Started the Fuel Cell For The Spare Tire Area....
- Thread starter Sean K.
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maclean216
Member
Are you cutting out the bracket the spare attaches to?
Sean K.
New member
Ya...I cut that out quite a while ago....I welded in a rear crossmember with a receiver in the center and tube gussets to the inside of the plated frame rail. The tank will have a 1.25x.120" DOM "cage" around it likely with at least a few dimple died steel plates in it to keep the smaller pointy rocks from ever hitting the tank while climbing an obstacle. That "cage" will be triangulated, further strengthening the fairly flimsy rearmost frame section and the whole tank will only hang down (with the cage) 3" below the frame rail.....but only in the rectangular center. It will taper up to be flush with the frame at the edges....hence the funky cut piece you see above. The panhard bar crossmember is getting cut out too, once I set up the dual triangulated 4 link. Axle is going back at least 4"....maybe 7". I'll be glad to get rid of that panhard.
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Sean K.
New member
I've made several tanks now for various projects....nice thing about making one is it will fit exactly where you want it and you can set it up to run the factory pump/wiring so you don't have to worry about trying to get your fuel gauge to work, proper PSI for the pump to match fuel system requirements, etc.
I am of the strong opinion that you should make a few of these and sell them.
I can't stand the 3rd gen fuel range. It's my biggest gripe about the platform.
Sean K.
New member
This is a replacement for the factory tank though....not an additional. It's not going to add any fuel range (I don't do overlanding). I could make a much larger tank to fit in that space or....one this size or smaller for transfer tank duties....problem is: it would require more custom fab work than most people would be comfortable with as you'd not only have to cut out the tire carrier Xmember, but also weld in some sort of rear X member to make up the strength you cut out. Then you'd have to plate the frame rails on the inside (if you wanna do it right), and make some kind of very stout skid/structure to avoid going Chernobyl in a rear end accident. You're also going to need to modify or make new filler neck tubing in either a replacement or transfer tank scenario. If you've got that much capability....you might as well build your own tank.
Sean K.
New member
Ya, it should hang down a lot less than the F150 tank.
Sean K.
New member
Got some more done this evening....
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Obviously, it's just tacked together for now. Still have to weld it all up and make the top, filler neck, frame mounts, etc.
Obviously, it's just tacked together for now. Still have to weld it all up and make the top, filler neck, frame mounts, etc.
t4r92
Member
Hey there Sean,
Nice work on this fuel cell so far. I am curious to know what you fuel system pickup is going to look like when things are all said and done.
Reason for that is I was curious if you've heard of the HydraMat? If not, maybe check it out. A lot of trophy truck guys and off road racers use them because it does a great job of keeping fuel heading the right direction at extreme levels of angle when off roading or doing heavy accelerating/braking or lateral movement.
Here's a quick link for a better idea of it: https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/hydramat/
Nice work on this fuel cell so far. I am curious to know what you fuel system pickup is going to look like when things are all said and done.
Reason for that is I was curious if you've heard of the HydraMat? If not, maybe check it out. A lot of trophy truck guys and off road racers use them because it does a great job of keeping fuel heading the right direction at extreme levels of angle when off roading or doing heavy accelerating/braking or lateral movement.
Here's a quick link for a better idea of it: https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/hydramat/
Sean K.
New member
Don't need it. The fuel pick up system will be the factory pump and intake....you just have to build baffles in the tank (not so much for sloshing as for strengthening the tank since the pressure changes are constantly expanding and contracting the tank walls fatiguing the weld joints...or more accurately, the HAZ). Then the only other critical thing is to build a walled 'box' around the intake that's a few inches tall to keep fuel next to the pump when off camber, with small drain holes (actually a hole to let fuel back into the box when level) in each wall.
***EDIT***...watched the video...pretty cool....but I'd be concerned long term about it coming apart and clogging the fuel filter. Thanks for posting the link regardless.***
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Sean K.
New member
You know...the more I think about it....the more I like the idea. It appears Summit Racing has them for $126. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...se1-_-holley&gclid=CPHR4f7mv9ACFZBbfgodYpkMsQ I'd have to get an adapter to the in tank Toyota pump though. Thanks again for posting. I may go this route....more likely, since I'm poor, I'll go with my design first (it's worked on 3 other tanks)...but if it becomes an issue, this seems a viable solution. I was planning a 4x7" "box" around the factory pickup.....but now, I'll just make it a 4x8" so I can fit one of these hydramats later if needed.....again, THANK YOU for posting! Much appreciated.
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t4r92
Member
Not a problem. I actually work for the company that produces these and thought it may be a viable solution for you since you're in the process of building it right now. It's also helpful to have the return dump fuel right on top of the mat. Because of the mat's design it won't create any problems with aeration.
Lastly, I'm sure you saw this when you were looking the product over, but the mat itself acts as a 15 micron prefilter, so you don't need to worry about running anything in line except a post. Helps simplify the system.
Either way you decide to go ultimately, best of luck to ya.
Chuckles89
New member
Are you going to put any baffles in? I would think they are needed.
Sean K.
New member
Yes....I think I covered that in another post. This is just the basic shell. Started a new job this week so haven't gotten any thing else done. Working on the swing out tire carrier now.
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