The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Tech → Will this fuel cell install pass tech?
We got our fuel cell installed this weekend and we wanted to get people's take on if we will have any issues passing tech with it. Thanks!
For obvious reasons this will not be cable tied at the race. It was just temporary to get and picture of how they will most likely run.
For your vent line, tech typically likes to see a long hose, looped a couple of times up high and then exiting down through the floor (no filter on it).
Also, while you'll likely pass with that hard mounting for your first go-round (disclaimer: I'm not a tech inspector nor am I trained in what to look for), the trend is for Jay to want to see a cage around the cell itself-- like a milk crate type thingie that the cell sits inside of made out of box tubing -- he likes to see that it frames the whole cell.
[pretty swaybar and poly bushings 
]
One thing I noticed straight away is it looks to be open to the cockpit of tube car. My understanding is that you have to have a fire wall, between the cell and drivers compartment. I may be wrong, but we made a floor above our cell to seperate drivers compartment from the fuel cell. Ours is mounted underfloor so a lil different to yours.
That vent is probably going to leak fuel when it starts sloshing around, regardless of check or rollover valves you may be using. Seen it a hundred times. You can leave a filter in the line, but it's best to have the vent go up, take a couple of loops, and then exit below the level of the tank.
One thing I noticed straight away is it looks to be open to the cockpit of tube car. My understanding is that you have to have a fire wall, between the cell and drivers compartment. I may be wrong, but we made a floor above our cell to seperate drivers compartment from the fuel cell. Ours is mounted underfloor so a lil different to yours.
The rules say if it is FIA certified then bulkheads are not required.
Also is it just the angle of the picture or is the cell sitting right at the back of the car? There is a reason why manufacturers don't put a fuel tank just in front of the rear bumper...
Looks to me like it's just behind the strut towers...
Should leave plenty of crush zone in anything other than scrawny British or Italian near-microcars.
Looks to me like it's just behind the strut towers...
Should leave plenty of crush zone in anything other than scrawny British or Italian near-microcars.
I think you are looking at it backwards. It looks like it is about 6 inches from the hatch/trunk opening. I have to believe that would fail. A good shunt in the rear would knock that thing loose for sure.
Thanks for all your input. We are going to get a long hose for the vent and coil it up somewhere a couple times. Currently we have about 8-10 inches of space between the back of the cell and the inside of the rear bumper, do you think this will be enough?. In terms of having a cage around the cell for support, do you think adding some sort of sides all the way around made out of square tubing will work?
Thanks for all your input. We are going to get a long hose for the vent and coil it up somewhere a couple times. Currently we have about 8-10 inches of space between the back of the cell and the inside of the rear bumper, do you think this will be enough?. In terms of having a cage around the cell for support, do you think adding some sort of sides all the way around made out of square tubing will work?
Id email the evil one, but IMHO, adding more bracing on the sides that the top retainers BOLT TO would be much better than the all-thread that you have, plus adding more structure to the top.
Is that Cell the FIA approved one? Fuel safe makes the FIA and non FIA they look about the same but are half the price. Also you need some lateral stays IMO.
The cell is FIA approved. I will get a sketch put together and email it on over him this week and see what he thinks
It needs lateral stays... and something better than all thread.
TEO
Questie's Lemon wrote:Thanks for all your input. We are going to get a long hose for the vent and coil it up somewhere a couple times. Currently we have about 8-10 inches of space between the back of the cell and the inside of the rear bumper, do you think this will be enough?. In terms of having a cage around the cell for support, do you think adding some sort of sides all the way around made out of square tubing will work?
Id email the evil one, but IMHO, adding more bracing on the sides that the top retainers BOLT TO would be much better than the all-thread that you have, plus adding more structure to the top.
It needs lateral stays... and something better than all thread.
TEO
Called it.
Called it.
#nothumblebrag
Baron wrote:Called it.
#nothumblebrag
oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I cant wait to look in the mirror, cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man.
I cant wait to look in the mirror, cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man.
This has been Daily Affirmation, with Stuart Smalley.
The resemblance between DJ and Stuart Smalley is disturbing. Very similar mannerisms, too.
jazz hands!
Made some modifications to our mounting system. If this cell moves at all I will be amazed. We added support all the way around the top lip of the cell to guarantee it doesn't go anywhere. We also kept the all thread for ease of removal for if we need to take the cell out for some reason.
Not sure why the pictures aren't showing up this time, let me try again.
$164!!
That is un-freaking-canny. Hay-Zeus, you are scary good...
$164!!
Damn, beat me to it. I recognized the color since I have ST sway bars on my MR2. Now, leaving the PN on there, that just makes it too easy.
Spank wrote:$164!!
Damn, beat me to it. I recognized the color since I have ST sway bars on my MR2. Now, leaving the PN on there, that just makes it too easy.
Coat of flat black spray paint and no one will ever know
Thank god for Craigslist. Was able to pick up the sway bars for $50. I guess a little flat black paint would help to make them a little less obvious.
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