hpfiend Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Hey all- We have a car we bought that has an aluminum 8 gallon fuel cell in it. It doesn't have a gas gauge and when we asked the seller about that he came up with a pointed stick! He pokes it into this yellowish foam inside the tank until it touches the bottom and that is the gas gauge. My questions are: What is the foam for? Is the puncturing of it with the sharp stick a bad thing? How would you replace it or how did they get it in there in the first place? Also this is a hatchback car- what other requirements are there if any to having this in there without a rear firewall? Thanks in advance! Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Hey all- We have a car we bought that has an aluminum 8 gallon fuel cell in it. It doesn't have a gas gauge and when we asked the seller about that he came up with a pointed stick! He pokes it into this yellowish foam inside the tank until it touches the bottom and that is the gas gauge. My questions are: What is the foam for? Is the puncturing of it with the sharp stick a bad thing? How would you replace it or how did they get it in there in the first place? Also this is a hatchback car- what other requirements are there if any to having this in there without a rear firewall? Thanks in advance! Andrew At the track you just need a firewall and it be protected/ bolted in place as far as i know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffro Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 foam keeps the fuel from sloshing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fubar231 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 foam keeps the fuel from sloshing. Also believe it prevents cutting out / sputtering if your low on fuel and it all slosh's to the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpfiend Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 thanks guys - that makes sense! So I def need a rear firewall? that is going to take some figuring- the rear seat wont count will it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE-O Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 thanks guys - that makes sense! So I def need a rear firewall? that is going to take some figuring- the rear seat wont count will it? NOT 100 PERCENT SURE I know at trails about three years ago before they started getting hardcore on the safety stuff the rear seat was ok but IDK now. Yu might have to put in a wall behinde the seat. something you could check or maybe call them about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ansonivan Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Poking the foam* will likely lead to it breaking down and eventually plugging the fuel filter. *new favorite phrase Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAWDAD Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 here is how my hatch back was setup. Never had a problem with tech. fuel cell mounted in the spare tire area. Battery box on the right side. I used a paint stick to check the fuel. Wrote on the stick with lines 1/4 - 1/2 - 3/4 and FULL. She sponge never broke down or started falling apart. http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc84/croz98gt/89mustangfuelcellbatterybox.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trouble Maker Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Do you think the only fucked up shade tree thing that meth head did to that car was poke the foam? I'd run away laughing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboNova Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 you need to have a certain thickness shield over the sump as well if it protrudes into the open underneath the car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Do you think the only fucked up shade tree thing that meth head did to that car was poke the foam? I'd run away laughing. some cells are sold with a dip stick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpfiend Posted July 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 here is how my hatch back was setup. Never had a problem with tech. fuel cell mounted in the spare tire area. Battery box on the right side. I used a paint stick to check the fuel. Wrote on the stick with lines 1/4 - 1/2 - 3/4 and FULL. She sponge never broke down or started falling apart. http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc84/croz98gt/89mustangfuelcellbatterybox.jpg That's almost exactly how mine is setup(without the cage for now)! So the extra bar on that roll cage served as enough of a barrier? Great! I could even weld some sheet metal in that triangular area- do you have any more pictures of that cage it looks like a unique setup... The sump does protrude into the bottom of the car and the PO did some hack sheet metal work underneath it to cover it- I was going to redo it anyway- any idea what gauge? I am glad you joined this thread AJ as I think I remember you mentioning something about a fuell level sender for the cell in yours? Thanks all for the great info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 there isn't one in mine yet. it will be an electric tube style with no moving parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mk3supra Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 What is the foam for? Is the puncturing of it with the sharp stick a bad thing? How would you replace it or how did they get it in there in the first place? Also this is a hatchback car- what other requirements are there if any to having this in there without a rear firewall? 1 - stops fuel from sloshing.. helps prevent explosions etc a lot of websites have random info on the pros of it (mainly suppliers of course) 2 - i would follow the advice of a smooth painter stick instead of a sharp stick 3 - I have heard/read you normally replace it every 3-5 years but I've seen people who have never replaced it with no problems and others who say it deteriorates after a year or so 4 - I would think you would need to build a fire wall.. but how crawdad did his i think is pretty decent.. it looks like a fair bit of metal separating the cockpit from fuel.. and of course i'd make sure its vented properly.. just look up the sanctioning body of whatever you'll be racing in and see what the rule says pertaining to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 3 - I have heard/read you normally replace it every 3-5 years but I've seen people who have never replaced it with no problems and others who say it deteriorates after a year or so thats mostly with E85. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 My buddy has foam in his to help limit the amount of fuel in the tank and as stated keep it from sloshing to the rear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboGoKart Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Firewall basically means some sheet metal surrounding the cell itself. Exactly what Crawdad did. I have a fuel level sender in mine. You can buy cells with them pre-installed. It's just a big ohm meter basically. Find the two wires used on your stock wiring for the fuel level sender, and attach them to the two nipples on the sender on the cell. If your cell is full, and your gauge is reading empty, switch the wires on the sender. Foam helps sloshing/fuel starvation during launching or cornering. $13-14 per 18x6x3" section at JEGS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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