Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

What material did you use to cover the hole and install your fuel cell??? According to NHRA rule book....(Where OEM gas tank is in the trunk floor, area occupied by OEM
tank may be replaced with material equal to or heavier than OEM
floor.) Sorry this may be a dumb question......

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

i went to my local metal supplier and got 18G to fill the holes in the florring and engine compartment.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

The gas tank didn't leave a hole in the floor, it was mounted underneath the floor boards.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

Actually, on many Ford unibody cars like Mustangs and Fairlanes, the factory gas tank drops into a large rectangular hole in the trunk floor, and the top of the gas tank IS the trunk floor.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

In that case could you just cut the top of the gas tank off and use it to fill in the hole and it would bolt in where the original tank was plus i think it had ribs in it for strenght and then place the fuel cell on that. Just a thought.

Kenney Kelley

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

Cut the top of the gas tank ..GEEZ. I don’t think so ……

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

Actually i’ve seen just the opposite. Section the tank and use the lower half. From under the car it looks like it still had the stock tank, then mount the fuel cell inside on top.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

Any time you cut up a gas tank, an explosion hazard is created. The best bet would be to fabricate a replacement panel from 18 gauge steel that would replace the OEM tank. Be sure the tank is outside when any cutting or welding is being done in the shop. Fumes can travel quite a ways and carry a flame back to their source and do damage.DON'T cut or weld on the gas tank itself.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

GAS TANK
Must be correct year, make, and model for car used, with stock fuel inlet and outlet locations. Must be in stock location; fuel line and pickup may be resized. Fuel cell permitted; maximum capacity 16 gallons. If fuel cell is used, OEM gas tank must be removed, and a firewall of minimum .032-inch aluminum or .024-inch steel must be installed to totally seal driver compartment from fuel cell. Trunk floor may be modified to accommodate fuel-cell sump.
STK

Section 11A, page 5 Stock Cars
Where OEM gas tank is in the trunk floor, area occupied by OEM tank may be replaced with material equal to or heavier than OEM floor. If OEM gas tank is used, it must remain unaltered.

I read that to say if you use a fuel cell the gas tank must be removed. In the Ford a new trunk floor needs to be used and it can be modified for fuel cell sump.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

What i was talking about how i would cut the top off the gas tank was run a nitrogen purge in the tank for about an hour then put an O2 Meter ( Oxygen Analyzer) in the tank to make sure the gas fumes are gone. I've seen it done where you run a hose off an exhaust pipe and purge the tank that way also. Then and only then would i cut the tank I'm sure you would do the same.

Kenney Kelley

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

replacement tanks usually aren’t real expensive. But a new one and cut away.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

I thought about doing that, but I’m not sure it would be acceptable. A call to NHRA tech office would be a good idea.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

Probably wouldn’t hurt to check, but I know of at least one stocker mustang built that way.

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

We used to cut stock tanks all the time in the 70's for S/S.
Used the relocating Moroso rear spring hangers, and the welded new sides to the narrower stock tank.
First thing was to flush the empty tank with water, several times . Then cut the ends off with a jig saw, leaving as much water in as possible.
No room for fumes = no explosion
The opened tank would still sit outside for a few days, before tig welding the sides on.

In this case though, I'd just buy a piece of sheet metal and tech screw it down.
No need to make a production out of this ;-)

Re: Guys who removed their stock gas tank?
 

Neighbor of mine used the exhaust method to clear a slightly larger tank.. They burried him four days later. Fire and/or sparks near gas fumes can be deadly.