• jbmfg1
  • jbmfg1
  • Ripened Lemon
  • Offline
  • From: Fremont, CA.
  • Registered: 2011-08-31
  • Posts: 327

Topic: Fuel cell mounting

We have a JAZ fuel cell and at the Sonoma race Jay wanted us to place a better system of affixing the cell.  I think it is just resting on the tab and bolted to the body.   Can we use water heater strapping to enhance the install?  I am planning on placing a "cage" around the cell on the top and bottom. 

Opinions or comments are welcome.

Lou Glutz Motorsports:  Vodden 2012 DNF, Pointless 2013 DNF, Vodden 2013 DNF, ArseFreeze 2013 P-53, Pointless 2014 P-65, Vodden 2014 P-85, Arse-Freeze 2014 P-31 Class A, Pointless 2015 P-105 (brakes) Class A, Vodden 2015 P-75 (Electrical), ArseFreeze 2015 P-41, Pointless 2016 P-53, ArseFreeze P-29
  • From: Concord, NC
  • Registered: 2012-10-24
  • Posts: 142

Re: Fuel cell mounting

Buy some steel a make a cage.  It ain't rocket science, but that don't mean your hooptie can't end up like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McbCwSW2moo

  • From: Shippensburg, PA
  • Registered: 2010-11-18
  • Posts: 1,963

Re: Fuel cell mounting

jbmfg1 wrote:

   Can we use water heater strapping to enhance the install?

Opinions or comments are welcome.

I believe DC Doug can tell you what the officials think of using water heater strapping on a fuel cell.  Doug, care to share your experience?

"She's a brick house" 57th out of 121 and 5th in Class C, There Goes the Neighborhood 2013
"PA Posse" 21st out of 96 and 2nd in Class C, Capitol Offense 2013.
"PA Posse" 29th out of 133 and Class C WINNER, Halloween Hooptiefest 2013
"PA Posse" 33rd out of 151 and 2nd in Class C, The Real Hoopties 2013
  • From: Davis, Ca
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 1,843

Re: Fuel cell mounting

Water heater strapping = instant fail.

Gosh, my business card says 'Tech Tyrant'
  • From: VA
  • Registered: 2010-05-05
  • Posts: 920

Re: Fuel cell mounting

Build a cage for it with steel thick enough that you can easily weld it together and weld/bolt it to the chassis.  mounting to sheet metal should be reinforced the same as if you were welding a roll cage to the chassis.  our 24gal cell full of gas probably weighs 200lb including the weight of the cell and the cage we built for it....you don't want that much weight just attached to sheet metal in the event of a major impact.

http://www.pbase.com/towerymt/image/152393568.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/towerymt/image/152393569.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/towerymt/image/152651638.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/towerymt/image/152651644.jpg

We've done one race with the cell in the car.  Jay teched it and had no issues with the mounting of the cell. I had also contacted John (Evil Genius) with pics along the way to make sure we would be likely to pass tech.

FastISH and the FURRiest 1991 Volvo 240 wagon
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  • From: Atlanta
  • Registered: 2011-01-22
  • Posts: 507

Re: Fuel cell mounting

Lets say a 15 gallon cell that is full weighs 120 lbs,  so during a  20G impact it weighs 2400 lbs.  So yes you need to build the fuel cell mount/retaining system to withstand much more than is obvious....

Mike
Hong Norrth
#39 TRON Gray/Orange MX-3, aka "Sumbich"