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Fuel cell choices...

wetoolowdingbangow

wetoolowdingbangow

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So ive been thinking about buying a fuel cell. Im going to be doing a flatbed on the new chassis and simultaneously switching over to tbi, which means I need a new tank. Its about $120 for a new tank with shipping. Ill also need to come up with new fuel lines as well...3/8" supply and 5/16" return?

With the new chassis being a longbed im going to have to screw around with getting the gas tank in if I went with the blazer tank...thats where I really started thinking about a fuel cell.

Theres some nice options from summit. Specifically the Rci and Jaz tanks. Rci is a bit cheaper but I noticed they say theyre circle track tanks, meaning the pick up is in the right side of the tank. Would that cause me an issue being that im going to have the truck at all sorts of different angles?

Is it easy to move the pick up? Im real confused on how the pick up even plays a part...I guess I wouldnt have to use an oem fuel sender? Id kinda like to have a working fuel gauge.
 
You could always do and external pump, and run a sump cell. But not everybody likes that.
 
my buddy has a custom fuel cell with a sump on his K5, the PO has a small fortune wrapped up in that setup.

IMO keep it simple, run the stock tank, sender and fuel pump.
 
So get the biggest fuel cell you can afford.
Problem with the pick up is very few fuel cells have enough baffling to prevent starvation at extreme angles. Hence the Walboro style pickup.

Get whatever is gonna fit don't get a circle track one no need too if anything get a drag race one with the pickup in the back of the tank under it.

My suggestion is a Walboro style pickup and just build it to fit your cell. I think liquid iron industries has tons of em.

Hence the reason I run a stock Blazer tank fuel cell would have been alot more money. Also very lazy here
 
Id like to keep it simple but you all know how that goes...


The reason im gravitating towards the fuel cell is because i have to buy a new tank anyway. The other reason is im doing a flatbed so itd be nice not to worry about caving the tank in. I guess if the fuel cell is only a few hundred away its worth it. I need to come up with new fuel lines as it is...its probably an arm and a leg for oem stuff?

Ive been looking at the 22 gallon ones. I think that would get me through any trail around here, plus I trailer to the trail so I always start out full.
 
Only time I still love having my big blazer tank is when I'm at the dunes in mud or in snow. I burn 30 gallons pretty easy.

22 gallons ought to be fine. Just run your own fuel lines not too hard.

Redoing a complete fuel system is one of those things that really nickle and dime ya to death. But once done you usually don't even think about it
 
I would do the Burban tank if you stay OE. The extra amount of space needed is minimal.
 
Burb is 40 or 41. Anyway it's over 40. In your application the extra room shouldn't be a big deal its a bit more than an incher deeper and 7 or so inches longer. Same width though. There is also a stock 22 gallon tank its only 10" or so deep
 
blazinzuk said:
Burb is 40 or 41. Anyway it's over 40. In your application the extra room shouldn't be a big deal its a bit more than an incher deeper and 7 or so inches longer. Same width though. There is also a stock 22 gallon tank its only 10" or so deep
Click to expand...

Ok good to know. I've been eyeballing the circle track rci tank again. I think I can re route the pickup if need be. It'd be interesting to know how far off the tank bottom it is. I could calculate how off kilter I could get with low gas. I don't think it should be a problem.

Can anyone confirm its 3/8 supply and 5/16 return for tbi?
 
IMO I would do a stock one. Fuel gauge and pickups and returns all fit, the tank fits between the frame rails and they are steel.

All those reasons are why I went with a stock one not the fuel cell that I had. Plus the stock ones are 20, 25, 30 or 44. Fuel cells get rather expensive beyond 20.
 
Yah 3/8 supply 5/16 return.

Sure hope I'm right cause I just ordered hard line
 
Ok cool. I just saw oem line on lmc for 65 bucks. 90 bucks gets you 25 feet of braided line and various fittings from summit...
 
Yes 3/8" feed with a 5/16" return.

I run an RCI tall/skinny fuel cell and besides being small (17 gallons) I love it.
The pickup is offset to one side but it doesn't really matter. The good thing about a tall cell with a small footprint is even if you're off camber and don't have much fuel in the cell it still keeps fuel across the whole bottom of the tank. The pickup is really close to the bottom, it's a hard line welded from the fitting at the top of the tank down to about 1/2" off the bottom. I've run it dangerously low on long trails and I've never starved the fuel pump.
 
I am kind of in the same situation. My OE tank needs to be replaced (it has several patches) so I would like to go fuel cell.

I want to move the rear axle back and the stock tank is in the way.
Storage space is already minimal so I don't want to put a 31 gal tank in the cargo space.

My thoughts are a 20ish gal cell up between the rails and if it protrudes up into the cargo area it'll be minimal.

The kicker is I would like to run an in cell pump and try and retain most of the factory plumbing and wiring just for simplicity.

Subscribed for ideas.
 
I've been eyeballing the rci 22 gallon tank from summit. It's available in a tall or wide size. The only drawback is its a circle track tank so the pickup is in the corner. Unless you run low on gas I don't think it's an issue but it can be moved if necessary. I too was trying to find something that I could use the fuel sender oem set up but I haven't found anything.

Everyone with a fuel cell seems to run an external pump, probably due to costs but they seem to do great. I would think you could keep all the stock fuel line and adapt to the common 8an fittings.
 
wetoolowdingbangow said:
I've been eyeballing the rci 22 gallon tank from summit. It's available in a tall or wide size. The only drawback is its a circle track tank so the pickup is in the corner. Unless you run low on gas I don't think it's an issue but it can be moved if necessary. I too was trying to find something that I could use the fuel sender oem set up but I haven't found anything.

Everyone with a fuel cell seems to run an external pump, probably due to costs but they seem to do great. I would think you could keep all the stock fuel line and adapt to the common 8an fittings.
Click to expand...

Corner pickup isn't an issue.
My cell came with the correct 0-90ohm sender so it would work with a stock gauge.
I run an external pump with my tbi and its been reliable but it gets noisy, especially after I get low and its been a long day on the trail. It obviously uses the fuel to cool itself and once the fuel starts to heat up it turns into a viscious cycle. A larger cell like you're looking at would help since you wouldn't be circulating the same fuel as often.
 
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