Fuel Cell Installation

[Boswoj]

I know this was discussed at some point but I didn't find much good info in the archives. Does anybody have any good photos of a fuel cell installation, and recommendations for which cell you used?

Thanks - Rick

[Boswoj]

OK - after reading my own post I realized that I didn't give much information!

I'm looking to install a cell in a 1st gen Rx-7 ( a '79 shell to be more exact)

Thanks

wait a few hours and ill help so this dosnt happen to you!!!

http://www.calclub.com/gallery/showphoto.p...&cat=500&page=1 (http://www.calclub.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=104&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1)

------------------
Daryl Brightwell
ITA RX7 #11
NORPAC
ITA RX7 #77
SOPAC
http://www.calclub.com/gallery/showphoto.p...m&cat=500&page= (http://www.calclub.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=101&password=&sort=1&size=medium&cat=500&page=)
EP this summer

[rlekun]

Bos,

The first questions you should ask yourself about the installation is "how much fabrication do you want to do to install the cell?"
However you install it, spend lots of time planning your installation. Remember you need to allow room for plumbing, fitting, filler caps, etc.
Some of the installation recommendations you'll receive where you drop in the cell from above will require a lot of sheet metal fab to keep a bulkhead between you and the cell since you will then need to cover the cap, hoses, etc.
I spent a lot of time looking at my options and chose to mount from below. I used a 15 gal Fuel Safe cell with the sump box in it. I stayed away from the option where they put the fuel pump in the cell too.
The process to install was fairly obvious:
- Buy the cell and mount all your fittings and hoses that attach to the cell so you can best accomodate the cell AND the plumbing. Also think about if you want to relocate your fuel pump while you're at it.
- jack up car and visualize/mark generally where u want the thing to go
- determine what you need to cut away. I essentially cut out the spare tire well
- weld two 1X1 or similar box steel tubes between the "frame wells". IMPORTANT: when mounting from below, you'll be mounting the cell underneath the tubes. Measure and mark carefully so the tubes pass to the inside of the bolts that hold your cell can together! VERY IMPORTANT: Mount the box tube steel low enough on the frame rails so the cell fill cap and your hoses with connections will be completely below the plane of the rear deck of your trunk area. THIS ELIMINATES HAVING TO FABRICATE A BOX TO COVER THINGS UP!
- I "strapped" the cell in place using 2" by 1/8" rolled steel straps as recommended by fuelsafe. the material was available at the local steel distributor. Don't let the sound of using straps to install your race cell scare you...2" X 1/8" steel is very stout! You'll need a steel cutting blade to cut and its a bitch to bend. I ran two straps front to back, and one from side-to-side...attaching wherever I could fasten to something reinforced.
- cut out a piece of stout sheet metal (check minimum bulkhead requirements) to be round to fit over the spare tire well. I attached with stainless screws. (I wanted easy access since I relocated the fuel pump up in front of the cell so now I can access the fuel pump form the hatch!
- Next i fabricated a small door in the round piece of sheetmetal so i could easily refuel the car. It fastens with a simple wing nut.
The result is a sturdy cell installation that keeps the cell low so as not to affect the center of gravity.
Sorry don't have any pictures! The tech inspectors praise the installation because it minimizes fabrication points which may allow flames into the car and it keeps the rear deck area wide open which may help if an emergency worker needs to climb through your hatch someday to save your life!