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| posted on 25/1/06 at 03:36 PM |
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Fuel tank positioning
Can't think of anywhere else to put this topic so here goes. Does anyone else think that the standard position for 7 replica fuel tanks is
bloody awful? I can't help looking and imagining a rear-end shunt, with fuel spilling everywhere from the ruptured tank. Would it not be better
to have it above the diff so there's a bit of space between the back panel and it? I know this raises issues with raising the C of G of the car
having the weight of the fuel higher up but id've thought the increase in safety was more important.
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emsfactory
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 03:59 PM |
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I dont think it is a big problem. The chances of a tank blowing up are very small. I have never heard of a locost going up like this. Many production
cars have the tanks at the rear.
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02GF74
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 04:02 PM |
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yep; gas (!) tanks onlyt explode on american TV and films. If petrol was that easy to ignite, there'd be no need for the AA, RAC etc. to exist.
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mookaloid
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 04:03 PM |
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I would make 2 observations:
1 as there is no obvious place to discuss Fuel tanks on here I'm not sure it is allowed
2 since I am in a flippant mood I don't care if this in in the wrong place - so my suggestion would be make sure you fast enough so no-one
catches you and shunts you up the rear.
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emsfactory
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 04:05 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
I would make 2 observations:
1 as there is no obvious place to discuss Fuel tanks on here I'm not sure it is allowed
2 since I am in a flippant mood I don't care if this in in the wrong place - so my suggestion would be make sure you fast enough so no-one
catches you and shunts you up the rear.
I'll second that. if your driving slowly enough to let someone rear end you deserve to blown up. (although it wouldn't happen)
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02GF74
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 04:08 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by emsfactory
quote:
Originally posted by mookaloid
I would make 2 observations:
1 as there is no obvious place to discuss Fuel tanks on here I'm not sure it is allowed
2 since I am in a flippant mood I don't care if this in in the wrong place - so my suggestion would be make sure you fast enough so no-one
catches you and shunts you up the rear.
I'll second that. if your driving slowly enough to let someone rear end you deserve to blown up. (although it wouldn't happen)
yeah, but what do you do if you are stopped a traffic light or rad junction and some dozey get runs into the back of you?
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muzchap
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 04:19 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by emsfactory
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by mookaloid
I would make 2 observations:
1 as there is no obvious place to discuss Fuel tanks on here I'm not sure it is allowed
2 since I am in a flippant mood I don't care if this in in the wrong place - so my suggestion would be make sure you fast enough so no-one
catches you and shunts you up the rear.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'll second that. if your driving slowly enough to let someone rear end you deserve to blown up. (although it wouldn't happen)
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yeah, but what do you do if you are stopped a traffic light or rad junction and some dozey get runs into the back of you?
Well after extinguishing the flames and coping with the 3rd degree burns - hop out and beat the living f&!K into them
KitCar Rage
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iank
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 05:05 PM |
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quote:
Well after extinguishing the flames and coping with the 3rd degree burns - hop out and beat the living f&!K into them
Difficult if they hit you hard they have gone through the fuel tank and taken out your spine just on the other side of a thin sheet of ally and some
grp/thin padding
Rear end safety (oooh! sir!) isn't the strong suit of 7's, outrunning them is your only chance
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flyingkiwi
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 05:07 PM |
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Logical solution - Dont stop for anything!
It Runs!!!!! Bring on the SVA!
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oliwb
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 05:46 PM |
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Or make it like a tiger! Do exactly as you suggest and place it abov the diff.....at least if you get hit it'll be one vulnerable thing out of
the way! I know I wouldn't like to be in an accident and find petrol leaking all over the place! Oli.
If your not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room!
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DarrenW
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 06:00 PM |
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If you are worried what about fitting a foam filled tank? Or a bumper?
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 06:07 PM |
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The best bet would be a "bag tank" foam filled ones would still leak if split, I will be all but sitting on mine when its made it will go
in between engine and rear bulkhead, when banger racing we always had the tank fastened too the roll cage about a foot away from the seat, allegedly
the best/safest place for it as theory said it wouldn't get hit there.
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steve_gus
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| posted on 25/1/06 at 10:39 PM |
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there are no end of car accidents on motorways and the like where people are killed by fires. There doesnt have to be a big bang.
A scenario is you get rear ended, the tank splits and dumps all the fuel under the car, you are trapped or temporarily out of action, and a spark
lights the fuel. No big bang, but you are toast in a lake of flame.
The tank right at the rear bulkhead is indeed crap. My slopey backed hybrid has the tank about 1 1/2 feet forwards of the rear. (obviouslt not easy on
a book car!)
atb
steve
ps - things you dont think could ever happen just might. A member on here was almost killed by burns when a heater hose dumped coolant on his foot
whilst lapping donnington. Who would have expected that?
[Edited on 25/1/06 by steve_gus]
http://www.locostbuilder.co.uk
Just knock off the 's'!
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Dale
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| posted on 26/1/06 at 07:42 PM |
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I also will be having the fuel tank close to a foot forward of the rear. Part of the reason I went for the longer rear.
Dale
Thanks
Dale
my 14 and11 year old boys 22
and 19 now want to drive but have to be 25 before insurance will allow. Finally on the road
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Hellfire
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| posted on 26/1/06 at 08:29 PM |
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Just face facts and accept that these type of cars are not safe.
Once you've accepted this, you can put your fuel tank wherever you like. 
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Mark18
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| posted on 26/1/06 at 09:03 PM |
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I stuck mine up front between the wheels. It's as far away from the passengers as you can get and in a far stronger part of the chassis. And I
have a massive boot.
Mark
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 26/1/06 at 09:38 PM |
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Mine has composite protection.
Sounds really posh, but it is only a bit of 19mm marine ply bonded to the rear face of the tank. The ply is not really strong, neither is the 1.2mm
steel of the tank, but bonded together is a totally different matter.
The rear bars of my roll bar also protect the tank as the are welded to the base of the rear panel and not the top.
Hellfire is right about the intrinsic passive safety of these cars, but the active safety is street above most normal cars.
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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dnmalc
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| posted on 26/1/06 at 10:24 PM |
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Browser
I'm with you on this and it gives the option of puting the spare wheel in the boot as well.
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quadra
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| posted on 26/1/06 at 10:42 PM |
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Dax motorbike engined rushes have the petrol tank located underneath the scuttle and around the proshaft, just hope the proshaft doesn't
break.
Mike
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locost_bryan
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| posted on 26/1/06 at 11:34 PM |
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Rear end collisions are by far the most common, and the ones you can do the least to avoid.
I am going to have my tank behind the seats, in front of the axle. Two tanks actually, either side of the driveshaft. Filled with foam.
I also plan to have the rollbar strut brace attached in such a way that it will give some rear end protection - take the roll hoop right down to the
floor, and triangulated back up to the strut brace.
Bryan Miller
Auckland NZ
Bruce McLaren - "Where's my F1 car?"
John Cooper - "In that rack of tubes, son"
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02GF74
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| posted on 27/1/06 at 08:37 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by locost_bryan
Rear end collisions are by far the most common, and the ones you can do the least to avoid.
err surely for there to be a rear end collison, there has to be a front end collision? unless they aqre all reversing accidents? And since much more
driving is done forwatrds than backwards and at higher speeds, front end collisions have got to surelyt be most common?? 
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stevebubs
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| posted on 27/1/06 at 09:24 AM |
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I think this is where the MGF also has its tank...
quote:
Originally posted by Jon Ison
The best bet would be a "bag tank" foam filled ones would still leak if split, I will be all but sitting on mine when its made it will go
in between engine and rear bulkhead, when banger racing we always had the tank fastened too the roll cage about a foot away from the seat, allegedly
the best/safest place for it as theory said it wouldn't get hit there.
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