Adding Fuel Gauge to Foam Filled Cell

StormBringer · #1 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 01:30 PM

Has anyone here adapted any fuel senders to work with a foam filled fuel cell.

I can't for the life of me think of how I can do this as I would have to hack a serious amount of the foam out to get one with a float installed. Or I was thinking of using one the self contained tube GM ones, but I will have to find on that is the correct lenght which might be a problem. ~14 Inch's.

Somehow all that gas sloshing around without some of the foam and some other plastic as well scares me. But there has got to be a way to retofit this without buying another tank.

StormBringer

First post, but I did search and have not seen anything along this asked.

rdorman · #2 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 01:56 PM

ATL makes and electronic fuel level gauge/sender for fuel cells. You can get it at www.truechoice.com, 1-800-388-8783, part KS143 for $151.00
Rick

StormBringer · #3 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 02:00 PM

That looks real good, 170 bucks or so for a sender and gauge package. Would prefer something cheaper that I could bodge up real fast, but when dealing with fuel its always better to error on the safe side.

rdorman · #4 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 02:04 PM

Yep, better safe than sorry and with ATL, you know you are safe! Well, so long as the install is not botched!

Rick

StormBringer · #5 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 02:11 PM

Not going to botch the install for sure, more then likely tow the car up to the Dyno do some jet testing on my car with the small pulleys that I have so I can have some data for the next track event if I decide that I need more power. then when the tank is dry pull it and let it sit underwater in a trash can for a few days and go from there.

I should post some pictures of the car up tonight, its not the prettest cobra you have ever seen but it goes like stink and looks mean with the 14 inch rear rim/tire.

rdorman · #6 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 02:16 PM

I know I would like to see it. I always enjoy looking at dedicated track cars and what folks have done with them. You can put them in your gallery and link to them.

Where have you been hiding? Just find this place or ....................

Welcome either way. Not bad though eh? First post is a question and have an answer in 26 minutes?

Rick

StormBringer · #7 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 02:37 PM

Just bought the car yesterday, already starting to tear it down and tighten all the bolt's and make sure its ready to race and go from there. been lurking for a while as a guest so I knew about the site. i have been building kit cars since I was ~15 or so, 23 now and finnaly unto a car that I own outright and can ran at the track with some of the big boys. I could not build the car I have for ~35-40K in the garage not counting the time so I bought someone elses project that is fully sorted and has been raced.
So its been shaken down pretty good.

The cobra is basiacly a old circle track car put into a cobra frame and body,

Winter's style quick change rear end,
with adian coilovers the whole car through,
Willwod brakes front and rear,
dual masters on the brakes for adjustment front to back,
basically tubed so you can fit a nascar slick in the front and rear (14-15 inch rim width),
B&M blown chevy 350 with a 800 cfm deamon on top
full cage tied into frame, custom windshild mount that you could flip the car over on and use as a cage it's so over built.
T-10 built up to take the power..
Side doors are glassed in for strenght, bodies been renforced throughout,
frame gusseted at every angle
fuel cell, acuslump (3 quart)
bunch of other stuff like the axles and spindles has been converted to huge race bearings, heck the rear end caps are so large I can't get a knockoff on the car, (not that I would want pretty wheels.

Will post pictures it's hard to expain the car without them

thanks for the help by the way 26 mintues is a fast answer.

rdorman · #8 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 02:44 PM

That does sound cool. We will be looking forward to updates as you get it on the track. What kind of class and series will you be running with this beast?
Rick

StormBringer · #9 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 02:59 PM

Could care less, I am not out there to win points just to have fun, I think I might run it in the experimental class when I autocross it so I can get a little seat time before I start to go through the car and start corner balancing it and the like.

If the board or a group decideds to do a pass/no pass day at buttonwillow then if the price irs right I will go. I know that racing in general is just to rich for my blood to keep it as a full time hobby. Plus I know that I was not touched by God with an amazing driving skill like some people.

Car is regestered and I actually have driven it back and forth to work and to the store. Biggest thing is getting the fuel gauge and a lower seat with a little less backing, these cars are tight and with no door's to open it's rather hard to drive further the 5/10th's out. Of course 3/10ths in this car is twice the legal limit on most streets.

mj_duell · #10 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 06:57 PM

StormBringer,
I added a GM tube style sender to my JAZ Pro Cell and it doesn't leak and it works great. The job is simple and you don't have to remove much of the foam. JAZ Cells are NHRA approved and very safe. There are pictures of the installed sender in my gallery. Let me know if you need any assistance.

--Mike

StormBringer · #11 (**permalink**) 09-02-2004, 11:47 PM

Sweet filler neck, I defintly need one of those as well, getting gas into this car is a dventure in itself. That will make my life much easier. now I just have to find one that will fit my tank.

As for the GM sender I was thinking that might be the way to go the thing is that for ~150 bucks you get a matching sender and gauge from the above link so with the cost of a GM sender being around 75$ or so I would rather just get the small one, I can afford to loss any tank space at this point.

A 10 gallon tank and monster engine do not make a good parade car.

Oh I got my internet up and running tonight so I am a happy camper I will be able to post pictures now of the monster in the garage.

scratch · #12 (**permalink**) 12-19-2004, 07:59 PM

Storm,
Have you problems with your foam clogging up filters?

I did and decided to run the sendor unit alone...obviously I'm running on the street, not track.

I had nothing but problems at the worst times on the road.

The circle track foam I bought from Speedway had much debri and clogged up the filters -I was chasing demons forever.

scratch

StormBringer · #13 (**permalink**) 12-20-2004, 09:57 AM

No I have never had any problems, but my tank is ~7-8 years old so the foam has had time to breakdown and clog but the filters still look good.

Rick 427 Cobra · #14 (**permalink**) 12-20-2004, 11:34 PM

Try these guys for a sender. Pencil thin, adjustable, compatible, and affordable.
http://www.centroidproducts.com/
Rick

Mr.Fixit · #15 (**permalink**) 12-26-2004, 04:04 PM

The sender that Fuel Safe put's in their cells is a tube type with trim pots. You cut it to the length you want, then turn the screws to get the gauge to read empty and full. I don't know what they cost, but they work wih the popular gauges out there.

scratch · #16 (**permalink**) 02-06-2005, 07:19 PM

I've had nothing but problems running foam in my fuel tank...clogs up the filters at the worst time.

scratch

StormBringer · #17 (**permalink**) 02-07-2005, 09:32 AM

What brand of foam were you using. I have rarely seen problems with the higher cost brand name stuff that is fitted from the factory to the original tank. Now the foam that you cut and then add I have seen degrade one or two times, as long as you run a bigger fuel filter near the tank though you can keep it out of the carb or injection.