Trunk Mounted Fuel Cell vs Stock Tank

A cell should be more rugged than a factory light gauge sheet metal tank in the event of a hit.
Not like plastic or aluminum is going to toss a spark even if they were punctured.

Another note on my setup, the plastic cell in my 77 does not currently have a metal enclosure around it for drag racing, but I did put in some mounting points for one in the future if I go in this direction. Also there is no trap door access in the trunk floor of the Javelin since I converted it to a side fill. The bottom suport frame for the tank has 2 horizonal 1" square tubes with a 3/8 threaded rod in each one. I can remove 2, 3/8" nuts, pull out the threaded rods and remove the whole tank pretty quick if needed. One other note is the foam in my 77 AMX tank has held up great since it was a name brand cell purchased from Summit Racing. I got my cell for the Javelin, new, at the Pomona swap meet. It was a little cheaper but the foam melted and completly ruined my in tank fuel pump assembly. I had to completly discard all the foam from this cell and clean the tank. The newer tank foam was black and must have been made out of a cheaper grade of non fuel resistant plastic.

Most cells come with a pair of aluminum straps to bolt them to the bottom of a frame or down to the trunk floor if reversed. If yours doesn't have the straps, you can get some aluminum flat stock from your local lumber store. If you need to space it up for the sump, you could use 1x1 or even 1x2" stock to shim it up. You need at least 2, 1" wide straps or supports under the cell if it doesn't sit on the floor flat. Personally I would cut a hole in the floor and drop the entire cell as low as possible, but you would need to build a metal box around the bottom. You might not want to cut the floor on an AMX, but that's the car you have so it's your choice. I believe your tank supports must hit a frame member or other structure to be NHRA legal. You might have to add some cross members under the floor to meet this requirement. It would suck to have a fuel cell break loose in a wreck. You will also need a metal firewall in the trunk or behind the rear seat area for the same reason. Even if you don't drag race, a firewall is still a good idea.

Edited by prostreetamx - Nov/18/2010 at 7:01pm

Been doing a lot of research online about legal fuel cell installations. Most people install the cell and fuel pump all in the trunk and others have the cell's sump and fuel pump below the trunk floor.

Here's what I've got in mind. I'll cut a section of the trunk floor for the sump to fit through and either use that section (as Fuzz did) plus some side pieces or a drop box to sheild the sump. Fuel pump will be mounted underneath on a fabricated bracket.   Braided line running up front to the engine, which brings up another question. Rules state that fuel line running past the torque converter have to be shielded somehow. I don't think they allow the fuel line to be run on the outside of the subframe either (like the factory did). I've heard of using pipe for shielding. Anyone had this issue?   Thanks, -Steve-

Steve the way I did mine I can add pieces to the sides to “shield” the sump but no one has said a thing so far. I have a Summit canister filter & Holley blue pump mounted to a plate and the plate is bolted to the rear cross member behind the valance. Short braid from sump to filter inlet, close nipple filter to pump (both mounted to plate) then hard alum line (run down the right side in the stock 6 cly fuel line route) from pump to the engine bay. I have the hard line into the reg. mounted where the batt would be. Braid like kit(s) (Summit) from reg to carb.

Reg. Picture

http://cars.grantskingdom.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=715

I have moved the carb feed to the other side and have my PSI gauge where the carb feed is in the picture below.

http://cars.grantskingdom.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=345

Only picture of my cell, sorry no pump / filter. If you need me to I can get some.

http://cars.grantskingdom.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=271

Edited by FuzzFace2 - Nov/20/2010 at 4:16pm