Forced Induction Superchargers | Turbochargers | Intercoolers

fuel cell issues

Old Feb 3, 2020 | 05:54 PM
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Default fuel cell issues

anyone on here run a flat bottom fuel cell and fuel injection? I have an 18 gallon aluminum cell in my nova but it is just open with a flat bottom how are you guys keeping the fuel inlet covered in breaking? foam? or should I just go stock sumped tank and be done. thanks
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Old Feb 3, 2020 | 08:13 PM
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Could consider a surge tank. I’ve got two AEM 380s into a gravity fed Ching Ching surge tank and it works great.
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 12:13 AM
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I don't have pictures of mine and my Son In-laws setups but the picture below is the same as what I did in ours but made out of aluminum strips that were 3" tall. You cut them the correct length and width, Then you cut half way through each side so they interlock together when assembled. You assemble them inside the fuel cell by removing the fuel cap assembly. I cut my strips on a table saw with a fine tooth blade. If you've never cut aluminum on a table saw be very careful, Go slow and do not stand inline with the material because if it binds it will want to kick it back at you. Definitely wear gloves and safety glasses.

Last edited by LLLosingit; Feb 4, 2020 at 12:25 AM.
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 05:50 AM
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thanks that baffeling idea might do the trick . thanks ill do some measuring
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 07:46 AM
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Try to adapt a Hydramat to the inside of the fuel fitting.
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Old Feb 4, 2020 | 11:26 AM
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Originally Posted by yenkomike
thanks that baffeling idea might do the trick . thanks ill do some measuring
It definitely worked for us, My truck is around 580hp and setup pro touring style and I can run the tank down to about the 3 gallons on a 15 gallon cell and never had any pick up issues. My Son in-laws Nova has a 12 gallon cell and he's never mentioned any problems to me. AwesomeAuto's suggestion would also solve your problem.
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Old Feb 12, 2020 | 04:44 PM
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If the tank is made right, it should work fine.

eg

https://www.aftermarketindustries.co...ank-f1-1200-30

If it's just an open tank and cannot be modified to be a proper tank, throw it in the bin as it's useless unless you do run an external surge tank too.
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Old Feb 12, 2020 | 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by stevieturbo
If the tank is made right, it should work fine.

eg

https://www.aftermarketindustries.co...ank-f1-1200-30

If it's just an open tank and cannot be modified to be a proper tank, throw it in the bin as it's useless unless you do run an external surge tank too.
H---**** they are proud of that tank.-$2,850.00 That's almost as much as I have in my engine with LSA supercharger. The baffles I posted above or Holley Hydramat would be worth trying.

Last edited by LLLosingit; Feb 12, 2020 at 08:35 PM.
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Old Feb 12, 2020 | 09:07 PM
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if you do a lot of aluminum cutting with a table or chop saw, get some blade butter of some sort. at work (and therefor at home as well) we use LPS edge. it'll reduce the aluminum sticking to the blade and causing kickbacks. i even use it on my bandsaw. you do ghave to clean it off with acetone if you are gonna weld on the parts tho
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted by LLLosingit
H---**** they are proud of that tank.-$2,850.00 That's almost as much as I have in my engine with LSA supercharger. The baffles I posted above or Holley Hydramat would be worth trying.
Their pricing is a bit mad, but you can easily see their design if you wanted to do similar. That said, it is in AUS$ and it does include their triple hangar. Which is by far the best such hangar I've found anywhere.
All too many other hangers seem utterly **** when it comes to safe wiring pass through or options for pipes in/out. I used their hangar for my own car after lots of searching despite the cost. There was just no way I'd put anything else I found in my car.

A large open tank has no place in any efi car.

And as much as this tank is probably great....still don't think I'd trust any amount of baffling in a totally flat bottomed large tank like that for proper hard use, unless of course I was always to keep a fair amount of fuel in the tank.

But it'd be easy to modify the tank for a proper well where the in-tank pumps could drop into, and gravity would ensure it's always full of fuel.
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 02:19 PM
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the trouble with my tank is it is flat and will uncover the suction with hard breaking thinking about a sumpped stock tank and be happy. . not sure yet but I will look at baffeling in the flat one as well.
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 04:26 PM
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Mike,
The sump'd fuel cells only have the sump maybe 2" lower than the bottom. I don't see how that helps with braking. Maybe a little? Depending on fuel level.
I have a 15 gal short wide cell in my car. By Jaz, been in there since the big block days. Built in 1997.
It has the foam. No issues even with the E85. I have a big spin on fuel filter, looks like an oil filter, I cut it every year, nada. No foam parts in it.
Not sure what fuel you are running, but even if E85, there is foam that is compatible.

I pound the brakes at the finish line, I have to, never seen the FP drop, I log it.

All these elaborate solutions.......

Ron

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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 04:30 PM
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Braking is no real concern anyway, as the engine doesnt really need fuel then.

Under hard acceleration and cornering g's are where design matters. Of course, even a bad design of tank can work if you dont run it low enough in fuel to be affected by surge
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 05:36 PM
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Originally Posted by stevieturbo
Braking is no real concern anyway, as the engine doesnt really need fuel then.

Under hard acceleration and cornering g's are where design matters. Of course, even a bad design of tank can work if you dont run it low enough in fuel to be affected by surge
Exactly
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 06:28 PM
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yes I think a little baffeling or foam will make it work fine from 1/2 tank and up. and it is an 18 gallon so it should work good enuff to drive above 1/2 tank.thanks. I might be worrying about the lack of a sump to much. lol
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 07:16 PM
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i use the stock tank on my shitbox and yeah it'll uncover the pump(s) after about 3 passes on e85. gotta remember to bring a jug with me next year
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 09:21 PM
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Default fuel pump/tank

I just purchased an Aeromotive twin pump/baffle setup part #18309. Pricey, but complete and tidy. I'm building a custom fuel tank to fit my car and this seemed a good choice.It was either this or buying two Holley mats and piecing it together.
Aleck
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Old Feb 13, 2020 | 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by stevieturbo
A large open tank has no place in any efi car
I guess it depends on what you use it for, I have flat tank with the baffles like I posted above, It may be a S10 pickup but it not a stock suspension, Tires are Nitto Invo's Fronts are 275/35/18 on 18x9.5 wheels / Rears are 325/35/19 on 19x12 wheels, Bilstein shocks all the way around /Tubular control arms / Larger Sway bars/ 14" front brakes. LSA supercharged LY6 with LS9 cam (580hp) TR6060 6-speed It corners better than a lot of cars and straight line speed is pretty good considering it's setup to corner. I have never uncovered the pickup tube and I frequently run it down below a 1/4 tank.
The cell is mounted sideways in the bed behind the cab, It's just a cheap RCI brand and holds 19gal ( said 15 in my earlier post but it's 19). My next build might be getting Hydramat, The posts I've read from people that are using it said it works great. I don't have money to throw around so when I buy/build something I try to keep the cost down so I can use it on other areas of the build. Since he already has the cell it's cheap to see if the baffles will work.
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Old Feb 14, 2020 | 08:36 AM
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Yes but with baffles....it is no longer a large open tank lol.

Mine is a large rectangle too, but it has some baffling inside, and foam, and also a collector sump at the bottom rear where the pumps sit down into.
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Old Feb 14, 2020 | 09:04 AM
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im going to try and build a sump area as to keep the pickup submerged better. I gravity feed two 380 pumps from -10 fitting at rear of tank. so if I can keep the fuel there during a hard stop im sure they are fine under acceleration. hell there fine under accel now.
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