Fuel Tank Options

[Pearldrummer7]

I ran into some fuel starvation issues on a track this weekend and am looking for ways to avoid that from happening again. I have the older tank ('33), and am looking to do something about it. Here are the options I'm faced with.


-Stay with '33 tank, and keep it really full to avoid fuel starvation. Cheapest solution, but way less than ideal for driving.
-Upgrade to new style 818 tank. Looks like it has less footprint for the fuel to slosh in. Unknown cost.
-Upgrade to Boyd tank. Less fuel starvation since it's taller and thinner. ~$500 cost, and possibly I can't keep my fuel pump? Still doesn't eliminate the fuel starvation issue, but probably makes it a good amount better.
-Upgrade to fuel cell. Seems like almost every cell is square so I'd have to run it where Chad does. I really want to have the 818 as a street car with a passenger seat for at least a year or two, and that'd defeat most of the purpose of having it as a street car. Also, they're expensive as hell. Probably both the safest and the most performance based option, though. Anyone know if I can get a rectangular one for behind the firewall without breaking the bank?
-Hydramat (https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/hydramat/parts/16-101). No clue how to make this work with our in tank pumps, but this would be a cheap way to possibly eliminate fuel starvation.


Any other options I'm not thinking of?

[Hindsight]

The new tank won't help fuel starvation, nor will the Boyd tank so I'd personally rule those out.

The Hydramat looks cool but you said you were looking for a cheap way to do it... $200 for a little mat is expensive in my book and while it looks like it would be effective in their demo setups, the verdict is still out in real world race cars.

The other option is to remove the top of your tank and weld in better baffling, then weld the top of the tank back on. Wish you were closer to me... I'd be happy to do it for you. Would cost maybe $25 in materials. Do you know anyone with a welder?

[Zodiac]

For me I have decided to put together a Surge Tank. They are way overpriced most places you check but you can get a cheap tank on a couple UK based sites for like $100 or bout $60-80 for one on eBay. Then if you go to http://treperformance.com/ they have a external 255lph pump for $100 on sale right now. So for about the same price as a hydramat I get a much more reliable system in my opinion. And of course much much easier than cutting open and working on the existing tank.

[Pearldrummer7]

Zodiac, that's a cool solution. I was thinking about getting this guy:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Polished-Alloy-Aluminum-2L-Fuel-Surge-Tank-AN-fittings-mirror-polished-/201253630598

Instead of a Radium engineering one. While that'd be nice....they're EXPENSIVE. Less work and more proven than a hydramat.


Hindsight, getting a new '33 or 818 tank and welding it at work is my backup plan. Pulling the tank would kinda suck, though.

[Wayne Presley]

I have a custom cell that feeds a 1 qt surge tank. Fits great and works perfect.

[Mulry]

FWIW, the Hydramat is worth all the praise that it gets. It's really incredible how it lets you scavenge every last drop out of a fuel cell.

The problem with it (other than price) is that it's almost too good at its job. If you're not keeping close track of your fuel burn, you can run out of gas on course without knowing how low you really were. There's just no fuel starvation at all, and then boom, you're out of gas. It's a little too binary for its own good in that way. But if you want to make sure that you get all the fuel out of the tank AND you can keep good track of how much is in there, it's super impressive.

[DodgyTim]

I looked at the hydramat but couldn't work out how to install even the smallest one it in the 33 tank, given the "bowl" that is directly under the fuel pump location, and it has to be fed in thru the pump mounting, which isn't very big
I ended up going for a small surge tank too.

[C.Plavan]

FWIW, the Hydramat is worth all the praise that it gets. It's really incredible how it lets you scavenge every last drop out of a fuel cell.

The problem with it (other than price) is that it's almost too good at its job. If you're not keeping close track of your fuel burn, you can run out of gas on course without knowing how low you really were. There's just no fuel starvation at all, and then boom, you're out of gas. It's a little too binary for its own good in that way. But if you want to make sure that you get all the fuel out of the tank AND you can keep good track of how much is in there, it's super impressive.

Same thing happens with fuel collection boxes in fuel cells. You want that to happen.
You have check that option for a fuel cell, or you will run into problems of starvation like with a stock or non fuel collection boxed fuel cells. Fuel Collection boxes are a must. Otherwise, your motor may not like you if you are on boost, and fuel starvation hits... (which it will on a race track).

[FFRSpec72]

The collector I have sits at the center of the tank and is as wide as the tank and holds 1.3 gals of fuel.

45437

[Pearldrummer7]

I talked to some people and found out what FFR did too. They made a fuel cell for the passenger area with a surge tank in it, which isn't really what I want to do yet in the build. Though I will someday.

In the meantime, I think I'm getting a surge tank. Hopefully a Radium unit, since I know someone who can get them wholesale.


I'll just have to closely monitor gas levels. Nothing new from what I'm doing now, just with less chance of blowing up the motor and more of running out of gas.


For next year.... I think I'm gonna procure an extra '33 tank from a forum member and cut the top off and weld some baffles in. Still to keep the surge tank, of course. I'm not sure I'm comfortable cutting up the tank that has held gas already.



Thanks for all the replies, all.

[Pearldrummer7]

I have a custom cell that feeds a 1 qt surge tank. Fits great and works perfect.

Wayne, is yours for sale? Or just a one off? Where can I find what you did?

[Pearldrummer7]

Ordered a Radium unit; this one (https://www.radiumauto.com/Standard-Fuel-Surge-Tanks-P515.aspx). It's only money, right?

I'll let everyone know how it goes.

[Wayne Presley]

You guys realize I'm a dealer for Radium?

[redfogo]

You guys realize I'm a dealer for Radium?

Without using the search function on this site, is there a complete list on what all you sell? I have been to your site and I haven't seen any kind of list other then a few custom parts you sell.

[Wayne Presley]

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[Wayne Presley]

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[Samiam1017]

why not jam some fuel cell foam in to slow down slosh I would think that would help and be tons cheaper than a fuel cell

[nkw8181]

Um Wayne I am going to need a list of what you don't sell since that might be shorter ;) ;)