Gas tank

$$$$$ . I feel deflated about my build some times. I dont have an original gas tank for my Datsun. And the prospect of spending the money on a fuel cell makes me a bit unhappy. Why can one use a OEM fuel tank but not one of the many alum. or steel tanks in the stock location? I have an Alu. RCI tank in the exact loacation as the stock tank. Its plumbed good, Doesnt leak and is pleanty strong. Why cant I use this? Its furstrating seeing the cost of some of the parts I have to purchase. I know I could NOT RALLY but then if everyone took that stance there would be no Rally. I am just curious as to why its Either OEM or Fuel Cell.

Thanks



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/07/2014 05:37PM by BlackWidow.

becuz

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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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LOL thanks John. I still need to call you again and get some more info on the toyota diff. Have a great day.

Who is inspecting your gas tank? Who is going to be knowledgeable enough to know it isn't oem. I've yet to have my fuel cell in the celica checked for FIA certification even though it is.

Quote
czwalga
Who is inspecting your gas tank? Who is going to be knowledgeable enough to know it isn't oem. I've yet to have my fuel cell in the celica checked for FIA certification even though it is.

Yeah, I could have save hundreds if I had just purchased the red FIA can and a cheap plastic drop in cell. No one, not even the damn FIA techs at Mexico, asked for FIA papers.

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http://www.huebberally.com

LMAO, I bet they will be asking now.

^^^ LOL.....

Any reason to not put in a stock tank? Too costly? OEM tanks have been proven to be pretty durable in rally use, and the bladder cells certainly are a known proven quantity. A straight AL tank can be problematic as AL is not as good with flexing and resisting fatigue cracks as steel. An AL tank with a bladder would be OK, but what cost advanatage would there be?

The straight plastic tanks don't carry any approvals that I know of. You can get JAZ Pro Sport cells SFI certifed for an extra $50 to JAZ. These have the poly cell inside of a steel case. That would put the cost at approx $280 for 12 gal and $380 for 16 gal. It saves some but not a ton.

But, we need to have SFI 28.1 standard adopted to use them. I don't see a good reason to not do that.

And as to why have an approval? Making a field judgement on cages is something we do all the time; cages designs and meterials performance are well established and pretty inspectable. Fuel cells themselves are not, and their actual performance is highly dependent on materials. No one can field test materials as part of tech; so it is kinda like helmets and belts and such. And if you don't have some standard, then the next thing is that folks will show up with god-knows-what fuel cells made in China. I keep an eye on the seats and I shudder to imagine what the cheap Chinese race seat knocks-offs are made of; non-certified fuel cells would be the same.

And as for inspections of fuel cells or not, those who have FIA fuel cells get them inspected, only you don't see it perhaps.....the bladder-in-a-red-steel-can with a certain mfr's label tells you most everything you need to know....so a quick glance tells the story.

Mark B.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/09/2014 12:07PM by starion887.

So who is the best person to contact at NASA and RA to get the SFI tanks approved? Has this been asked for in the past?

As for the OEM fuel tank. Very very difficult to find (although i found one on ebay for 150.00 which is not common). In my case the 1.5 inch tube is now welded between the rear shock towers would have to be removed to fit a stock tank. The Stock tank would have to have a return line added to it (Is that leagal with in the rules ?) because I have a KA24E fuel injected engine.

Can a stock fuel tank be modified ? If it can how much modification can be done ? IE streched and shortened (to fit under the 1.5 inch tube )

You could run your return into the filler neck, that isn't technically the tank....

I think i found a good solution the ATL saver cell. ATL SA112. I can build the container myself and add the FIA sticker to that.

Good deal; glad you found something. Hoche (the SRDC), Gene M, and myself are NRS techie guys; I know I will speak to Anders about the SFI 28.1 standard. It makes sense to me. But I'll also do some more research to make sure it is appropriate. Any commnets appreciated. Mark B.

The "well cell" also looks like a good idea for the cars that it will fit.

http://pitstopusa.com/i-13859655-atl-well-cell-fuel-cell-8-gallon.html

I think that most stock tanks are in a better location that the spare tire well in case of the spin off the road and back into a tree. I know I wouldn't want 6 gallons of fuel erupting from the cell.

One of the reason i love the bar between the shock towers in the Datsun and the tank i currently have is that it provides so much protection for the tank. With out the bar and the stock tank i still think there is better protection then using the well. Anyway i still am curious to see if a SFI tank could be used.

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phlat65
I think that most stock tanks are in a better location that the spare tire well in case of the spin off the road and back into a tree. I know I wouldn't want 6 gallons of fuel erupting from the cell.

True moving it inside does cause some problems. The fuel tank position on the mk2 golf sucks. If you want to reinforce the beam to keep it somewhat durable, the stock tank is in the way.
The tank in the well with a nice cover would not seem any less dangerous to me then a stock tank next to a hot exhaust.