two cells. Then it's a true helmet protector protector but is technically a bulkhead.

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Grant Hughes

Mr. Hughes...you still need to seal the top area around the filler...either use bulkhead fittings OR god help me grometts. Might as well just bend it up from thin ga. alum or steel. Or hell...Mike H. even suggested carbon, so I am sure you could use lexan...at least you could see if there was fuel sloshin' around in the protector protector cavity.

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Thanks To: Billygoat Racing "Smokin' since 1977"

Thinking about this issue again.

In the pictures that John posted, wouldn't an cover that seals the filler tube(to the body exterior where the filler cap would be) and seals the open oval in the top of the cell container be legal?

Is anyone still making Ford style Sierra fuel cells?

Cheers! John

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http://www.lastditchracing.com
http://www.triplecaution.us

Martin's arrangement is pretty much what I was planning on doing. You're getting a CARS logbook anyways, put the thing at the codriver's feet!

http://www.neo240sx.ca/Nismo/tallpines_rally_sized/Untitled-16.jpg