[Mikeys69]

A few weeks ago we were talking about fuel cells.
NHRA rules came into play with needing to have a firewall between the driver and the fuel cell. Plus some say they can smell fuel when using a fuel cell.

Is anyone here using or have used a setup like this below.

Anybody have any Pros/Cons of this configuration

 

[Mod69]

Hey this is the exact same set up that they just published in this months popular hot rod magazine with the street sweeper chevelle. The only thing I noticed different between that one and the one you have in the pic, is the sump isn't as far back in the pic. I think the sump has to be as far back as possible. They seemed to like the set up in the street sweeper.

 

[Tom Mobley]

What I never understood about these things is when did a plastic gas tank become a "fuel cell?" I thought a fuel cell was a metal container with a rubber bladder inside, usually stuffed with some kind of open cell foam material to hold down the slosh. Now I see people calling these plastic gas tanks fuel cells. Whassupwiddat?

 

[Mikeys69]

Hey this is the exact same set up that they just published in this months popular hot rod magazine with the street sweeper chevelle. The only thing I noticed different between that one and the one you have in the pic, is the sump isn't as far back in the pic. I think the sump has to be as far back as possible. They seemed to like the set up in the street sweeper.

Yes but it's a Buick...
I really like this idea...

 

[Mikeys69]

What I never understood about these things is when did a plastic gas tank become a "fuel cell?" I thought a fuel cell was a metal container with a rubber bladder inside, usually stuffed with some kind of open cell foam material to hold down the slosh. Now I see people calling these plastic gas tanks fuel cells. Whassupwiddat?

It's a plastic world out there.
Thats just another reason to love these old cars...
They had medal and some real looks..
Not like todays cookie cars..:yes:

 

[RB69SS396Conv]

I would not put a setup like that on ANY car that EVER sees ANY street use WHATSOEVER....

All it would take to create a MAJOR disaster, is ONE TIME of backing into a parking place with a slightly higher curb than normal, or ONE rock or stick or something flying up off the road after running over it.

Some things just aren't worth dying, or burning down a city block or a bunch of cars in a parking lot, over.

Of course I have no clue if yours is EVER driven on the street so that might not be an issue.

Even just getting that on and off of some trailers, would be risky.

The other thing is, even if your car is STRICTLY strip-only, if you can do it yourself, it might save some $$$; but if you have to pay somebody to do it for you, it porobably won't be any cheaper than doing it right.

The usual cause of the fuel odor has nothing to do with the sump itself. It's usually the lines. Most braided stainless line is permeable by fuel, and "leaks" enough fuel through the walls of the line to create the smell. Using as much solid metal line with as little braided stainless as possible, and using the high-$$$ fuel specific inner-lined braided hose, will help.

 

[71 chevy]

it cheaper to get a sumped tank than to buy a sump, a new tank, and have it welded.

 

[Bowtie-72]

it cheaper to get a sumped tank than to buy a sump, a new tank, and have it welded.

I'm into mine for under $300 including paying a guy to weld it in. The only thing I don't like about the pic is the lines running under the tank. It seems too exposed. Most I have seen run the line right over to the frame are where it's more protected.

Here's mine, which was just put in last weekend:

 

[Skeeveman]

I'm using one, and have never had an issue with a rock or stick flying up, hitting it, causing it to explode and killing me. In all reality, the sump is stronger than the tank, and if you are running over something that is going to interfere with it, you have many other things to be worrying about. I do agree with Bryan though, the lines in the first pic, running under the tank, going forward, look out of place and not as safe as routing it straight to the frame.

Here's a pic of mine, kind of hard to see due to lighting/black tank, but it's there nonetheless.

 

[ericrickster]

the way i did it on my old 55 chevy was,drill a hole in the bottom of the tank[towards the rear]braze a 1/2" pipe female fitting,and use a 90 degree hose end .

it works like a sump but does not hang down nearly as much

that 3800# car now runs 10.60's with a 700 horsepower bbc with that setup,no problems

so if you want gravity feed,this way is a nice alternative

 

[dgrobels]

the way i did it on my old 55 chevy was,drill a hole in the bottom of the tank[towards the rear]braze a 1/2" pipe female fitting,and use a 90 degree hose end .

it works like a sump but does not hang down nearly as much

that 3800# car now runs 10.60's with a 700 horsepower bbc with that setup,no problems

so if you want gravity feed,this way is a nice alternative

Id like to see a pic of that and that is as budget as you can get sounds liek a very good idea :beers:

 

[novaderrik]

with gas at $3.50 or more a gallon, i don't think i'd want a setup like that on a car that i left sitting outside anywhere for any period of time.. some enterprising young gas thief would need nothing more than a hose cutter and a few 5 gallon gas cans to get away with all of your gas. and if you put a valve in it to drain the gas like some drag racing classes require for taking fuel samples, it just makes it that much easier..

 

[RB69SS396Conv]

have never had an issue with a rock or stick flying up

Be sure not to leave out the ONE critical word that is missing from that statement:

"yet"

Only takes once.

 

[Schurkey]

I have a sump in the fuel tank of my 'Camino; similar to the picture. One difference--my fuel plumbing is not routed UNDER the sump. I ran it beside the sump--and therefore the hoses aren't the first thing to drag if the tank "bottomed out" on a steep driveway slope; or while loading it onto a trailer.

I wish now I had not sumped the fuel tank.

Having the fuel exit the tank at the bottom is an invitation to massive, uncontrolled leakage if the hose (or tubing) should leak or be torn off.

I hadn't considered how easy it would be to steal fuel until reading this thread. Yikes.

 

[71 chevy]

with gas at $3.50 or more a gallon, i don't think i'd want a setup like that on a car that i left sitting outside anywhere for any period of time.. some enterprising young gas thief would need nothing more than a hose cutter and a few 5 gallon gas cans to get away with all of your gas. and if you put a valve in it to drain the gas like some drag racing classes require for taking fuel samples, it just makes it that much easier..

i was thinking exactly that. with gas as high as it is, it wont take much to get some person to jump under there real quick and siphon off all the gas.

 

[71 chevy]

I'm into mine for under $300 including paying a guy to weld it in. The only thing I don't like about the pic is the lines running under the tank. It seems too exposed. Most I have seen run the line right over to the frame are where it's more protected.

Here's mine, which was just put in last weekend:

my point exactly. this is an already done one for $249
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM-293215-S&N=700+115&autoview=sku

 

[Bowtie-72]

Great! Now how do I get my cooler and chair in the trunk, what about my spare tire, what about my jack?

Not to mention the holes in my original trunk floor.....

 

[71 chevy]

he was looking for a poor man's fuel cell, not a fuel cell so he can carry a chair and cooler in the trunk

 

[Skeeveman]

Be sure not to leave out the ONE critical word that is missing from that statement:

"yet"

Only takes once.

It's not going to happen... but in going along with your theory, I guess I'll just have to take my chance.

And I agree with Bowtie-72, it sure is nice to have the trunk space, and the ability to revert it back to stock easily. I'd rather replace a fuel tank than a trunk floor.

As for the price, mine was way less than a good fuel cell. I used the tank I already had, flushed it out, and had a buddy TIG it up for free. It's all about connections. 65 bucks is what I spent on the conversion. It's the price of the braided line and the -AN fittings that kill you, but that's needed whether you sump a stock tank or go with a fuel cell.

 

[Mikeys69]

he was looking for a poor man's fuel cell, not a fuel cell so he can carry a chair and cooler in the trunk

Love this line....l


Ok sticking to the poor mans cell theme.
If we used the old tank and had a larger pickup installed in the tank.

Extending into the rear with -8 or -10 line to the pump.
Would any consider this unsafe?

I have a welder and yes I know how to use it.
Plus I would first have a radiator shop clean the tank.

I'm not really looking to save the money. But yes $$$ is good..:thumbsup:
But this would keep the tank out of the inside of the car.