Fuel Cells

[nickmpower]

How many people have done fuel cells? Seems like hardly any from what I can find.

Here's one I found. The tank size is pretty small at 10 gallons, especially since I'm thinking about a v8. And I don't like the welded on filler sticking way out. What I do like though is that the tank doesn't stick out past the rear sub-frame, so would be less venerable in a crash, probably worth the sacrifice in capacity. 



Something I was thinking of doing, is welding some additional structure around the tank, and actually chopping of the part of the chassis that sticks out past the subframe, then using that space to add a crush structure with smaller tubing, something that would have some give if rear ended.

Here is something similar to what I'm talking about on the palatov d2, before and after a crash. 37mph backwards into a tire wall and no chassis damage. There isn't room in the exocet to have something with this much depth though unfortunately:


Here is a video of the crash




Anyone else do something similar? The downside of a fuel cell is the bladder should be replaced every 5-7 years, at a cost of around $500 

[papabear]

Not what your looking for.

[nickmpower]

Technically that's a "fuel tank" in that there's no liner. Is there a pickup on the bottom or is that it at the front? If it's at the front I think should should consider moving it to the rear, or getting holly hydromat, as the fuel starvation might be terrible otherwise.

[papabear]

Yep that is technically a fuel tank. Please disreguard.

[beardy]

Fuel cell is mandated for certain forms of competition, but I am not sure its the best solution for a road car where the concerns are a little different...

I just uploaded some photos on my build thread "A streetcar named Brocoli".
I have ordered a foam filled 8 gallon circle track from Jaz with a fuel sender. Tanks is poly 20"x15"x7.5". I will need to lift the 8" long fuel sender up a little off the bottom of the tank. I am planning to do this with a spacer that looks like a `thick washer'
Tank is protected by cage assembly. it's not yet fully welded up, but the pictures give the general approach.  A proper fuel cell with  a 20gauge steel tank and rubber bladder is not likely to survive a rear end shunt with an SUV: The only structure is the tube that bolts to the subframe. This is too low and anything other than another car could easily ride over this and just crunch into the tank on the rear deck.
beardy