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Fuel Tank in fibber glass need help!!
Martin Sports Car - 18/4/04 at 01:00 PM

Hi there,

I plan to make my one fuel tank and plant to make in fibber glass, can someone tell me if it's a good choise???

One more think I'd like to know if to do this tank we need to make with some special resin or we can use the normal one?

Best Regards
Joćo Martins
www.martinsportscar.com


Martin Sports Car - 18/4/04 at 01:01 PM

one more thing anyone knows any website with pictures to take some ideas???


Mk-Ninja - 18/4/04 at 01:07 PM

Im not sure on this but I thought that Glassfibre tanks wont get through the SVA.
Like a say could be wrong. Will await more learned advise.


theconrodkid - 18/4/04 at 01:58 PM

think you will find them illegal,and they could crack if hit by a large heavy object like another car


britishtrident - 18/4/04 at 02:14 PM

GRP tanks were popular in the late 1960s with motorcycle special buliders until a few failed causing fires --- then they were banned pdq.


Mave - 18/4/04 at 02:34 PM

Hmm, why are they prohibited in cars, when they are commonly used in aircraft!?!?!
As for cracking in case of a collision: I think a thin aluminium tank doesn't stand a chance either. Impact-properties of glassfibre are not so bad.

It is important to make sure that the tank is fuel-tight: not all polyester-resins are fuel-resistant for a long time. (most epoxies are). Coating the inside with a special sealant works for aircraft wings.

But: this is all from a technical point. I have no idea if they are SVA-approved.


Martin Sports Car - 18/4/04 at 03:35 PM

Ok I have to use in AL. Thank's

Best Regards
Joćo Martins
www.martinsportscar.com


scutter - 18/4/04 at 07:01 PM

GRP fuel tanks in aircraft

Most aircraft fuel tanks are either integral ie the structure of the aircraft is sealed off and the fuel pumps fitted into the skin, the sealant can be built up to form a self sealing skin as in the fin of a Tornado.

Or flexable bag tanks that are laced to the structure of the aircraft.

Either way if the aircraft makes an unscheduled landing it's gonna be messy.

All the Best Dan.


Mave - 19/4/04 at 03:56 PM

Yep, GRP tanks in wings: I have build some Lancair kit-planes: GRP wings, which act as fuel tanks.

If you talk about crashing, o.k.. But when a bird hits the wing, it has to be o.k. (and believe me, a 3 kg bird-impact at a cruising speed of 400 km/h, is a pretty nasty impact).


britishtrident - 20/4/04 at 07:43 PM

Part of the problem with the motor cycle tanks was the weren't designed -- I think somebody just lifted a mould of a Manx Norton tank and started floging them to Triton builders (Triumph twin engine in Norton feather bed frame hence Triton).

Of course another route to get a light plastic fuel tank is to buy an outboard motor tank.


Mark Allanson - 20/4/04 at 08:10 PM

Of course another route to get a light plastic fuel tank is to buy an outboard motor tank


You would get a crick in your neck trying to read the fuel guage though


britishtrident - 21/4/04 at 12:47 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
Of course another route to get a light plastic fuel tank is to buy an outboard motor tank


You would get a crick in your neck trying to read the fuel guage though


Not if you use tiller steering working on the back wheels


scutter - 21/4/04 at 04:27 PM

Fair call thought the fibreglass wings had bag tanks.

Know far to much about cleaning birds off after impact normally down the intakes of the fast jets.

All the best Dan.


JoelP - 21/4/04 at 06:51 PM

im using a boat fuel tank, 23ltr for 20 odd quid IIRC. no guage at all, i plan on using the miles guage and my eyes!

only anticipated problem is a lack of baffles and no return pipe, and maybe problems with the venting arrangements.

i'll let y'all know after SVA what happens...


Mark18 - 21/4/04 at 07:11 PM

I remember seeing some car with a tank made out of some kind of soft foam a few mm thick. I can't remember what it was, I think it was a Porsche Boxter, in any case it was mid-engined. Figured it would work well in a locost.

Mark


britishtrident - 21/4/04 at 07:19 PM

quote:


snip
only anticipated problem is a lack of baffles and no return pipe, and maybe problems with the venting arrangements.

i'll let y'all know after SVA what happens...


Back in the days of steel outboard tanks they had baffless -- but the bum rusted out of them :-(

The vent and return line problems are easy to solve -- drill a hole for each and use a suitable threaded fitting bulkhead past though the hole by using a loop of welding wire --- I did this on a steel 2 gallon tank using a bolt- in tyre valve fitted with a fibre washer for the pipe fitting.

Some outboard tanks have a gauge fitted in the top but it would be easy to fit a gauge glass made of clear plastic pipe.