How to mount the fuel cell, in my IMSA 914? Options

[FourBlades]

Thinking about how to mount the fuel cell in my IMSA 914 so it will comply with most vintage, SCCA, and PCA rules.

The original cell was mounted in a square of angle iron that was welded very securely to the floor of the front trunk. It was welded to some 1/8" thick plates welded to the trunk pan and was really hard to cut out even though everything was rusted badly.



At the top the cell was held on by angle iron bolted to the trunk bulkhead through the lip of the cell. It was also held on at the front using some small steel straps. I think you need more straps going all the way around the cell now.



I was thinking of making a similar rectangular frame from 1/8 x 1" angle iron and welding that to plates welded to the trunk using some stand offs to raise the tank high enough to clear the oil cooler shroud. Then going vertically around the tank with some steel straps and securing the rear of the cell to the bulkhead.

I was going to leave enough room in the frame to line it with some rubber gasket material to prevent direct metal contact, good idea or not?



I could tie it into the front trunk tubes but that does not seem like the right thing to do. I also want to make sure all the oil and fuel stuff can be removed, serviced and replaced before I go welding crazy. I may have to make a 2 piece oil cooler shroud to make it removable with the front trunk cross bar.



I can really use some help from the community on this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif)

Thanks...John

[pcar916]

Mine is a 15 gallon cell and, with this large oil cooler there it wouldn't fit into the front compartment. So I had to cut a slot into the middle bulkhead for the top edge of the cell to slip underneath.

There is a single frame (red in these pictures) for both the cell and the oil cooler with the same criteria you had about getting them out in a hurry. The frame and lower ducting is riveted into the trunk but everything above that is removable in a hurry. I have to remove the exit duct with two screws and two toggles. Then unbolt two bolts to remove the front strap and the cell out slips out forward... takes 8 minutes max and I don't have to remove the oil cooler.

The cell is held in with a tab at the back edge and a strap across the front that's bolted onto the divider found in late cars. I think these pix tell the story.

The last pic shows the driver's side of the front strap and both the cooler duct fasteners on that side as well.
Good luck!