Fuel Tank

[TaimarSE]

Ive just picked up my new Ali fuel tank from Alloy Racing Fabrications.
Top Man, I supplied a set of my own CAD's and even took the old tank as a belt and braces measure.
He can now make the M/Taimar tank 1977 onwards,(I don't know if earlier versions differ)it has a differant sender which is supplied with the tank. It's baffled and is foam filled and for all you weightsavers it is only three pounds lighter than STD tank,Ive just weighed them.

Thank you for posting your recommendations about suppliers. Cheers.

Edited by TaimarSE on Monday 12th July 19:32

[pistolar]

So why wasnt it bought from one of the few specialists who help keep our cars on the road?

[TaimarSE]

pistolar said:

So why wasnt it bought from one of the few specialists who help keep our cars on the road?

Well not for the want of trying. I Phoned all our specialist suppliers and they were not able to supply me at the times of asking,I tried to order but was told of problems with corrosion.I am a patient man and first enquired pre Rockingham 2007 and last enquiry Jan 2010 (I was offered a second hand ali tank but as and when it was returned as it was on loan to a TVR owner,really nice of a specialist to do this for a fellow tvr owner,it was offered on its return, the problem was by this time I was not in a position to take up the offer.I did not want a DG steel tank so DG were out of the question.

Thanks for asking and hope this answers your question.

[pistolar]

Ignore me, one of those days.

[TaimarSE]

Its Ok.I hope I did not come over as harsh. I believe that our specialists are a valuable resource that should not be bypassed to save a few pounds,I did try and no doubt they will be the first port of call when I need parts and advice in the future.

Cheers

[heightswitch]

Sorry to Hi Jack this thread but What sender did you use with the foam filled tank? my existing tank has a lever arm type which is preventing me from foam filling. I need to switch to a shielded rising tube type I think?

Have you details of the sender you used?

Neil.

[TaimarSE]

heightswitch said:

Sorry to Hi Jack this thread but What sender did you use with the foam filled tank? my existing tank has a lever arm type which is preventing me from foam filling. I need to switch to a shielded rising tube type I think?

Have you details of the sender you used?

Neil.

Good question,It's a Standard-ish (shortened arm) Veethree ali float sender,the tank has three baffles there is no foam in the chamber with the float valve in, it's not what I expected but hey it's a road car and the foam was an afterthought.

Garry

Neil. Have you looked into capacitance senders? no moving parts I found this
http://www.gillsensors.co.uk/content/datasheets/Mo...
It may interest you.

Garry

Edited by TaimarSE on Tuesday 13th July 10:13

[nwarner]

Got a really nice alloy tank from DG's last month.

Nige

[heightswitch]

TaimarSE said:

heightswitch said:

Sorry to Hi Jack this thread but What sender did you use with the foam filled tank? my existing tank has a lever arm type which is preventing me from foam filling. I need to switch to a shielded rising tube type I think?

Have you details of the sender you used?

Neil.

Good question,It's a Standard-ish (shortened arm) Veethree ali float sender,the tank has three baffles there is no foam in the chamber with the float valve in, it's not what I expected but hey it's a road car and the foam was an afterthought.

Garry

Neil. Have you looked into capacitance senders? no moving parts I found this
http://www.gillsensors.co.uk/content/datasheets/Mo...
It may interest you.

Garry

Edited by TaimarSE on Tuesday 13th July 10:13

They look like the puppies!! I'll bet their not cheap.

Another under the wire purchase I think.
N

[TaimarSE]

nwarner said:

Got a really nice alloy tank from DG's last month.

Nige

Hello Nigel last time I spoke to them May/June 2007 I am sure they said they were manufactured same as original with no mention of Aluminium, perhaps I got it wrong.

Garry

[nwarner]

Hi Garry

Maybe they've changed to Aluminium since. It was a really well made tank. It looks too good to be hidden.

Nige

[TaimarSE]

First attempt to post photo.The lugs you can see are 8mm tapped bosses and will be used as earthing lugs.

Edited by TaimarSE on Tuesday 13th July 21:15

[Slow M]

Garry,

Nice tank!
Just because I'm nosy, why did you not go with the squared off top (increased capacity) version?

Bernard.

[TaimarSE]

Slow M said:

Garry,

Nice tank!
Just because I'm nosy, why did you not go with the squared off top (increased capacity) version?

Bernard.

Hello Bernard.

Ive seen the drawings for the squared of version but I dismissed it mainly because my car is a weekend car, the fuel tanks standard capacity is 11.9 Gallons,54.14 litres 14.29 US Gallons,plenty enough fuel for me,I also consider that with a weight of about 6.2 pounds per UK gallon and including the 16 pound weight of the tank 90 pounds of fuel and tank is for me a little on the heavy side to be sat on my fibre body with those flimsy looking straps to hold it all in place.

Garry

[TVR_owner]

TaimarSE said:

Slow M said:

Garry,

Nice tank!
Just because I'm nosy, why did you not go with the squared off top (increased capacity) version?

Bernard.

Hello Bernard.

Ive seen the drawings for the squared of version but I dismissed it mainly because my car is a weekend car, the fuel tanks standard capacity is 11.9 Gallons,54.14 litres 14.29 US Gallons,plenty enough fuel for me,I also consider that with a weight of about 6.2 pounds per UK gallon and including the 16 pound weight of the tank 90 pounds of fuel and tank is for me a little on the heavy side to be sat on my fibre body with those flimsy looking straps to hold it all in place.

Garry

Any considerations to protect the tank from rear impact?

[Adrian@]

Slow M said:

Garry,

Nice tank!
Just because I'm nosy, why did you not go with the squared off top (increased capacity) version?

Bernard.

There must be an engineering law regarding squared top tanks (it might only apply to steel tinned tanks though) and how condensation builds into beads rather than rolling down in off the sides...answers on a postcard.
Perhaps the sender needs to be moved to the other end of the tank and then foam filling of the other 2/3 is not an issue.
John...I find the a couple of rubbish bags of expanded foam works well in the back.
Adrian@

MY issue regarding alloy tanks and them failing through contact with rusty felt was cured by painting the tank in fibreglass resin prior to fitting.

[VixeM]

Gary,
good to hear that Alloy Racing Fabrications produced a nice tank. I had the same problem as you over a similar timescale but couldn't use Alloy Racing Fabrications in the end due to their long lead time. I ended up with "the" tank that had been on loan; you had a lucky escape there! Suffice to say you should take Adrian's very good advice on protecting alloy thanks from corrosion. I ended up pinching the tank from a Vixen so I could make Goodwood last year.
Thanks for letting everyone know about your success.
Cheers.

[TaimarSE]

Adrian@ said:

Slow M said:

Garry,

Nice tank!
Just because I'm nosy, why did you not go with the squared off top (increased capacity) version?

Bernard.

There must be an engineering law regarding squared top tanks (it might only apply to steel tinned tanks though) and how condensation builds into beads rather than rolling down in off the sides...answers on a postcard.
Perhaps the sender needs to be moved to the other end of the tank and then foam filling of the other 2/3 is not an issue.
John...I find the a couple of rubbish bags of expanded foam works well in the back.
Adrian@

MY issue regarding alloy tanks and them failing through contact with rusty felt was cured by painting the tank in fibreglass resin prior to fitting.

Adrian you may well remember our conversation when you were stuck for a solution to you tanks failing I mentioned resin coating to you as a cheap corrosion resistant coating and your mentioning perhaps a coloured gelcoat. I chased that one with you for a while, you said you would get back to me. This is the first I hear that it was acceptable from your suppliers point of view. I was and am going to resin coat the lower half of the tank,it was a eurika moment and I see no negatives.

Adrian this is by no means a dig at you I know you are very busy and have limits as to what you can do in the time you have to do it. I am glad you are sorted with your tanks and feel a little miffed that it was sorted with our conversation but comunication failed in the sale of one but on saying that it will not colour my thoughts on any future business

Garry

[TaimarSE]

TVR_owner said:

TaimarSE said:

Slow M said:

Garry,

Nice tank!
Just because I'm nosy, why did you not go with the squared off top (increased capacity) version?

Bernard.

Hello Bernard.

Ive seen the drawings for the squared of version but I dismissed it mainly because my car is a weekend car, the fuel tanks standard capacity is 11.9 Gallons,54.14 litres 14.29 US Gallons,plenty enough fuel for me,I also consider that with a weight of about 6.2 pounds per UK gallon and including the 16 pound weight of the tank 90 pounds of fuel and tank is for me a little on the heavy side to be sat on my fibre body with those flimsy looking straps to hold it all in place.

Garry

Any considerations to protect the tank from rear impact?

John,

The problem of rear impact has troubled me for some time and given the space available for protection using a tubular steel frame and the problems fitting around the tank to allow future removal if need be plus access to light clusters left me in the position of doing nothing. I have toyed with the idea of using an expanding high density foam with a lower half bonded to the fibre glass but not the tank for obvious reasons and an upper removable high densitytop half,allowing access to lights etc. I may yet do this but untill now I have had no tank to as a buck for the foam(old one will vary slightly to the new on no doubt).
Even then I am not to sure how an insurance company will view DIY crumple zones.

Garry

[TaimarSE]

VixeM said:

Gary,
good to hear that Alloy Racing Fabrications produced a nice tank. I had the same problem as you over a similar timescale but couldn't use Alloy Racing Fabrications in the end due to their long lead time. I ended up with "the" tank that had been on loan; you had a lucky escape there! Suffice to say you should take Adrian's very good advice on protecting alloy thanks from corrosion. I ended up pinching the tank from a Vixen so I could make Goodwood last year.
Thanks for letting everyone know about your success.
Cheers.

Alloy racing fabrications were a little late with the ( I can't say promised date)delivery date but I was not in a rush,It appears to me that it was well worth the wait.

Well with regards to success I think it was John(TVR Owner)and others who pointed me in the right direction.
I read all the threads but seem to contribute little so I thought I would let you all know there is a place to get a good job done when needed

If anybody needs a Free CAD program try Siemens Solid Edge Drafting,free download and liscence (they want you to buy the 3D version). Its easy to use.

Garry

Garry