I'm getting ready to get my first cell, and have a couple of questions that don't seem to be answered by any of the other 60 some odd posts on here...

What size cell are you guys using- on average?
Are most of you using a sump tank as well?
Did you notice a major improvement in balance/handling of the car?

TIA!!

 

I have a Fuel Safe 10 gallon that is their rectangular version. I installed a surge tank inside with ballcock style slosh valves and placed an in-tank electric fuel upmp in it with the fuel return line from the engine dropping back inside it. Car hasn't run yet.

 

Lee, how did you mount the cell? Did you remove the stock tank, cut out the floor of the car, etc. Or did you just bolt it to the floorboard?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Lee, how did you mount the cell? Did you remove the stock tank, cut out the floor of the car, etc. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes,
I removed the old tank and cut a hole in the floor then had a steel box bottom and sides welded in that reached down to about the same depth as the stock tank was. The cell box sits in the new floor box and is bolted in with straps. I can send you pics if you like, I had them posted before but think they expired.

 

Lee, could you post the pics up here?

Thanks!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Car hasn't run yet.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmmm. Maybe not the best source of advice?

(Just joking, I'm sure Lee knows what he's doing)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Crack Monkey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hmmm. Maybe not the best source of advice?

(Just joking, I'm sure Lee knows what he's doing)</TD></TR></TABLE>

For some reason the car just doesn't seem to want to start, almost seems like a fuel starvation problem.

Actually it hasn't run because the wiring is not done and the electrons don't know where to go. Hopefully I did a decent job and as with most things I do, I researched it pretty damned heavily. I have the pics at home and should be able to post them tonight.

 

Anybody have any info on using fuel cells on the street...I'd like to pull my stock tank out and replace it with a smaller fuel cell...BTW I'm in Cali

 

Here is my cell. Once the wiring and plumbing are run then I'll have to build the SCCA required metal bulkhead to isolate it from the driver's compartment.

From the rear:


From the passenger window:

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by seppuku &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Anybody have any info on using fuel cells on the street...I'd like to pull my stock tank out and replace it with a smaller fuel cell...BTW I'm in Cali</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can't even remotely think of why you'd do this for the street. If you want a smaller capacity for less weight, don't fill your stock tank. The stock tanks are reliable, readily available if it does need replacing, and in a very safe place. I only did it because the racing rules required it. There will be no performance advantage, it will screw up your interior, make fuelling very difficultn and potentially messy and cost $500-$1000. Beyond that, go for it.

 

The reason is, that I want to run a custom exhaust...I've calculated that if I move my fuel tank inside, that it will allow me to run an exhaust straight out from the header with no bends and will keep anything from hanging out from under the car.

I also would like to be able to refuel from the stock location by running a new fill pipe. Maintaining the interior look is not important to me.

 

If you're in Cali I doubt this will pass inspection.
Wouldn't that be a bummer! LOL!

Seriously, I don't see the value just for an exhaust.

Lee -- Why didn't you put that in the spare tire well area (even modifying the tire area to fit the fuel cell)?

 

Maybe an obvious question, but Lee, how are you going to fill that thing? Climb in the car with a can or are you running a pipe to the side window or trunk or something?

 

Why place the fuel cell so far forward? Could you have it at the extreme back and get better weight balance?


Matt

 

If I'm not mistaken it looks like the fuel cell sits perfectly in the storage bin hole *taking notes*.

 

maybe he wants to keep the weight towards the middle of the car to get faster rotation (similar to mid-engined cars), smaller moment of inertia.
That is, btw, what Mitch Piper seems to do with all his fuel cell installs.

Lee, I noticed you put the accusump right there in the passenger area. Can you reach that valve when you are belted in?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by speedracer33 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why place the fuel cell so far forward? Could you have it at the extreme back and get better weight balance?


Matt</TD></TR></TABLE>

this would also cause the consuption of fuel to have a more drastic effect on the balance.

 

SCCA rules are very specific about how far you can move the cell from the original location. It's not much.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CRX Lee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Here is my cell. Once the wiring and plumbing are run then I'll have to build the SCCA required metal bulkhead to isolate it from the driver's compartment.

From the rear:


From the passenger window:
</TD></TR></TABLE>

nice setup here

 

you could use the accusump for fuel or am i seeing it wrong??

 

no - the accusump is an oil accumulator.

 

thats what i thought

 

Sorry for the delayed response, I'm just back home from SEMA and will respond to several things:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zygspeed &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Lee -- Why didn't you put that in the spare tire well area (even modifying the tire area to fit the fuel cell)?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Several reasons and a few guys already mentioned some of them.

1) I wanted the cell to be within the wheelbase of the car so the effects on balance as the load lightens during racing from burning fuel then it will have less effect on the balance of the car. Farther out back would have had more effect. I am relocating the battery which does not change weight during a session in the trunk well.
2) The rules allow you to move the cell no more than 12 inches from the original tank location but this would have been close to just outside the range. I have seen some CRXs with the cell out back but thought this would be better for my general wants.
3) I think in the center of the car the cell is even more protected from a really big crash than in the trunk as the rear is a cruch zone. The car would nearly have to go up in the air and drop on top of something to get to the cell.

I actually had several prople suggest that I put the cell in the passenger seat area to help offset overall weight balance once the driver is in the car and still within the wheelbase but again using fuel will change your side to side balance. Centered as I did it should have the least balance efect as it burns gas.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DSC240sx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Maybe an obvious question, but Lee, how are you going to fill that thing? Climb in the car with a can or are you running a pipe to the side window or trunk or something?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Since the car is a Prod car and not IT, it is a dedicated spring racer that will not have to be refilled during enduros. My plan is simply to use a long funnel and fill it from the rear between sessions. I'd like to do the nice remote filling tubes but they are really expensive and long funnels are cheap at least while the car is still in the early stages.

Since the car will be able to run HC H1 in addition to SCCA E/F Prod. as was the plan when the cell was onstalled , there is now a chance that I could run an enduro but we'll just deal with that when it arrives as there are other issues involved as well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Lee, I noticed you put the accusump right there in the passenger area. Can you reach that valve when you are belted in? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I can reach the manual Accusump valve while seated just fine but I really need to put my electrical switch panel (ignition, wipers, fan, fuel pump, etc.) in basically the same spot that I can also reach them while belted in. I may just go to one of the electric Accusump valves and move the tank over a little bit but at first was trying to avoid the electric valve cost if not really needed.