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Learn me up on Fuel Cells

MTBLAZER89

MTBLAZER89

3/4 ton status
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I temp repaired a hole in my stock tank that showed up on my last wheeling trip. Obviously caused by dirt and debris between the tank and the skid and it rusted through or just the abrasion caused it, but either way I have been looking for a reason to ditch the big tank and go to a 15-18 gallon cell.

I have TBI so obviously the in tank fuel pump. What changes are made with a fuel cell? External pump? Wiring?

Plastic or aluminum? Pros and cons of each?

I have found a few of the plastic ones 18gal I believe on Summit in the $200 range with a GM type sending unit. Just dont know much about this step.
 
Go plastic and you can get in tank pumps for them. Just make sure it is the correct pressure. Or you could add a regulator.

I could not run an 18 gallon. It would not last a full day running a stock 5.7 TBI.
 
Don't get this kind of cap....they leak, and don't work very well:

fuel cell.jpg
 
76zimmer said:
Don't get this kind of cap....they leak, and don't work very well:
Click to expand...

x2

I put one of these plastic cells between the rails under the bed in my '87 pickup, it was a nightmare. Don't know why you'd use a cap like that on a K5 though, because you need to plumb it over to your gas neck from that opening.

I wound up using this in it's place on my truck;
sum-290200_w.jpg


Don't know what you use your rig for, but why not just get a stock replacement and have more fuel capacity?
 
ktmoutfront said:
Go plastic and you can get in tank pumps for them. Just make sure it is the correct pressure. Or you could add a regulator.

I could not run an 18 gallon. It would not last a full day running a stock 5.7 TBI.
Click to expand...

Really? I have a stock TBI 350 and never use more than half a tank in a trip. Even the days where there is lots of throttle I don't use but 10 gallons. Our trails are short and slow so maybe thats why. We dont travel more than 20-25 miles in a 8 hour day.

Low87 said:
x2


Don't know what you use your rig for, but why not just get a stock replacement and have more fuel capacity?
Click to expand...

Its in the way of moving my rear axle back, and 31 gallons is way more than I would ever need. I would consider going up to a 20 if the dimensions were right to tuck it somewhere.

I'd like to keep it between the rails, but have it up high enough where the diff can't get into it. I planned on cutting a hole and just building a cover over the top in the stock location.
 
150+ mile days are nothing. From driving to and back. If you have to buy gas in a little town between lost and found, you will pay a lot more. I am so cheap, I don't want to pay 30 cents a gallon more.
 
The plastic blatter enclosed in a sheet metal housing is better than a just plastic only IMO. Adds a little more protection.

Aluminum ones are nice but had a Jaz one crack along a weld and would only use another aluminum one is a drag only car that doesn't see a lot of street time or vibrations.

They need proper ventilation if using a sealed cap, and a one way valve is good to put in the vent

That red cap above sucks.
 
MTBLAZER89 said:
Its in the way of moving my rear axle back, and 31 gallons is way more than I would ever need. I would consider going up to a 20 if the dimensions were right to tuck it somewhere.

I'd like to keep it between the rails, but have it up high enough where the diff can't get into it. I planned on cutting a hole and just building a cover over the top in the stock location.
Click to expand...

Then definitely upgrade to the cap I showed in my picture. Seals better, lasts longer, and is 10x easier to use. Since I did mine in a pickup I had to cut a hole in the floor bed for access. To cover that up and make it look cleaner, I used a boat deck plate.
39787.gif
 
anyone got any pics of how they mounted theirs under their body? Especially with the plastic tanks. Seems like the vibrations would eventualy cut through the plastic.
 
I have pics of mounting it under a pickup if you're interested. I'll have to dig them out of digital storage at home.
 
Ok bringing this back to the top.

Looking at something like this. It will fit in stock location and not hang below the frame rails.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/jzp-205-022-01/overview/

Now how does this work with a pump? You HAVE to run an external unless the cell is designed for internal? I didnt see any browsing on Summit that say anything about internal pumps.

I am not against an external pump, but Ive always heard horror stories about their reliablity with getting hot and burning up. Can this just be solved with a good mount location, or urban legend? What PSI does TBI need?
 
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