Board logo

Spitfire Tank
cjleonard - 17/9/02 at 11:45 AM

First of all - thanks for the previous advice. I decieded to ditch the idea of making my own tank and got a spitfire one at the weekend (£10 incl sender)

So for the guys who have fitted spitfire tanks: How have you fitted it? It has a rim around it so it will not sit flat on the base. I presume the options are: 1 cut this rim off or fold it flat. 2: make up a frame (maybe just an upright coming off the bottom rail) and suspend the tank from this.

cheers Chris

Ian Pearson - 18/9/02 at 09:06 AM

Ian Pearson - 18/9/02 at 09:10 AM

Hi Chris,

I have a couple of photos of my installation. I'll send you some pics. E-mail me your number if you want and I'll talk you thru' what I did.

Regards, Ian

mark_rayfield - 18/9/02 at 09:22 PM

did you get the tank from a scrappies?

The advice would also be appreciated in this direction! I've not got the tank yet, but I'd just like to know if it's a hassle - I can always opt for one of PTM's specials if it is!

cjleonard - 19/9/02 at 08:14 AM

No I got it from a guy I found on the web by putting in spitfire parts in a search engine. I not sure if many end up in normal breakers - see my previous post - someone had one spare. I dont think it will be difficult to fit I just thought I'd see how other people were doing it. One think though I have had to move my panhard rod chassis bracket forward a bit to get it in. Obviously I had it too far back in the first place, but this is where it naturally sat, now there will be a bit of tension on it

Cousin Cleotis - 9/11/02 at 09:24 PM

try these if you are looking for a spitfire tank

http://www.spitfiregraveyard.co.uk/
http://www.spitbitz.co.uk/

stephen_gusterson - 10/11/02 at 02:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mark_rayfield
did you get the tank from a scrappies?

The advice would also be appreciated in this direction! I've not got the tank yet, but I'd just like to know if it's a hassle - I can always opt for one of PTM's specials if it is!



i recon you will only find spitfires bits in specialist breakers.

When I looked around, it was quite hard trying to find anything in a breakers that might fit. Most tanks are a stupid shape made to get the best voulme for the space under the car. Nice simple shaped tanks are hard to find. A mini has a relativly easy tank to remove, but it might be a bit fat for a locost.

atb


steve


btw - my C reg metro had a flat underfloor tank - i wonder if its at all possible to mount it turned so its standing on end - beware - there were at least 2 tanks fitted to metro - im talking of the one with the low filler about 18 ins off the ground in the rear quarter panel



atb


steve




[Edited on 10/11/02 by stephen_gusterson]

chrisg - 10/11/02 at 03:54 PM

I used a Chevette saloon tank, but two words of caution:-

1.This tank is as big as the back of my +4 inch car,so make sure it fits first.

2.Only the tank from the Chevette SALOON fits, NOT the hatchback.

If it fits this is a good tank to use as it's placed(in the Chevette) between the backseats and the boot, i.e. inside the car, not out in the elements and comes out like new. It also has the filler to one side, not in the middle like the spitfire tank, which is easier.

You might still see a Chevette in the scrappies!

Cheers

Chris

david walker - 10/11/02 at 04:17 PM

I have used a Spitfire tank in my car. It's Ok although maybe a little large - encroaches into an already small boot space.

I made up a 25mm square box frame (two sides and a top) welded that to the chassis and mounted the tank to that using the existing holes in the tank flange (about 6 in total).

I got mine from Rimmer Bros in Lincoln, s/hand but as a supplier to them got it for nearly nothing.

If I built another car I'd probably buy a plastic one.

BTW your panhard rod should not be interferring with the tank. The Book position is, I recall, wrong. The Panhard Rod needs to be as far forward as possible without fouling the diff.