Stainless Steel or Aluminum for Gas Tank

[Paul F]

I'm thinking of building my own gas tank. I'd prefer to use aluminum. Is there any reason not to use aluminum?

[Clois Harlan]

Plastic from Summit

[Full Throttle Al]

You can now add a fuel level sender to any gas tank, no matter the shape:

http://www.centroidproducts.com/

A Cobra with an accurate fuel gauge, what a concept!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Paul F

I'm thinking of building my own gas tank. I'd prefer to use aluminum. Is there any reason not to use aluminum?

No, there is absolutely no reason not to use aluminum. In fact, that's what's in a lot of the better Cobras.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Full Throttle Al

You can now add a fuel level sender to any gas tank, no matter the shape:

http://www.centroidproducts.com/

A Cobra with an accurate fuel gauge, what a concept!

Assuming you define "accurate" very loosely....but better than nothing!

[Full Throttle Al]

Doug,

I mean precisely accurate, regardless of the shape of the tank! This new technology allows them to calibrate the custom made sender to your tank. I sent them a plot of gallons vs height on the sender for my tank. My sender mounts in the back corner of my tank and crosses to the opposite corner but because I took the time to measure where on the sender each additional gallon of fuel would land, it is an exact measurement thruout the range.

This is a perfect example of applying a new high tech solution to a very old problem.

I hope that I can say I will never run out of gas again in my Cobra (twice in Tulsa over the years).

Alan

[Argess]

Originally Posted by Full Throttle Al

You can now add a fuel level sender to any gas tank, no matter the shape:

http://www.centroidproducts.com/

A Cobra with an accurate fuel gauge, what a concept!

We used to calibrate that type of sending unit for aircraft. Very different calibration depending on the fuel to be used. Now with this ethanol stuff....

So, "accuracy" may still be limited to an extent.

PatrickT....refreshing to know the "better" Cobras use an Aluminum tank......hehehehehe

[Full Throttle Al]

Photo my my stainless tank from Kirkham with bung welded in corner for Centroid guage:



Hammer at the ready for fine tuning.

[dcdoug]

I have a centroid gauge in my CSX that has been calibrated according to their instructions (I have done it twice), but since it is placed about 1/2 down the fuel cell and the tube angles straight down (and is only about 4 inches long), it reads full until about the last quarter of a tank and then goes down very quickly. It's enough not to run out of gas, but not that much better than that. Looks like my set up just doesn't allow the same level of accuracy as the Kirkham set up.

[patrickt]

This "my fuel gauge needs to be accurate" stuff is a crock of shi*. Here's what you do: Reset your trip odometer when you fill up. When you get to 100 miles start looking for a gas station. If you're still looking when you hit 150 start looking really hard. If you're still looking after another 25 miles or so, get your phone out.

[Full Throttle Al]

Interestingly, the bung you see at the other side of the Kirkham tank is for the short fuel level sender, which as you said, will read full until about 1/2 full. That's why I added the bung at the highest corner and spent the time placing the tank in the position it is installed in, and poured one gallon of water in at a time and measured how much the level would rise on a stick placed thru the bung to the other corner.

[mickmate]

Hey Paul you're thinking about a tank for the right breed. I've made one for an LA Exotics before. You can make one for yours without that big hump and dead space alongside it for more capacity. I use a 5052 marine grade aluminum 0.090" thick. It TIG welds and also bends pretty nicely and still gives good rigidity. I also make them from stainless 18Ga 304 though ally seems more popular. Build a couple of baffles into it while you're at it. The Centroid senders work well and are easy to calibrate right out of the tank once you've figured their length. There are a few pics on my site for design ideas or let me know if you have any questions on building them.

[Paul F]

Thanks guys. I will have to figure out something for the sending unit as I don't know if the existing one will work (may need to be shorter)

Clois, since you have the same car, what tank did you use from Summit?

Patrick, yes, the odometer works great on the Harley- its very accurate. 180 miles and it's time to get gas.

Mickmate, yes the hump is exactly why I want to make a new tank. Thanks for the tips.

Good winter project.

[1985 CCX]

http://www.actoncustom.com

Call Nick! Great pricing and both SS and ally in any design. He does great work.
Jeff

[lal Naja]

Does the Centroid probe get effected in any way if it makes contact with fuel cell safety foam?

I'm thinking of installing the Centroid unit. I currently have a float style that may possibly have problems with false readings if it makes contact with sloshing foam.

Arthur