Hey fella's - it's been a while and hope that all is well with everyone. Have a quick question...the other thread about aluminum fuel cells has me wondering about a flat-bottom styled cell. Anyone out there know of an outfit that makes this style fuel cell? I'm using a plastic RCI flat bottom right now and would like the added safety of having a 'real' fuel container in the trunk - in the unlikely event of being rear-ended. I've liked the flat bottom style cell because I didn't have to cut up the trunk floor to install it...still trying to avoid that if possible. TIA. smile.gif

Wes,

RCI makes one:
http://www.rciracing.com/

When I put my typical sumped cell in my trunk for my nitrous I made an angle iron frame for it that suspends it off the floor so I didn't have to cut the floor.

Thanks Jeff for the link. Turns out that RCI does make the exact cell I was looking for. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Why would an aluminum cell be more of a "real" cell than a plastic one?

We have a Pro Street car in our shop where I had to modify the custom aluminum cell built by the chassis shop. I had a local welder do the Tig welding and he pressure tested the cell after doing his reworking.

The cell popped open at two of the seams under as little as 10 psi pressure.

Just imaging what would happen to an aluminum cell in a crash...it would more than likely split at the welded seams where a plastic cell would deform before breaking.

Doesn't matter anyway because an aluminum drag cell isn't a true safety cell like NASCAR runs...they have a rubber bladder inside to contain fuel in the event of the outer skin being damaged...drag cells simply have foam inside, but no bladder.

Interesting point 10secbu. In my minds' eye, I just imagined a metal cell holding up better than a plastic one in the event of a rear-end collision. Never thought about seam splitting though. Seems surpising that that cell burst with so little pressure inside. 10psi of air isn't much. Sounds like a fluke to me. After re-welding it, did he do another pressure test?

Yes, he did pressure test it when he finished rewelding. He claims the problem was the chassis shop used rather narrow weld beads. He perfers to use a wider, but not as attractive bead for more strength & tie in on either sheet aluminum wall. yes, it may have been a fluke, but it did show that they can and do crack.

I am in the market for a new oil pan and was considering an aluminum pan. I decided against it due to several reports of the aluminum & welding fatigue and cracking over time...leaks.