This is just a general question. No reason to ask except I read about GT40s and that they have them.

What are the benefits, reasons for them? Is it safety, impact protection...

thanks

Ewan.

P.S. I love the idea of a Locost GT40...that's got me thinking.....need to finish the locost first though 2008 maybe.

I thought it was about stopping surging..

yeah, i would second that, not entirely sure but thought it was an alternative to baffles?

for safety also - take all the available space for oxygen and flame spread , and itl stop most fires , unless you break a union off where it can leak out .

I don't understand these.

Does the foam absorb the fuel?

it doesnt absorb fuel , it replces the empty cavity of the tank with a microstructure , which is effective against surge and flame propagation .

I've heard they take an age to fill-up, tho'. We were considering one on the LMP but had a re-think because of this very issue. Still undecided on which route to go for production, as we've never had problems with the standard tank (no foam).

It's also difficult to fill the volume completely due to the sender (and pump if it's an in-tank one) being in the way and having to operate properly.

on the darrian , we had small tubes down the middle that allowed us to use a dipstick .

another idea , is to put a tube round the sender unit (this should be in the middle of the tank ) and the foam balls then cant interfere with the sender unit

You can buy very low density foam for this purpose, you can practically see through sections about 100mm thick .
My father used it in his race car tank, there never seemed to be a problem filling, then again it was filled from a jerry can rather then a pump.

Andy

[Edited on 9/12/04 by andylancaster3000]

I have got a foam filled tank, no sender, I use a dip stick, (hole cut down the middle). Fill her up at the local garage, no problems at all.

fozzie

Another problem with these can be once the foam starts to brak up it clogs up all sorts of filters and pumps .

Iv'e got a tank in a tank on the GT, the btm as a capacity of 2 galls for racing or general track use, the top just has a baffle so i can fill up for road use, the btm is foam filled.