Fuel Cell filler location

[Richard.F]

I am installing a fuel cell in a ITA Miata, can I relocate the fuel filler cap or does it have to remain in the stock location?
Thanks. -Richard

[924Guy]

I'm not entirely sure if I understand... are you talking about can you use a remote fill valve or do you have to use the one on the cell?

Either way - realize that it's financially and safety-wise in your best interests to use the fill cap on the cell. If you fit a remote one, there's need to fit all kinds of safety bits like check valves etc in case the hose is ripped off in an incident. Even so, it's still safer anyway to just not have bits that can rip off and spill copious amounts of gas. Instead, you can have a filler that's blocked off from the driver's compartment entirely.

I'm going through this now on my DSR thanks to a legacy long filler neck from the FF I'm converting; makes me glad all over again that I didn't put one on my IT car...

[pitbull113]

just curious why would you want to put a cell in a miata? the stock tank is in the perfect spot, low and in between th axles.

[Richard.F]

I am using the stock location (behind the front seats) the cell will sit higher than the stock tank and the filler hose will be almost horizontal. The option of using a filler cap on the cell directly
Does not work due to its location (you would have to fill from inside the cockpit not very convenient during an enduro). I have seen MX5 in Koni with the fillers in the trunk (dry break), but I don’t know if that would be legal?
-Richard

[rx7chris]

That would be ok, just make sure the entire assembly is seperated from the driver's compartment by a bulkhead or thick aluminum box. There's an ita civic for sale in the classifieds that has a nice looking set-up.

[Xian]

Yeah, remote fill/dry break is completely legal. The big caveat is that the filler has to be "flush with the body". Take a look at the pics of my setup and it might help you with some ideas.

Christian

[924Guy]

Don't forget that, at least in any enduro rules I've ever read/used, that the driver has to be out of the car when fueling anyway...

[JohnRW]

Someone already started down that road, but I'll continue down it:

"Why would anyone put a fuel cell in a Miata ?"

Miata has probably the best located (for safety), best designed tanks of any production vehicle that is raced in IT.

Any cell will be higher (bad), further rearward (bad bad) and unibody strength will be compromised by installation (bad bad bad...plasma cutters & sawzalls don't yield benefits in structural rigidity).

Really.

But that's just my opinion.

[Richard.F]

Christian
Thanks for the info, by the way your Civic looks great.
-Richard

[Matt93SE]

Since original poster mentioned enduros, maybe he needs more tank capacity for longer driving stints? My 240SX only gets about an hour per tank of fuel at speed- that would suck for an enduro!

[Xian]

Christian
Thanks for the info, by the way your Civic looks great.
-Richard

Thanks! :)