Simon
|
| posted on 28/1/04 at 02:33 PM |
|
|
Fuel tank mounting
So I don't hijack richyo's thread!
Does the tank have to be mounted on rubber with straps?
The reason I ask, is I'm about to make mine, but was going to weld on brackets to bolt directly to the chassis.
Tank will be 16swg mild steel sheet, but around lower perimeter will be 1" angle iron (forming part of tank).
I'm sure (though could be wrong) that most production car tanks are bolted straight in.
Any comments much appreesh.
ATB
Simon
|
|
|
|
|
stephen_gusterson
|
| posted on 28/1/04 at 03:40 PM |
|
|
I welded mounting tabs to my tank originally.
then I thought (as is my pessimistic want) - what happens in a crash.......
tank gets torn from tabs, tabs tear hole, petrol falls out, survivable accident becomes non survivable fireball.
So, I got two bits of angle iron. Mounted them transversely across the car, and dropped the tank into them, once that had some foam strip in em. Kinda
like a mounting tray.
Then, I got some 25mm steel strip, made up some C shaped clamp strips, and used them to bolt down, again with foam under, the tank to the angle
irons.
Admittedly, the granda donor tank was bolted, but I have also seen lots of other cars with strap arrangements.
Added hours of messing around - but feel safer for it.
atb
steve
Have pics of what I did at home if needed
|
|
|
DaveFJ
|
| posted on 28/1/04 at 04:04 PM |
|
|
just to add my penny worth ...... my sierra donor had the tank held in by a strap
I would have thought that If the tank is held to rigidly (ie welded) to brackets bolted to the chassis, you could run the risk of cracks forming - not
good in a fuel tank
Or maybe everyone else disagrees? - they usually do 
Dave
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
|
|
|
JoelP
|
| posted on 28/1/04 at 04:14 PM |
|
|
against popular advice, i ordered a tiny plastic tank off ebay, so i'm just gonna bungee it in. not too fussed about a 150 mile range cos the
tank was only 22 quid!
cheap and not too cheerful!
|
|
|
jonti
|
| posted on 28/1/04 at 04:28 PM |
|
|
The tank should ideally be flexi mounted to prevent vibration cracks. Even when tanks are 'bolted in' there's usually a rubber
grommet round the bolts.
If you look at me pikkie on the other thread, my arrangements is identical to what Mr Gusto describes and it seems to work well....I've also
mounted mine away from the back panel not in the usual place to minimise the effect if I get rear ended (ooh er missus !)
Anyway' if you do want any rubber strip I've got miles of it (well about 20mtrs anyway) yours for the price of the postage or whatever
[Edited on 28/1/04 by jonti]
OFROK
|
|
|
The One
|
| posted on 28/1/04 at 07:31 PM |
|
|
I started life as a HGV fitter and all fuel tanks where then strapped with rubber in between (tanks strapped without would rub a hole in surprisingly
quick !!)
All other fixed tanks, just as oil etc always suffered stress cracks from vibration.
In kit car's however we don't do thousands of hours and with modern plastics who knows ?
(My car has a PTM tank strapped and rubbered)
|
|
|
200mph
|
| posted on 28/1/04 at 08:55 PM |
|
|
What about using Sikaflex or similar?
This would give vibration damping a well as sticking your tank in its place?
|
|
|
Simon
|
| posted on 29/1/04 at 02:27 PM |
|
|
Cheers Chaps,
Looks like it'll be mounted with straps!
The "Q" now, is what gauge steel have you used. 20swg of thi(nn)cker?
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 29/1/04 by Simon]
|
|
|
DaveFJ
|
| posted on 29/1/04 at 02:30 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by 9904169
What about using Sikaflex or similar?
This would give vibration damping a well as sticking your tank in its place?
Maybe I'm mis-interpreting your post but I don't think you would pass SVA with a fuel tank 'glued' in using sikaflex... I
think the SVA man would want to see it securely fastened. IMHO
Dave
Dave
"In Support of Help the Heroes" - Always
|
|
|
jonti
|
| posted on 29/1/04 at 03:12 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Simon
The "Q" now, is what gauge steel have you used. 20swg of thi(nn)cker?
[Edited on 29/1/04 by Simon]
I used 18g Stainless but 20g would probably be ok
OFROK
|
|
|
Dale
|
| posted on 29/1/04 at 03:52 PM |
|
|
Production fuel tanks are isolated from the chassis through some form of anti-vibration material. I work at the Ford Crownvictory assembly plant in
Canada and given all the bad publicity we have had on fuel tanks/fires, you wont find a solid bolted in tank anywhere as far as I know of.
Dale
|
|
|
Simon
|
| posted on 30/1/04 at 10:17 AM |
|
|
Cheers Jonti,
ATB
Simon
|
|
|
stephen_gusterson
|
| posted on 30/1/04 at 10:23 AM |
|
|
I had my tank tig welded by a professional, and it was welded along the edges of seams - ie not butt welds, but basically the edges of two surfaces
placed together.
It was done in 1mm stainless
atb
steve
[Edited on 30/1/04 by stephen_gusterson]
|
|
|
Simon
|
| posted on 30/1/04 at 11:41 AM |
|
|
Steve,
I may make mine from stainless, trouble is material cost
Stainless is a great material to tig. More like bronze welding - no splatter, just smooth easy welds.
Probably end up with mild though!
ATB
Simon
|
|
|
jonti
|
| posted on 30/1/04 at 11:46 AM |
|
|
Note: Straps only made from Stainless
Tank is ally......bought it £40 second hand from last years Stafford show
There's a bod on here somewhere makes 'em to order new for a similar price though
Have a trawl
[Edited on 30/1/04 by jonti]
OFROK
|
|
|
Northy
|
| posted on 30/1/04 at 06:34 PM |
|
|
My tank is strapped in with 25mm wide, 3mm thick Ali straps. Can anyone see a problem with this?
Cheers
Graham
Website under construction. Help greatfully received as I don't really know what I'm doing! 
"If a man says something in the woods and there are no women there, is he still wrong?"
Built 2L 8 Valve Vx Powered Avon
|
|
|
stephen_gusterson
|
| posted on 30/1/04 at 06:54 PM |
|
|
Mine was custom made and free
about only damn thing that was
atb
steve
quote:
Originally posted by Simon
Steve,
I may make mine from stainless, trouble is material cost
Stainless is a great material to tig. More like bronze welding - no splatter, just smooth easy welds.
Probably end up with mild though!
ATB
Simon
|
|
|
