fuel cell info?

[MyCreation68]

just wondering how everyone likes their fuel cell? I'm thinking of installing one seeing as a new stock style tank is more then putting a cell anyways. I was thinking I could also get rid of my gas cap on the driver side having this I think that would make it look alot better.

[Capt Jack]

I decided against it because I didnt want to have to firewall my trunk and I dont relish the idea of the fuel tank in the car with me without one in case someone rearends the car

but thats just me

[4spdfury]

you acn still put a rear fire wall in the car and keep the back seat. as far as being rear ended your chances of having an issue are the same.

[smitty72]

the rear fire wall is not really a problem, just make one that fits wheere the rear devider went and then fab up one to fit under the rear pachage tray.

[sunsetdart]

IF you're going to take the car to the track, you MUST have a firewall between the drivers compartment and trunk area. If it is steel it must be no less then .090 (I think) and if it's alminum, 025. Check the rule book to make sure.

[Capt Jack]

I do believe those specs are reversed (alum has to be thicker than the steel version) but otherwise correct. 

my back seat is one of the pass through ones found on some dusters.  you know, where the back seat folds down and theres a wooden door behind that into the trunk.  I like having that there as a little extra storage compartment.  usually for the car cover and eventually for some stereo amps and boomers.

the area that bothered me most about firewalling was on each side panel in the back.  its a straight shot from the trunk, around the outside of the wheel tub to the open areas under the rear side windows (I have those hinged tip out windows instead of roll downs).  the only thing acting as a barrier there is the interior panel and speaker grill.  I couldnt really figure out a way to fully wall that off easily without making the trunk a huge sheet metal tub.

as far as the rear end collision and cell vs tank.  my thinking is at least if the tank ruptures outside and underneath the car I wont have a wall of burning fuel from the trunk inside the car with me before I can bail out.

yeah, fire scares me shitless.  I'd prefer to avoid it whenever possible

[b569rr]

I put a 20 gallon in and welded a theoretically "bubble tight" firewall in and can still use the back seat. Just utilized the factory braces.



I boxed in the seat belt mounts. Still have to do the package tray after I stick the roll bar tubes through it.

[Capt Jack]

cool.  however that'd do away with my pass through which is what I wanted to avoid.  I think they were called a 'Space Duster' in 73.  I'd like to retain that feature, so I think Im SOL for a cell in mine if I try to retain that.

There were four Valiants in 1973: the mini-muscle Duster 340, slant-six or 318-powered Duster, Valiant sedan, and Scamp hardtop (essentially a Dart Swinger).

In addition to the returning Twister and Gold Duster were the new Space Duster and the Special Coupe packages. The Space Duster revived the old Barracuda concept of a folding rear seat and fully carpeted trunk and cargo space that could extend to 6.5 feet. A sliding sun roof was optionally available for the car. The Special Coupe was intended to be a luxury Duster. Pleated vinyl seats, a full vinyl roof and vinyl-insert side trim enhanced the upscale package which also included the Spacemaker Pak created for the Space Duster.

source http://www.allpar.com/history/plymouth/1973.html

[kowski71400]

b569rr. that looks great. i was using allum. to do mine. but after seeing yours, i may change my approach. when your welding stuff like that, do you use a 1000 little tacks? or is it one continues beed? i really wish i could weld like that. and to answer the q. at hand. i mounted a 20 gal. allum. cell from jegs, and i really like it. one of these days i need to figure out how to resize my pix and post them.

[b569rr]

b569rr. that looks great. i was using allum. to do mine. but after seeing yours, i may change my approach. when your welding stuff like that, do you use a 1000 little tacks? or is it one continues beed? i really wish i could weld like that. and to answer the q. at hand. i mounted a 20 gal. allum. cell from jegs, and i really like it. one of these days i need to figure out how to resize my pix and post them.

Thanks. I tacked it every 2 inches. I went way overboard with 16 gauge but it is a beefy structural member now. And the seat belts are on the passemger side of the firewall.

I also have the 20 gallon cell from summit.

[jacks62440]

Not trying to Hi-Jack your thread . But How Air Tight does the FireWall need to be

[Capt Jack]

my recommendation:  think in terms of a fuel tank explosion in your trunk...

 


how badly do you want to keep it out of the passenger area?

[b569rr]

What I did is probably unnecessary for tech inspection, but driving in the big city with idiots, I'd like to keep the fuel away from me and family.

[thebankerstoy]

Here's a REALLY nice and REALLY safe fuel cell that is accepted by most drag racing and road racing groups. The only problem is that it's NOT cheap. I don't have their web site handy, but it won't be hard to find. It sits down in the spare tire well, so it doesn't take up as much room as the other type fuel cells do.

Richard

[loiq]

I put a 20 gallon in and welded a theoretically "bubble tight" firewall in and can still use the back seat. Just utilized the factory braces.



I boxed in the seat belt mounts. Still have to do the package tray after I stick the roll bar tubes through it.

That's going to help stiffen up the car too. Looks great.

[Capt Jack]

Here's a REALLY nice and REALLY safe fuel cell that is accepted by most drag racing and road racing groups. The only problem is that it's NOT cheap. I don't have their web site handy, but it won't be hard to find. It sits down in the spare tire well, so it doesn't take up as much room as the other type fuel cells do.

Richard

I looked very seriously at some of those.  cant deny theyre definitely good stuff and would lend themselves well to a street based ride, but still...its inside the car and would still require a solid firewall.  "unlikely to blow open" sadly doesnt mean impossible.  not that a fire under the car is any more desireable, but having it inside still bothers me.

http://www.fuelsafe.com/index.htm  Fuel Safe Homepage