I have just received my Sylva J15 kit - petrol tank. That was always my intention as I hoped to make more room in the passenger footwell with a new design. It turns out if you make a retangular tank 250 x 410 x 310 and cut a trangular lump out of it for extra leg room you only loose 0.4 gallons of range.

The Idea is the filler is now external to the bonnet requireing something like the JJC Alloy Fuel Tank Splash Bowl
see: http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/fuel-filler-caps/jjc-alloy-fuel-tank-splash-bowl

Assuming I

1) put edging around the bonet over the tank filler recess

2) Put a radius around the tank filler plug

Would it pass IVA inspection/approval?

could you make the picture a bit bigger please..........

[Edited on 6/3/12 by snakebelly]

Best to give the manual a read:

I found

10. The fuel tank must be positioned so that in the event of a leak the fuel could
not accumulate or find a path to the passenger compartment. (if fitted in a
compartment there must be a drain which does not exit onto a heat source)

11. A Fuel Tank must not be located in, or form part of the passenger
compartment, or other compartment integral with it and the bulkhead that
separate the passengers from the fuel tank must be free from holes through
which any escaped fuel could travel.

Hi
Im leaving mine as it is if you make the passenger too comfortable your gonna have loads of kgs of ballast slowing you down !!!!
and probably earache at the same time although no roof also helps in that department you can pretend you cant hear them and then after an hour of trying to shout above the wind noise they lose they voice !!

Did you have a good day on Sunday ?

Nick M

It wont be just the tank shape that needs to be modified but also the paneling for the bulkhead too, so to maintain the extra space created, the bulkhead would need to follow the new shape. So plan ahead carefully with regard this.

See: http://youtu.be/r_IwNYjZRhU

I agreee about all the issues raised, I am determined to improve the passenger space. I wouln't get any of my pals to share the J15 experiance with the standard tank. The proposal is not right, I will however find one that is eventually.

You could gain simply make a "thinner" standard tank and gain, say 100mm at the expense of fuel capacity?
Or there may be some chance behind the passenger seat, I will have a look at weekend when I am next in the garage to see what space there is.

Did you have a passenger in Jeremys J15? I did, my 6 foot 3inch friend and he was ok, legs bent a little obviously.

Taking into account the comments above, which were thought provoking, I have another try at a custom tank.

http://locostbuilders.co.uk/upload/Tank No 2 mockup.jpg

It gives me an extra 3-4 inches legroom with a capacity of about 4 - 5 gallons.

It requires a sealed tray on the bulkhead to direct any spilt/leaking fuel to the ground.

BIG ASK

Can someone measure between the chassis rail lower to the point nearest the bulkhead at the bottom of a closed bonnet/hood.

quote:

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Originally posted by theprisioner


Can someone measure between the chassis rail lower to the point nearest the bulkhead at the bottom of a closed bonnet/hood.

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d1 and d2 is what I need right now?

Ok, from your sketch D1 = 455 and D2 = 485, approx as it is difficult to get in with a tape/rule.

In case it is any use the Sylva tank is 400 tall + 50 to very top of filler cap, the cap being nearer D2.

The may a chance a fule tank could be located behind the passenger seat, with some carefull planning of where water, fuel & clutch pipes go.
I have my battery in this area along with ECU and wiring loom etc but I dont see why you couldnt make room for
a reasonable size tank. I have attched some photos from earlier in my build to give you an idea of the space.
Hope this helps




[Edited on 11/3/12 by monkeyarms]

Thanks for the meautements, this single act has convinced me I am on the right track with the change in shape of the front tank. AllI have to do now is satify the IVA that no fuel can enter the passenger footwell. I think I have a mechanical startegy here that can solve that issue using a sacrificial tray below the tank.

Anyway further to your comments about the battery and the fuse box I would welcoime some more pics of your build in that direction please?

Hi Guys,

my J15 tank is behind the drivers seat. I holds just under 5 gallons, uses the fiesta fuel pump, is baffelled, sumped and vented and will fill from the outside of the main body tub. I re-routed the gear linkage slightly, with JP's blessing and have re-routed some of the coolant pipes.

There is room to work on the suspension components, and remove the oil filter easily.

Brake pipes were considered very early on, and are routed high up.

It was made by Glynn at Allyfab in Cheterfield, cost £220 all up and seems to satisfy all the IVA requirements. I have a bulkhead between the tank and the engine, even though it says nothing about needing one. It is sealed from the passenger compartment and cannot be filled from inside the engine bay.

If someone explains how, i will post some photos, some of which, some of you may have already seen.

Paul

Think i've worked it out





Hopefully when i look,the picture will be there!!

No it isn't!!

They're in my photo archive anyway!

Paul

Hi,
My "inverted L" is being made by Bryn as we speak, I will post pictures when it retuurns, great guy Bryn. I didn't go your route as I wanted to keep to the original tank position but gain extra leg room. I don't think there is anything wrong with your approach I just "did it my way". I hope we both get through the rabbit warren of the IVA.

J15 fuel tank

J15 fuel tank

J15 fuel tank

J15 Fuel tank

J15 fuel tank

Thanks Matt,

One day I aspire to such skills .............. for now i'll rely on people smarter than me

Paul

And I get the extra passenger leg room with 5.8 gals of capacity