12 or 16? plastic or aluminum?

CarMichael Angelo · May 28, 2011

Well I gotta buy a fuel cell. The choices are obvious

Money to complete this project has disappeared. If it was a different time I'd just buy an aluminum unit and be done. Presently there is about 100.00 difference between the plastic and alum offerings. So that being said, plastic looks like the way to go. I've used them both, and the last time I used plastic, the top caved in a little. I was wondering if that still happens?

Jegs has a RCI 12 gallon plastic cell w/ a fuel sender for around 140.00. The 16 gal is 30.00 more @ 170.00. The reason for the indecision is the extra 4 gals.

a 12 gal is 17 x 17 x 11; a 16 gal is 17 x 23 x 11. The extra 6"in width makes it a little "close" to the exhaust.

I'm gonna drive this thing so that 4 gals may or may not be important.

What do you guys think?

1991notchbackLX · May 28, 2011

If money is an issue, why not use your fabricating skills to tig one up? You're clearly capable. It might save you some money, since your time is free. It's basically an aluminum cube. Just a thought. Personally, I wouldn't want to be limited by a fuel cell since I like to drive long distances in my cars. The capacity of a fuel cell and the amount of time between re-fueling just turns me off. I'm sure you have your reasons for using a cell though.

CarMichael Angelo · May 28, 2011

1991notchbackLX said:
If money is an issue, why not use your fabricating skills to tig one up? You're clearly capable. It might save you some money, since your time is free. It's basically an aluminum cube. Just a thought. Personally, I wouldn't want to be limited by a fuel cell since I like to drive long distances in my cars. The capacity of a fuel cell and the amount of time between re-fueling just turns me off. I'm sure you have your reasons for using a cell though.

My tig won't handle aluminum, and the materials (cap, sender and the aluminum cut to size )are just as expensive as the completed cell.

My reason for the cell is simple. I have a rear fill gas cap now. I need a center fill tank that is narrow enough to fit between those mufflers.

90stang5speed · May 28, 2011

You said the bigger plastic one would sit close to the exhaust. If you want the extra 4 gal. Could you maybe build a heat shield or wrap the exhaust to keep the heat away from the cell?

Rick 91GT · May 28, 2011

I stopped using the plastic cells in my customers cars because of the reason you mention, they still tend to cave in after awhile. I prefer the aluminum...

I can weld alum with no issues and for the price, I buy them...Ill make custom units and water tanks if I must.

12 gal

CarMichael Angelo · May 28, 2011

Rick 91GT said:
I stopped using the plastic cells in my customers cars because of the reason you mention, they still tend to cave in after awhile. I prefer the aluminum...

I can weld alum with no issues and for the price, I buy them...Ill make custom units and water tanks if I must.

12 gal

Oh I can tig alum as well. It's just the machine I have in the garage won't. But you're right Rick, you just can't make it for less than the Chinese ( Even when you don't charge any labor.,(Even building it for yourself))
There's something wrong w/ that.

LarsD · May 29, 2011

Hows the eye Mike? I was thinking about you today when I was crawling under the Cobra today to grind down some of my crappy welds. Put on two pairs of safety glasses b/c of you.

I'd get the aluminum cell personally, the plastic ones just never seem that nice to me. I guess I've seen too many of them in race cars that look terrible.

mattmcdan · May 29, 2011

Check out Summit's brand of fuel cells, I picked up a sumped 10 gal aluminum cell for around 170.

CarMichael Angelo · May 29, 2011

mattmcdan said:
Check out Summit's brand of fuel cells, I picked up a sumped 10 gal aluminum cell for around 170.

I've looked there as well. I need at least 12 gals. Their cells that have a sender are 15 gals, and sell for 250.00 plus the handling, and an additional $10 fuel surcharge The plastic version at 12 gal doesn't have that stupid surcharge and is only 140.00 plus handling.

I don't know what kind of mileage that 4.6 will get w/ a carb in my coupe, but I'm hoping for 20/22.
W/ 12 gals that'll get me close to 225 w/o refueling, leaving fumes to get me to the gas station.

While the plastic looks like ass after a while, I'm thinkin' that that won't matter, I think I'm gonna put it beneath a cover anyway (i.e. the trunk floor) and put an access door on the cover until I can fabricate the fill neck from the rear fill gas cap.

CarMichael Angelo · May 29, 2011

LarsD said:
Hows the eye Mike? I was thinking about you today when I was crawling under the Cobra today to grind down some of my crappy welds. Put on two pairs of safety glasses b/c of you.

I'd get the aluminum cell personally, the plastic ones just never seem that nice to me. I guess I've seen too many of them in race cars that look terrible.

Thanks for asking Lars. I think it is what it is. The transparent purple blob that lives in the upper right quadrant of my right eye's field of view is permanent. I went to my last eye ck up and they rated me @ 20/25 but letters in that area of view are skewed.

I also had to go up from a 2.0 magnify reader to a 2.75 while welding. W/ the 2.0's, as soon as that hood darkens I can't see jack. I have literally welded off the work since the "accident".

P.S. Love the dart in your profile pic. Do you still have it?

LarsD · May 29, 2011

madmike1157 said:
Thanks for asking Lars. I think it is what it is. The transparent purple blob that lives in the upper right quadrant of my right eye's field of view is permanent. I went to my last eye ck up and they rated me @ 20/25 but letters in that area of view are skewed.

I also had to go up from a 2.0 magnify reader to a 2.75 while welding. W/ the 2.0's, as soon as that hood darkens I can't see jack. I have literally welded off the work since the "accident".

P.S. Love the dart in your profile pic. Do you still have it?

Sorry to hear about the trouble. I guess it could be worse, I mean you could have lost all your vision in that eye.

Yeah I still have it, was my first car, it still needs lots of work, and it isn't as fast as I want it to be. But it runs and drives, turns lots of heads, sounds really good. Gonna have to paint here in a couple of years, not looking forward to that job. Thanks!

CarMichael Angelo · May 29, 2011

LarsD said:
Sorry to hear about the trouble. I guess it could be worse, I mean you could have lost all your vision in that eye.

Yeah I still have it, was my first car, it still needs lots of work, and it isn't as fast as I want it to be. But it runs and drives, turns lots of heads, sounds really good. Gonna have to paint here in a couple of years, not looking forward to that job. Thanks!

I know that I'm pretty lucky all things considered. (although I was kinda looking forward to the pirate patch............for about 1 minute!
AAAARRRRRR!

LarsD · May 29, 2011

madmike1157 said:
I know that I'm pretty lucky all things considered. (although I was kinda looking forward to the pirate patch............for about 1 minute!
AAAARRRRRR!

lol

95BlueStallion · May 29, 2011

Mike, I dont know how many times Ive bought something I know I shouldnt just because money was an issue at the time. Now I either kick myself for it, or buy what I really should have and waste the money twice... Just hold off until you have the extra $100 to do it right, knowing you really want the aluminum. Imagine if your car does have the chance to be magazine worthy... Just do it the way you know you should. There is no time line on when you car needs to be finished anyway.

CarMichael Angelo · May 29, 2011

I hear what you're saying Nick. And I end up doing stuff the same way. I always research a few options before I go in the direction I was gonna go in the first place anyway. Currently, I'm thinking I'm gonna build it out of light ga. galvanized steel. That way, I can mig the thing, build it to my size and design criteria (I'll baffle the insides, and I want it to contain 15 gals). I got a metal supply guy that'll do just about anything I need him to do for me, so I can get the steel, cut to size for what it weighs I already have the fittings, and the sending unit, and I'll have to make a filler neck anyway so, making it makes the most sense.

Granted, it'll be heavier than aluminum, but I can do the steel option downstairs w/o having to go 40 miles to a friends shop to use his AC tig for aluminum.

Bottom line, it's gonna be outta sight anyway and the 5 lbs extra that the steel will weigh over the alum will not make a difference in this street car.

Boosted92LX · May 29, 2011

What if you used something like this? Could it be made to fit? It's steel, cheaper, and fits your filler..

1965-1968 Ford Mustang Fuel Tank - Replacement REPF670105 - 16 gallons / 61 liters, Galvanized steel

CarMichael Angelo · May 29, 2011

Great price, waaay too wide

95BlueStallion · May 30, 2011

madmike1157 said:
I hear what you're saying Nick. And I end up doing stuff the same way. I always research a few options before I go in the direction I was gonna go in the first place anyway. Currently, I'm thinking I'm gonna build it out of light ga. galvanized steel. That way, I can mig the thing, build it to my size and design criteria (I'll baffle the insides, and I want it to contain 15 gals). I got a metal supply guy that'll do just about anything I need him to do for me, so I can get the steel, cut to size for what it weighs I already have the fittings, and the sending unit, and I'll have to make a filler neck anyway so, making it makes the most sense.

Granted, it'll be heavier than aluminum, but I can do the steel option downstairs w/o having to go 40 miles to a friends shop to use his AC tig for aluminum.

Bottom line, it's gonna be outta sight anyway and the 5 lbs extra that the steel will weigh over the alum will not make a difference in this street car.

Glad you steered away from the plastic idea. At least with steel you can paint it, and it will always retain its shape. A warped plastic one would just be an eyesore later on. Plus, we get to see more of your awesome fab skills put to work now. Post pics brother!

12 or 16? plastic or aluminum?

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

1991notchbackLX

Active Member

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

90stang5speed

Member

Rick 91GT

Mustang Master

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

LarsD

mattmcdan

Member

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

LarsD

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

LarsD

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

Boosted92LX

It's only an inch or two. What's the big deal?

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself

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