Metco Wheel Well Fuel cell tank

[brandnu6]

Hello everyone. Hope all had a great Christmas. I have a question with regard to my "Metco Alky Tank Kit." Instead of using it for "Alky," is there a way to use as an "auxiliary Fuel Tank?" That would give me an extra 6 gallons of gasoline. Has anyone ever done such a conversion? I do not plan to run Methanol.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

I use mine as a spare e85 tank. Just buy one of those $20 fuel transfer pumps. Then move the fuel when you need it. Put the fill part of the Metco tank close to bumper. The transfer pump hose reaches fuel tank fill tube. Simple.

 

[brandnu6]

I use mine as a spare e85 tank. Just buy one of those $20 fuel transfer pumps. Then move the fuel when you need it. Put the fill part of the Metco tank close to bumper. The transfer pump hose reaches fuel tank fill tube. Simple.

Hi Brad. Thanks for getting back to me. I was thinking of something a little different. Like somehow "connecting" the "Metco tank" to the factory tank, then open the trunk lid to "fill." At least, that's what I had in mind. I believe the "Metco Tank" is approx. 6 gallons. That would give me 24 gallons of Gasoline in total, less fill ups. I still think it's doable, the tricky part will be a "leak/vapor proof" connection. I'll do some more research on my end. Anyone else want to chime-in, I'm open for some ideas. Thanks.

 

[Chuck Leeper]

I believe the "Metco Tank" is approx. 6 gallons. That would give me 24 gallons of Gasoline in total, less fill ups.

A "good idea"??
Put a 6 gallon "bomb" in your trunk...
Happy New Year.

 

[brandnu6]

A "good idea"??
Put a 6 gallon "bomb" in your trunk...
Happy New Year.

Hi Chuck. Thanks for your words of encouragement. What's the difference, in the trunk or under it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It doesn't hurt to imagine.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

I agree. Just secure metco tank in wheel well. Also, gas does not explode as in TV and movies..

 

[slojim]

brandnu6 - is there a thread with info on your hood vent? I find it interesting.

anyway - let me think out loud for a minute....if you attach the aux fuel tank to the vent line, it will just spill into the tank - so you would need a solenoid valve, or you would need to use the pump and pump it into the vent line. If you attach it to the return line, and if the aux tank is vented - same thing. But if the aux tank is not vented, it won't spill in until the gas tank is empty since the return is below the fuel pump suction. So you'd still need to use the pump. If you attach it to the fuel feed line, it will need to handle the pressure and if it is vented it will overfill, but it would allow fuel to drain back when off.
So first - is your tank vented?
Assuming it is, I think if I wanted to try this experiment I'd use the pump to pump gas on demand (switch or find a way to make it trigger off level) into the return line.

 

[Phoneguy]

I have a different version of their tank with an opening for a fuel pump. Never installed. Would be interested in a swap with you as I use Alky.

Bryan

 

[Chuck Leeper]

I agree. Just secure metco tank in wheel well. Also, gas does not explode as in TV and movies..

But the fumes sure as hell do.
Think not?

Michigan woman pleads guilty to car fire, video shows fireball exploding in her face

A Macomb County woman has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor arson charge and has received 18 months probation after she filled a car with gasoline and then set it on fire - only to have a fireball explode in her face and knock her to the ground.

www.fox2detroit.com

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Hi Chuck. Thanks for your words of encouragement. What's the difference, in the trunk or under it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It doesn't hurt to imagine.

I guess that's fine if you have a firewall between the seat and trunk.

 

[WE2Regal]

Hi Chuck. Thanks for your words of encouragement. What's the difference, in the trunk or under it! Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It doesn't hurt to imagine.

There are some differences to think about. When mounted inside the trunk, there isn't much except the flammable back seat keeping fire out of the passenger compartment. For safety reasons, NHRA rules have long required a firewall of varying thickness (depending on whether it made of aluminum or steel) that totally seals off the passenger compartment if you have a trunk mounted fuel cell. Whether you race or just drive on the street, it would be a good idea to think about adding a firewall. I don't know if that tank has provisions for a vent line but a lot of racers also run a vent line from the fuel cell down under the car to keep the fumes out of the trunk area and passenger compartment.

 

[WE2Regal]

Here's a picture of my '78 with a tiny 5 gallon cell with vent line.

 

[BRAD_PADGETT]

There are some differences to think about. When mounted inside the trunk, there isn't much except the flammable back seat keeping fire out of the passenger compartment. For safety reasons, NHRA rules have long required a firewall of varying thickness (depending on whether it made of aluminum or steel) that totally seals off the passenger compartment if you have a trunk mounted fuel cell. Whether you race or just drive on the street, it would be a good idea to think about adding a firewall. I don't know if that tank has provisions for a vent line but a lot of racers also run a vent line from the fuel cell down under the car to keep the fumes out of the trunk area and passenger compartment.

The Metco version for a fuel pump has the vent feature. I have this version which I use as a spare tank.

 

[brandnu6]

brandnu6 - is there a thread with info on your hood vent? I find it interesting.

anyway - let me think out loud for a minute....if you attach the aux fuel tank to the vent line, it will just spill into the tank - so you would need a solenoid valve, or you would need to use the pump and pump it into the vent line. If you attach it to the return line, and if the aux tank is vented - same thing. But if the aux tank is not vented, it won't spill in until the gas tank is empty since the return is below the fuel pump suction. So you'd still need to use the pump. If you attach it to the fuel feed line, it will need to handle the pressure and if it is vented it will overfill, but it would allow fuel to drain back when off.
So first - is your tank vented?
Assuming it is, I think if I wanted to try this experiment I'd use the pump to pump gas on demand (switch or find a way to make it trigger off level) into the return line.

Hey slojim. How are you doing. This idea/concept might be a "reach," in fact I was thinking out loud myself. Sometimes I get these crazy ideas! There's no thread with regard to "Heat Extractor" One of my "Crazy Ideas." I used a standard Regal hood. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. I put Silver "Bulge Hood" away. As you can see, it turned out better than I could have imagined . I'll see if I can find some pictures of the process. Basically, I cut "Doner Hood" with an orbital saber saw, nice tool. I followed contour of "inner structure" I did leave Middle rib in for strength. I'm glad I did. Again, things worked out better than I planned, considering I had no plan! I found some Aluminum "Honeycomb Mesh" online. The rest is History. Oh yeah, I used some Black RTV/calking/adhesive. It took two tubes. Again, I was "flying by the seat of my pants." The hood was painted Mat Black with "Satan Clear coat." I use a "soap less" cleaning product called "Ratwax." It's also used for cars that are "Vinyl Wrapped."

 

[brandnu6]

Some images. Thought I took "during build" did not

 

[slojim]

Wow, handmade!