Stainless or Aluminium fuel tanks?

[Dave]

Hello Fellow members,

I am at the point of letting someone make the sill fuel tanks. I got the choise of aluminium and stainless steel. I know stainless is heavier, but 2 tanks are 1250 euro in stainless steel, and 1700 euro in aluminium. What would you guys choose?

 

[Paul Hendrickx]

If one day you whish to run full E85 fuels ..... stainless steel is your friend...

 

[Neil]

Hello Fellow members,

I am at the point of letting someone make the sill fuel tanks. I got the choise of aluminium and stainless steel. I know stainless is heavier, but 2 tanks are 1250 euro in stainless steel, and 1700 euro in aluminium. What would you guys choose?

I would think that the SS tanks would be more expensive than aluminum.

 

[Bill Kearley]

I'm in the process of making new tanks my self. For me it's aluminum, easy to work with, cheaper and lighter. besides, I've never welded stainless.

 

[Walter]

go with an aircraft style fuel cell/bladder, ATL, Fuelsafe, etc...

 

[Rob Klein]

This company makes really nice bladders type cells

Ford GT40 Sprint Cells | Premier Fuel Systems Ltd

www.premier-fuel-systems.com

 

[Michael]

I think I’d probably go SS based on price, corrosion resistance and strength.

 

[Rob Klein]

Honestly if you plan on tracking the car you might check with the local track regulations. Just a thought. Keep in mind your sitting next to the fuel cells, with a hot motor strapped to your back. Any kind of side impact could be a problem

 

[Fred W Ballinger]

The weight is related to the thickness you choose / fabricator is happy to work with.

For comparison sake use density of ally of 2.73, stainless steel 8.0.

Ally 2 mm x 2.73 = 5.46 comparison factor
Ally 3 mm x 2.73 = 8.19 comparison factor

SS 1.2 mm mm x 8 = 9.6 comparison factor
SS 1.6 mm mm x 8 = 12.8 comparison factor

I went with 2mm aluminium

Regards.

Fred

 

[Ken Roberts]

My vote is for stainless steel. More future proof as the fuel blend keeps changing as time goes by.

 

[Martin]

Hi Dave, I had aluminium tanks when I first built my car with a -12 line connecting the two, the line runs across the front face of the engine bay to allow the fuel to balance. I got frustrated with the amount of plumbing and pumps required to run what should be a simple system and decided to build a pair of stainless tanks. I now have stainless tanks with thirty five litres capacity in each side, I designed it so I just had one walbro type pump submerged in the left tank. I designed in a baffle that separates two litres at the aft of each tank, this baffle has a small hinged flap that traps the fuel in that section, I still have the -12 line connecting the rear of both tanks. Both tanks have an access plate above the rear section and the access plate for the left tank also houses the single fuel pump, return feed and the fuel sender, the fuel sender reaches forward of the baffle so as not to give a false reading. My car has a Coyote crate engine and has run faultlessly since this mod.

 

[Walter]

go with an aircraft style fuel cell/bladder

 

[Dave]

Hi Dave, I had aluminium tanks when I first built my car with a -12 line connecting the two, the line runs across the front face of the engine bay to allow the fuel to balance. I got frustrated with the amount of plumbing and pumps required to run what should be a simple system and decided to build a pair of stainless tanks. I now have stainless tanks with thirty five litres capacity in each side, I designed it so I just had one walbro type pump submerged in the left tank. I designed in a baffle that separates two litres at the aft of each tank, this baffle has a small hinged flap that traps the fuel in that section, I still have the -12 line connecting the rear of both tanks. Both tanks have an access plate above the rear section and the access plate for the left tank also houses the single fuel pump, return feed and the fuel sender, the fuel sender reaches forward of the baffle so as not to give a false reading. My car has a Coyote crate engine and has run faultlessly since this mod.

Sounds great. I am putting the same as you. 2 stainless tanks, one pump, filters and a swirl tank in the engine bay that is fed with a low pressure pump. Oly thing is the connection of the 2 tanks. As it is now. I can not go under the frame, and or through. So i would have to go over is. That said. It would be 4cm too hogh and would not get the 4cm on the bottom of one of the tanks. How can i solve this problem?