S13: Fuel cell ???'s

[TurboSE]

I'm need to find a fuel cell for my S13 coupe. My plans are to mount it in the spare tire well. 5-7gal cell (non-daily driver). The car will mainly do street/drag duty. I have a few questions...both for those who have done it, those who are planning on doing it, and those who are just day-dreaming.

-Is there a benefit to plastic vs. aluminum cells?
-Should I get a "sumped" cell?
-How would I go about mounting it in the well, considering the hump where the tire used to be?
-I see 1 vent, 2 vent and NO vent cells, which is best?


Last, but not least, does anyone have any other recommendations on location or types? I plan to put the battery box behind the rear passenger wheel well. The rest of the interior behind the front seats is stripped, so I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any help!

PS - Anyone with pics of their set-up, or other S13 set-ups would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to email or post them here! [email protected]

[TurboSE]

I think I've figured out how I'm going to install the cell.

I'm going to "pie-cut" the hump in the well, then "massage" it flat. I'll trim the excess as I go so it can all be welded flat. I think this should retain some of the original strength. I will also add som reinforcement under the well, between the frame rails.

Opinions?

[WhiteGLX]

explain pie cut?

there are plenty of designs for fuel cells out there, they dont have to be 240 specific, just applied to our chassis.

cut out the spare tire well...weld in a small frame inplace that ties into the frame under that area. Lay the fuel cell into that little cradle. and hook up the appripriet lines. The stock fuel tank is more than enough, there is no need for a fancy fuel cell tho. There is no starvation even at 1/4 and hard cornering, and the offered pumps are more than enough for a high HP application.

[scottie]

I have been doing some research on this as well. Check out what Enjuku did for their drift car:

http://tunerzine.com/newsitem1.php?id=3


PLASTIC vs. ALUMINUM

I have been going back and forth on this one. I will most likely go with the Plastic type for some reasons:

1) Price
2) Lighter
3) No need to paint it
4) Flexes so it can absorb hard impacts

FOAM INSERTS

1) It further resists explosion by providing another barrier to puncture
2) Prevents fuel from sloshing in the tank by absorbing quick movements
3) Eliminates or lowers the amount of gasoline vapors that can disperse in the air

I am going to cut the spare tire holder in my trunk and grind it flat. Than if needed, i will knotch the body to accept the "square" body of the fuel cell. Then i will weld on tabs to accept the fuel tank brackets that surround the cell from summitracing to attach firmly to the chassis. Also, its a good idea to run a ground from the fuel cell metal cap to the chassis for a ground to prevent static build up that can cause fires.

SUMP vs TOP FEED (Circle Track) FUEL CELLS

I am going with the SUMP style. I am going this route because my car will be mostly street/strip. I will do some drift events but since the gas is taken from the bottom of the tank, there will always be some there. Plus with the foam insert, it will further keep the fuel where it needs to be. Also, you mentioned the vented vs. non-vented. I like the vented because:
1) Vent helps equalize the pressure in the tank to make sure you dont get air in the supply
2) Circle Track (non-vented) fuel cells are designed for non-return style fuel setups
3) Sump style fuel cells have (2) feed lines at the bottom so you can run (2) pumps if needed or converge both into (1) single line to the pump.

This is just some information gathered from local circle track and nhra drag guys. Each person i question told me that you cant go wrong with the sump. Also remember that the pickup for the Circle Track cells is in the back/right corner so you MUST have foam in order to keep the fuel from going to the left side of the tank when cornering hard. Hope this helps.


Scott

[DJPimpFlex]

I am also researching this. My new car needs a fuel cell because the bracketry is alread there. Heres a pic.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/DJPimpFlex/New%20Car/240sx524.jpg

I dont have a cell yet, thats an old pic. I'm going with an aluminum cell because it hands bellow the car unprotected, so I dont want it to be easily punctured. I'm also going with a vented cell for the same reasons as above.

[the head]

Didn't Luke (blu808) post a thread on his fuel cell install a while back? search for that and it may help out with the mounting stuff.

Warining to the guy that thought the plastic would flex...that stuff is brittle as hell if you get hit that housing is going to crack not flex

[g6civcx]

I'm in the same boat as well. Right now my choice is the ATL 8-gallon aluminium cell.

My tank is rusting through. Plus I want a smaller cell since I don't want to carry that much fuel. It will cost the same as getting my old tank fixed and treated so I'd rather have a cell for extra safety.

[DJPimpFlex]

so I have a question about fuel pumps. Which one? What max psi and flow rate would be good? Also what size lines to run and how to run them. I'm sure it will be pretty easy but just wondering what you guys throught.

[DP_Michelle G]

i'm thinking of using one from bbk. it's for the fox body ford it's the best one for the price and it's easy to mount

[TurboSE]

WhiteGLX: By "pie-cut", I meant to cut the hump (the little one, not the whole well) similar to the way you'd cut a pizza. I understand that the OEM tank and Walbro are plenty, but the cell is mainly for weight savings.

scottie: I'm going w/ aluminum, sumped, foamed, 2 vents. Enjuku's set-up is hot. Thanks for the ideas.

DJPimpFlex: You pics (from your FS post) made me decide to go with a cell. Please, keep us posted on your progress.

DJPimpFlex: I'm using an Aeromotive A1000.

DP_Michelle G: Can you post a link to the Fox-body cell?

[DP_Michelle G]

^^ it's not a cell i was talking about the fuel pump. as for a cell i'm going to get one from fuel safe are one from summit.

[DJPimpFlex]

correct me if I'm wrong, but isnt the aeromotive a1000 a FPR?

http://www.autocarparts.com/part/list/1462/

I just did a quick search. The aeromotive pumps look FUCKIN AWSOME, but maybe a bit over kill and also very expensive. I was looking into this one:

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HLY%2D12%2D920&N=700+4294836965+4294891680+4294891681+115&autoview=sku

its pushing 100PSI max which should be PLENTY, and its flowing about 67gph, which is 255lph, same as my walbro I have now, so it should be sufficient, any oppinions?

[TurboSE]

I think A1000 is a product line...pumps, AFPRs and even filters. search Aeromotive A1000 on eBay to see what I mean. I like the price of that Holley, but man is it ugly...lol

[DJPimpFlex]

I think A1000 is a product line...pumps, AFPRs and even filters. search Aeromotive A1000 on eBay to see what I mean. I like the price of that Holley, but man is it ugly...lol

yea well I dont plan on mounting it anywhere that I can see it, and its cheep. The aeromotive fuel pumps do look hot, and perform outstanding, but its just so much damn money!

[TurboSE]

you won't see mine either, I was just joking...but...the thing I like about the Aeromotive over the Holley (I know this is petty) is the screw in -AN fittings vs. the hose barb fittings. Also, the fact that the Holley should be mounted below the cell for proper gravity feed. The A1000 can be mounted anywhere. I know it's $120 more, but I think I'm gonna go with the Aeromotive.

[DJPimpFlex]

^shit really, I didnt know that about the mounting, I think its ok though cause I'ma mount it to the frame rail I think.

[TurboSE]

^shit really, I didnt know that about the mounting, I think its ok though cause I'ma mount it to the frame rail I think.

I was thinking of mounting it where the metal from the trunk meets the metal from the taillight panel.