Thread: RCI fuel cells

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Now that I have more room in my Model A I figured I could fit a fuel cell in there instead of my tank. Just wondering if they're a good buy, any problems,....I have a fuel sender for my gauges so I think I could swap that out.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

One other thing, is there anything wrong about mounting your battery next to your fuel cell. It just seems wrong but it would sure make things easier for me.

Sean

Looks good to me! Never have used one of their aluminum cells, but their plastic ones work great. I don't see any reason the aluminum one's wouldn't be the same.... Besides, you can polish it up and have a bit of bling in the back!

Here's a link to a guy on ebay who has them for sale all the time. http://motors.shop.ebay.com/merchant/rozbwl If you're patient (especially this time of year) you can "win" one for around $150, maybe less if nobody is watching any particular week. You also need to plan on a banding method to mount the tank, RCI says the tabs are only for locating and aren't sturdy enough for safe mounting. 19 gal of fuel is going to be over 100# so in the wrong situation could concievably rip those tabs off.

One member on here, C9x, has one that he had to make some modifications on the fill ring mount to give extra sealing to stop a leak. He posted up a thread with pictures sometime within the past year. You might want to do a search and look it over.

BTW, they don't come with foam in them, so technically they're not a fuel cell until you do that yourself.

If the tank and batt are both vented correctly, mounted firmly, and you don't have any loose connections on the batt to cause sparks it shouldn't be any undue hazard

I have a 22 gallon alum and had to end up putting a lot of support underneath it as had a few welds crack on the edges.Yours doesn't look like it has the surface area so other than that they work well,and like Dave says you can polish them up.

I`ll have a 20 Gal Alum cell for sale in the next couple of weeks if yer interested

Originally Posted by redrodman48

I`ll have a 20 Gal Alum cell for sale in the next couple of weeks if yer interested

Do you know the dimensions. It has to fit into a space 34" width x 20" height x18" tapering to 12" deep.

Thanks for the link as well Bob. I checked and he has the exact one I want but they won't deliver to Canada.

Sean

Originally Posted by sgo70

Do you know the dimensions. It has to fit into a space 34" width x 20" height x18" tapering to 12" deep.

Thanks for the link as well Bob. I checked and he has the exact one I want but they won't deliver to Canada.

Sean

Summit catalog shows the measurements at:
30" long.
9" wide.
12" high.

My pal bought a red one for his roadster and it had only a vent and fuel outlet.

Mine is aluminum and it has vent, fuel and return outlets.
Just like the catalog shows.

Here's the complete article, pics and all.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=266478


Fwiw, the filler bolt pattern is the same as the JAZ fuel cell filler caps and cast aluminum filler tube.

In fact, it looks like all fuel cells have the same cap bolt pattern.

Pay attention to the pics and comments on the warped filler plate and stud retainer ring.

My pal's tank sealed just fine, mine didn't....

Originally Posted by sgo70

Do you know the dimensions. It has to fit into a space 34" width x 20" height x18" tapering to 12" deep.


Sean

I've got an extra, rectangular aluminum tank, a little heavier gauge than the RCI units, 29"L, 12" W (deep) top & bottom, and 16" high. If you have interest in that let me know and we can do the picture and the rest off site.

Ok, here's my next stupid question. What is the difference between a fuel cell and a gas tank? I know fuel cells are suppose to be safer, but not why.
Also what kind of foam goes with gas?

Originally Posted by stovens

Ok, here's my next stupid question. What is the difference between a fuel cell and a gas tank? I know fuel cells are suppose to be safer, but not why.
Also what kind of foam goes with gas?

Any of todays fuel cell foam should be compatible with todays gasoline.

Cells have foam.
Tanks don't.


The idea with the foam is, if you have a tank rupture whether small or large, the gasoline trapped within the foam keeps the gasoline from igniting all at once.
Better a small reasonably controlled fire than one big one.

Best fuel cells are those that have an inner plastic tank and an outer steel or aluminum one.

For street use, you want a circle track style outlet (comes out the top).
You do not want a sump type outlet like the drag racers use.

In fact, sump outlets on a street driven car are against federal law, but that may not pertain to a specially constructed vehicle.

The tank shown above is working out nicely, but any fuel tank should have baffles to control the fuel sloshing around inside.
The foam in cells takes care of that nicely and imo RCI should have put a couple of baffles inside the tank.

If you're running an electric fuel pump you need an oil pressure safety shutoff switch.
Some guys are pulling the fuel pump safety switch out of cars at the junkyard and installing those.
Better than an oil pressure safety shutoff switch imo because it also kills the fuel pump circuit if the car gets bumped or worse.

If you peruse the JAZ fuel cell site or other speed equipment catalogs you'll see where the cells have a tipover valve and the aluminum fill pipe adapters also have a spring loaded flapper valve that is supposed to hold the fuel in while upside down.

Like the sailboat guys say, "upside down is slow."

If you could send me a picture that would be great, I'll pm my email.

Thanks,
Sean

Bob,
I tried to measure up where it will go and once the axle is in place it doesn't look like it will even be close. I have a plate on my diff to mount the upper control arms that won't even be close. Thanks a lot for taking the time to try and help, sorry it didn't work.

Sean

I will measure this weekend and get back to you

The ebay link that Bob gave you #130232027395 is looking like the one I have
but i will make sure tomorrow

Sean, measurements are 24" L x 20" W x 10 1/2" D